In this chapter, we find Ezra still praying, Ezra 9:5-15, and it appears his prayers have been answered. His prayers had a huge impact on God’s people as they too gathered around him and wept bitterly in repentance, Ezra 10:1. There is now hope in Israel, as they begin to obey the law. This is seen in that people, through Shekaniah, suggest that they make a covenant with the Lord to put away their wives, Ezra 10:2-3 / Genesis 15:10.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following concerning Ezra 10:2.
‘Jehiel was one of those who had taken an idolatrous wife, Ezra 10:26, and Shekaniah had therefore had the evil brought home to him.’
God’s promise to Abraham concerning the Messiah would soon be fulfilled, Genesis 12:1-3. It’s clear that this small remnant of God’s people understood what the law says concerning marrying foreign women, this is seen in their actions and covenant with God.
It’s important to note that they didn’t ‘kriythuwth’ them, that is, divorce their wives, they simply ‘yatsa’ them, that is put them away, Ezra 10:3. In other words, they ‘put them away’, and still had to provide for their wife and children’s needs, but because they didn’t give them a legal ‘bill of divorcement’, they were still legally married to them, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, which also means they had to pay the dowry back, 1 Kings 9:16. This practice of putting away their wives without giving them a bill of divorcement was still being practised at the time of Jesus, Matthew 5:31-32.
Shekaniah says, rise up because this matter is in your hands and we will support you, so take courage and do it, Ezra 10:4 / Ezra 7:23-28.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘By the decree of Artaxerxes, he was authorized to do everything that the law of God required, Ezra 7:23-28. And all officers were commanded to be aiding and assisting, hence Shekaniah says, We are with you.’
The people now put into practice what they agree in their covenant with God, Ezra 10:5.
The Wycliffe, Bible Commentary, says the following.
‘By making the people to swear to follow the suggested course of action while feelings were still running high, Ezra ensured that there could be no turning back at a later stage.’
Ezra withdraws from before the house of God and goes to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, Ezra 10:6.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Eliashib was high priest and was succeeded in that office by his son Joiada, Nehemiah 12:10. Probably Johanan here is the same as Jonathan in Nehemiah, who was the son of Joiada, and grandson of Eliashib. Some suppose that Johanan and Joiada were two names for the same person.’
While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles, Ezra 10:6. A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. They had to voluntarily gather in Jerusalem within three days, Ezra 10:7, but they had a choice, either to forfeit all their property, Leviticus 27:28, and be expelled from Israel, or put away their wives, Ezra 10:8 / Ezra 7:25-26. Those who didn’t put away their wives reaped the resentment of the Jews which lasted until the time of Christ, John 4:9.
Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem, Ezra 10:9.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This apparently means all Israelites living in those areas and does not exclude members of other tribes who might have been among them. Yet, the number of the Ten Tribes who returned might have been so insignificant that the whole nation of returnees might well have been known merely as the ‘men of Judah and Benjamin.’
On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain, Ezra 10:9. Ezra now stands up and tells them they have been unfaithful because they married foreign women, Ezra 10:10, and encourages them to honour the God of their ancestors and do his will, Ezra 10:11. He tells them to separate themselves from the peoples around them and from their foreign wives, Ezra 10:11.
The people agree with Ezra, Ezra 10:12, but say to him that there are many people here and it is the rainy season, so we cannot stand outside. They say that this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two because we have sinned greatly in this thing, Ezra 10:13.
Broadman, Bible Commentary, says the following.
‘The crowd readily agreed to Ezra’s decision but the implementation of it was far too complex and complicated a thing to be accomplished immediately while they were standing there shivering in the cold from the wintry rain.’
They ask that their officials act for the whole assembly and then let everyone in their towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us, Ezra 10:14.
Sadly, not everyone agreed to the measures that were put forward in this context because Nehemiah also had to deal with the matter of marriage to foreign women, Nehemiah 13:23-31. Despite being opposed by just four people, Ezra 10:15, they now go ahead and put away their foreign wives, Ezra 10:16-17.
It’s important to note that the people themselves decided how to move forward concerning their wives and Ezra simply advised them by preaching God’s law to the people. Ezra was simply God’s messenger and he taught what the law of God said to God’s people.
Whitcomb, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Seventeen priests, ten Levites, and eighty-six others and each of these put away his foreign wife and offered a ram as a guilt-offering. Some of the versions support this count of 113 in all.’
The number of people who married foreign women isn’t as important as who they actually were. The priests, Ezra 10:18-22, the Levites, Ezra 10:23, singers, Ezra 10:24, gatekeepers, Ezra 10:24, and many of the religious leaders, Ezra 10:25-43, had married foreign women, Ezra 10:44. They all had the potential of introducing foreign gods, just like Solomon did many years before, 1 Kings 11:1-8, which would then lead to idolatry all over again.
Remember the Jews were God’s chosen people and the preservation of Israel was important to God. He had promised that the Messiah would come through Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3. God said they weren’t to marry Gentiles, simply because an Israelite remnant of society had to be preserved through whom God would bring the Messiah into the world.
The very fact that these Jews had faith in God to restore the nation of Israel once again, shows us just how committed to God they were. We also mustn’t forget that when they put away their foreign wives, along with the children, they would have made some kind of provisions for them, just as Abraham did with Hagar, when he put her and Ishmael away, Genesis 21:14–16.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Drastic as this solution of the problem assuredly was, ‘a comparison of Nehemiah 10:30, 12 years later, and of Nehemiah 13:23, 30 years later, shows that the evil was not permanently eliminated. Long association with heathen neighbours made such a separation difficult.’
Williamson, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Israel’s mission could make headway only if she maintained the servant identity that separated her from the nations to which she was commissioned to reveal God’s will. In exactly the same way, Christians individually and as the Church, are called to be ‘light’ and ‘salt,’ elements that function effectively precisely because of their difference from the setting in which they are placed. ‘But if the salt has lost its savour?’ Matthew 5:13-16.’