The method of proceeding in this matter being concluded on, and the
congregation dismissed, that each in his respective place might gain
and give intelligence to facilitate the matter, we are here told, 1.
Who were the persons that undertook to manage the matter and bring the
causes regularly before the commissioners--Jonathan and Jahaziah, two
active men, whether of the priests or of the people does not appear;
probably they were the men that made that proposal (v. 13, 14) and were
therefore the fittest to see it pursued; two honest Levites were joined
with them, and helped them, v. 15. Dr. Lightfoot gives a contrary sense
of this: only (or nevertheless) Jonathan and Jahaziah stood against
this matter (which reading the original will very well bear), and these
two Levites helped them in opposing it, either the thing itself or this
method of proceeding. It was strange if a work of this kind was carried
on and met with no opposition. 2. Who were the commissioners that sat
upon this matter. Ezra was president, and with him certain chief men of
the fathers who were qualified with wisdom and zeal above others for
this service, v. 16. It was happy for them that they had such a man as
Ezra to head them; they could not have done it well without his
direction, yet he would not do it without their concurrence. 3. How
long they were about it. They began the first day of the tenth month to
examine the matter (v. 16), which was but ten days after this method
was proposed (v. 9), and they finished in three months, v. 17. They sat
closely and minded their business, otherwise they could not have
despatched so many causes as they had before them in so little time;
for we may suppose that all who were impeached were fairly asked what
cause they could show why they should not be parted, and, if we may
judge by other cases, provided the wife were proselyted to the Jewish
religion she was not to be put away, the trial of which would require
great care. 4. Who the persons were that were found guilty of this
crime. Their names are here recorded to their perpetual reproach; many
of the priests, nay, of the family of Jeshua, the high priest, were
found guilty (v. 18), though the law had particularly provided, for the
preserving of their honour in their marriages, that being holy
themselves they should not marry such as were profane, Lev. xxi. 7.
Those that should have taught others the law broke it themselves and by
their example emboldened others to do likewise. But, having lost their
innocency in this matter, they did well to recant and give an example
of repentance; for they promised under their hand to put away their
strange wives (some think that they made oath to do so with their hands
lifted up), and they took the appointed way of obtaining pardon,
bringing the ram which was appointed by the law for a trespass offering
(Lev. vi. 6), so owning their guilt and the desert of it, and humbly
suing for forgiveness. About 113 in all are here named who had married
strange wives, and some of them, it is said (v. 44), had children by
them, which implies that not many of them had, God not crowning those
marriages with the blessing of increase. Whether the children were
turned off with the mothers, as Shechaniah proposed, does not appear;
it should seem not: however it is probable that the wives which were
put away were well provided for, according to their rank. One would
think this grievance was now thoroughly redressed, yet we meet with it
again (Neh. xiii. 23 and Mal. ii. 11), for such corruptions are easily
and insensibly brought in, but not without great difficulty purged out
again. The best reformers can but do their endeavour, but, when the
Redeemer himself shall come to Sion, he shall effectually turn away
ungodliness from Jacob.
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