Ezra 9 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Report is Made to Ezra of the Marriages of Jews with the Heathen. Ezra's zeal in this matter resulted in his going beyond the requirements of the Law (cf. Deuteronomy 23:7).

Ezra 9:1. the Canaanites. Amorites: with the Gentiles here enumerated cf. Deuteronomy 7:1.

Ezra 9:2. holy seed: cf. Isaiah 61:3.

Ezra's Confession.

Ezra 9:5. at the evening Oblation: therefore in the presence of the assembled worshippers.

Ezra 9:7. from the days of our fathers: i.e. from the times of the patriarchs onwards.

Ezra 9:8. a nail in his holy place: lit. - a tent-peg in, etc.; the rendering in the Greek Ezra is to be preferred, viz.: a root and a name in the place of thy sanctuary. in our bondage: the expression is a strong one; the Jews, though dependents of the Persian king, were not in servitude in the sense that their fathers had been in Egypt.

Ezra 9:9. a wall: lit. a fence; cf. Isaiah 5:5; the word is used of a fence round vineyards; it is used metaphorically for protection, and does not, of course, refer to the wall of the city, which was in ruins (see Nehemiah 2:11-17).

Ezra 9:11. by thy servants the prophets saying. : cf. Deuteronomy 7:1-3; Deuteronomy 23:7. Ezra regards the teaching of the Law as identical with that of the prophets, and vice versa, and is thus the first to enunciate a principle which is often insisted upon in later Jewish literature.