Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
Ver. 1. Now when these things were done] Here are post maxima gaudia luctus, Heaven's joys are without measure or mixture; but this present life is overspread with sins and miseries, as with a filthy morphew. Of good Ezra, we may say as Pliny doth of Metellus, Metellus infelix dici non debet, felix non potest, Unhappy we may not call him, happy we cannot; witness the doleful discourse of this chapter.
The princes came to me] The better sort of them, that were sensible of the abuses, crept in, and desired a reformation. For some of the princes also and rulers had their hands elbow deep in the wickedness complained of, Ezra 9:2 .
The people of Israel] The many, the common sort, that shallow-brained but many headed beast, that loves to follow the herd and do as the most do, though thereby they be utterly undone for ever.
And the priests, and the Levites] This was much; for these knew the law, and made their boast of it, Romans 2:18; Romans 2:23. They could not be ignorant of the unlawfulness of this mixing themselves in marriage with heathens not proselyted. Now sins against knowledge and conscience are of a double dye, of a crimson colour; and make a great breach, a deep gash in a man's spirit, Isaiah 59:11,12. What was it that brought such roarings and troubles on them, and that when salvation was looked for? Our iniquities testify to our faces, and we know them.
Have not separated themselves] The separation of the saints from the wicked is a wonderful separation, Exodus 33:16, such as was that of light from darkness in the creation. God hath brought them out of darkness into his marvellous light, 1 Peter 2:9. Why then should they be unequally yoked together with unbelievers? what communion hath light with darkness? &c., 2 Corinthians 6:14 .
Doing according to their abominations] How should they choose but do so when so matched and married? What is the reason the pope will not dispense in Spain or Italy, if a Papist marry a Protestant? yet here they will, but in hope thereby to draw more to them. The brown bread in the oven will be sure to fleece from the white; not that from it. So in married couples: seldom is the worse bettered by the good, but the contrary. See Nehemiah 13:26 .