Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
Ver. 6. Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God] Where God had promised to hear prayers for Christ's sake, whereof that house was a type. See Ezra 10:1 .
And went into the chamber of Johanan] As a fit meeting place, where they might consider, consult, and give counsel. Over the council chamber at Venice is written, Let nothing be done here against the public welfare. A professor of the Turks' law proclaimeth before they advise or attempt aught, That nothing be done against religion. Over the townhall in Zant are set these two verses in letters of gold:
“ Hic locus odit, amat, punit, conservat, honorat,
Nequitiam, pacem, crimina, iura, bonos. ”
Think the same we must needs of this holy conclave or council chamber, where the Sanhedrim was present, and Ezra president.
He did eat no bread, nor drink water ] Though fasting and faint with much mourning, yet no food would down with him till he had gone thorough stitch with the work. It was his food and drink to do the will of his heavenly Father. So it was good Job's, Job 23:12 , and our Saviour's, Matthew 21:17 ; Matthew 21:23 . It was then, when disappointed of a breakfast at the barren fig tree, and coming hungry into the city, he went not into an eating house nor into a friend's house to refresh himself; but into God's house, where he continued teaching the people all that day.
For he mourned because of the transgression ] It was not then a natural abstinence, arising from sickness, nor a civil, for health's sake, or for some other worldly respect; but a religious fast, which is usually to be held out a whole day, usque dum stellae in caelo appareant (as an old canon hath it), till the stars appear in the sky; yet so as that nature be chastised, not disabled for duty.