(7-17) Conference of the people and commission to try individual cases.
(8) Forfeited. — This, as also what precedes and what follows, again recalls the express commission of Ezra 7. But “according to the counsel” removes all appearance of arbitrariness on the part of Ezra.
(9) Within three days. — From the time of hearing the summons. No town was more than forty miles distant; and of course only those would come that were able, and who came within the scope of the proclamation, the precise terms of which are not given. They were not more than could assemble “in the street,” or open court of the Temple. The minute specifications of date, and the two reasons for the trembling of the people, and the whole strain of the narrative, bear witness to the veracity of an eye-witness.
It was the ninth month. — Chisleu, our December, the rainy month in Palestine.
(10) Ezra the priest. — He stood up, not as the commissioner of Artaxerxes, not at this moment as the scribe, but as the representative of God.
(11) Do his pleasure. — This procedure, humanly severe, is connected with the Divine will.
From the people of the land, and from the strange wives. — The marriages were but a subordinate branch, though a very important one, of the wider sin: that of confederacy with idolators.
(13) We are many. — Better, we have greatly offended in this thing. The greatness of the offence of course implied the number of the offenders.
(14) Stand. — As a representative body in session.
Until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us. — A difficult verse, owing to a slight peculiarity in the original. The meaning seems to be: until the fierce wrath of our God — fierce while this matter lasts — be turned away from us.
(15) Were employed about. — Rather, stood against. Nothing is said as to the reason for opposition on the part of these and the two who abetted them. But the reason is obvious enough. Some modern expositors are of their mind, and regard the act of Ezra as remedying one sin by another still greater. They bring Malachi (Ezra 2:15) to their support; but nothing in his prediction about “the wife of thy youth,” rightly understood, tends to condemn the conduct here described.
(16) By their names. — As in Ezra 8:20, the names were before the writer, but are not given.
And sat down. — That is, held a session. This was ten days after the general assembly.
(17) And they made an end. — Though the number of transgressors was only one hundred and thirteen, two months were occupied, which shows the care taken to do justice, especially to the claims of the women put away.