Bible Commentary

Ezra 9:12

Ezra 9:12

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

Give not your daughters, etc. Here is plainly referred to, though not verbally quoted. This is the sole place in the Law where the double injunction is given, referring to the taking of wives only. Nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever. So Moses had enjoined with special reference to the Moabites and Ammonites (). With regard to the other idolatrous nations, the exact command was "to make no covenant with them" (; ), i.e. no terms of peace. Much the same was probably meant by both injunctions. That ye may be strong. See . And eat the good of the land. These words are taken from . And leave it for an inheritance, etc. No single passage seems to be referred to here, but the clause embodies the idea found in ; ; , and elsewhere.

After all that is come upon us, etc. After the punishments that we have suffered, the loss of our independence, of our temple, and our city, the long and weary period of captivity and servitude in a foreign land, which should have bent our stubborn spirits to obedience; and after the mercy shown us in the fact that thou hast punished us less than our iniquities deserved, and given us a deliverance, or rather a residue, such as this, which should have stirred us up to gratitude and love, should we again break thy commandments, and fall away, what can we expect but final abandonment, complete and entire destruction? If neither severity nor kindness avail anything, what can God do more? must he not view our case as hopeless, and so make an end of us altogether? (Compare ; ).

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