And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,
Ver. 21. And the children of Israel] The whole community, of what tribe soever.
And all such as had separated themselves] Who were the better to like, because not prosperity proselytes, such as came in (not a few) in Solomon's time; but the Jews were very careful how they received them, as Josephus relateth.
From the filthiness of the heathen] Who had filled the land from one end to the other with their uncleannesses, Ezra 9:11. Great sins do greatly pollute.
To seek the Lord God of Israel] To seek not his omnipresence (for that none need to do, since he is not far from any one of us, Act 17:27), but his gracious presence. And such a seeker is every good soul: Psalms 24:6, This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, that is, Jacob.
Did eat] Edebant, id est, credebant, They were eating, it is, they were believing, for even Christ their passover was sacrificed for them, 1 Corinthians 5:7 .