11 "Now therefore, make confession to the Lord God of your fathers and do His will ; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives ." 12 Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice , "That's right ! As you have said , so it is our duty to do . 13 "But there are many people ; it is the rainy season and we are not able to stand in the open . Nor can the task be done in one or two days , for we have transgressed greatly in this matter . 14 "Let our leaders represent the whole assembly and let all those in our cities who have married foreign wives come at appointed times , together with the elders and judges of each city , until the fierce anger of our God on account of this matter is turned away from us."
15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this , with Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them. 16 But the exiles e did so . And Ezra the priest selected men who were heads of fathers' households for each of their father's households , all of them by name . So they convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter . 17 They finished investigating all the men who had married foreign wives by the first day of the first month . 18 Among the sons of the priests who had married foreign wives were found of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak , and his brothers : Maaseiah , Eliezer , Jarib and Gedaliah . 19 They pledged e to put away their wives , and being guilty , they offered a ram of the flock for their offense .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 10:11-19
Commentary on Ezra 10:6-14
(Read Ezra 10:6-14)
There is hope concerning people, when they are convinced, not only that it is good to part with their sins, but that it is necessary; we must do it, or we are undone. So rich is the mercy, and so plenteous the redemption of God, that there is hope for the vilest who hear the gospel, and are willing to accept of free salvation. When sinners mourn for their sins, and tremble at the word of God, there is hope that they will forsake them. To affect others with godly sorrow or love to God, we must ourselves be affected. It was carefully agreed how this affair should be carried on. That which is hastily resolved on seldom proves lasting.
Commentary on Ezra 10:15-44
(Read Ezra 10:15-44)
The best reformers can but do their endeavour; when the Redeemer himself shall come to Zion, he shall effectually turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And when sin is repented of and forsaken, God will forgive it; but the blood of Christ, our Sin-offering, is the only atonement which takes away our guilt. No seeming repentance or amendment will benefit those who reject Him, for self-dependence proves them still unhumbled. All the names written in the book of life, are those of penitent sinners, not of self-righteous persons, who think they have no need of repentance.