ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Ezra 9

Ezra 9:1–10:44 Ezra Discovers and Confronts the Problem of Intermarriage. Ezra discovers that the Jewish community has mixed with idolatrous non-Jewish groups in religion and in marriage. He leads the community in repentance and in a systematic separation from the foreign women and their children.

9:1–15 Ezra Discovers the Problem of Marriage to Idolaters, and Prays. Ezra hears that many Israelites have married people of other religions. He prays about the situation (vv. 6–15).

Ezra 9:1–2 For the peoples of the lands, see note on 3:3. the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, . . . and the Amorites. These were among the seven idolatrous nations Israel was commanded to drive out of the land (see Deut. 7:1–5). The Ammonites and Moabites lived east of the Jordan, outside of the Promised Land, and were especially hostile to Israel (Deut. 23:3–4). Some Israelites had taken wives from foreign nations who worshiped other gods. Such people could join the people of Israel, however, if they were willing to follow the Lord God alone (see note on Ezra 6:21). Their abominations (9:1) refers to their worship of other gods and the wicked practices that went with such worship (Deut. 12:31). The issue was not ethnic purity (see Ezra 6:21); intermarriage could lead to spiritual unfaithfulness, and so it was forbidden (Deut. 7:3). The holy race is literally “holy seed/offspring” and refers to the “offspring” of Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3; 15:5; 17:7–8). Isaiah uses the term “holy seed” to describe the surviving remnant of Israel that would be brought to life again after the terrible judgment of the exile (Isa. 6:13).

Ezra 9:3 Ezra mourns that the “holy race” has compromised its newly won salvation by returning to the sins that had brought judgment in the first place.

Ezra 9:4 Trembled at the words of the God of Israel describes eagerness to obey God and respect for his holiness (see Isa. 66:2).

Ezra 9:6–7 Ezra confesses for the community, beginning with the historic sins of Israel that had led to the Babylonian exile. our iniquities . . . our guilt. These two strong terms are each repeated twice. Ezra knows that his people had deserved to be exiled because of their sins.

Ezra 9:7 the days of our fathers. The time before the exile (see Zech. 1:4). The terms sword, captivity, plundering, and shame sum up the disasters experienced for failing to keep the covenant. They also bring to mind the consequences for disobedience noted in Lev. 26:14–39 and Deut. 28:15–68 (see 2 Kings 17:20; Jer. 24:9–10).

Ezra 9:8 For a brief moment, that is, for the time following Cyrus’s edict, Israel has enjoyed God’s favor. It has actually been nearly a century, but that is “brief” compared to Israel’s long history. Ezra refers to the returned exiles as the remnant, as does Nehemiah (Neh. 1:2; see also Isa. 10:20–22; Jer. 24:8). His holy place refers to the temple and, more broadly, to the land of Judah.

Ezra 9:9 we are slaves. The exiles remain under the authority of Persia (see Neh. 9:36–37). Even so, God has shown the steadfast love that characterizes his covenant with Israel. He expects the same from Israel in return (compare Hos. 6:6). Judea. See note on Ezra 2:69.

Ezra 9:10–12 Ezra alludes to Deut. 7:1–5 and the community’s unlawful intermarriage. impure . . . impurity . . . uncleanness. The indigenous people’s way of life and worship is totally incompatible with the life and worship required by the holy God of Israel.