In this chapter, we read about a problem with intermarriage where we find that some Jews had married Gentile women, Ezra 9:1 / Exodus 34:11-16 / Deuteronomy 7:1-4.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘These were they who had returned at first with Zerubbabel and were settled in the land of Judea and whom Ezra found on his arrival to be little better than the Canaanitish nations from whom God had commanded them ever to keep separate.’
It’s possible there was no copy of the law in Judah, hence they acted in ignorance because they didn’t know any better. Part of Ezra’s ministry was to teach the law to God’s people, especially to those who didn’t know it, Ezra 7:25. After hearing God’s law concerning intermarriage with Gentiles and learning that their practice was detestable to God, they were convicted in their hearts, Ezra 9:1.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The mixed marriages had prevented that complete separation of the people of God from the idolatrous rites, or ‘abominations,’ which the Law required, and which was necessary for purity of religion, 1 Kings 11:2.’
The list of names here was the seven of the Canaanite nations mentioned in the law, Exodus 3:8 / Exodus 23:23 /
Deuteronomy 7:1-26, five of whom are mentioned here, Ezra 9:1. The Ammonites, Moabites and Egyptians are here mentioned in addition to five of the seven Canaanite races.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The injunction against marriages with all of these groups, under existing circumstances, was absolutely necessary.’
Some Jews had married the Gentiles of the land but by doing so, they were risking their faith and God’s plans for them, Ezra 9:2. We all know the dangers of being married to someone who isn’t a part of our faith, this was one of the downfalls of Solomon, 1 Kings 11:1-8.
Ezra obviously saw this happening all over again even before he arrived in Jerusalem. Because they were marrying people from other Gentile nations, Ezra 9:2, there was a real danger that they would be led away from God and commit idolatry again, Exodus 23:32.
Notice Ezra’s reaction to the bad news, he now only tore his tunic and cloak, he also pulled hairs from his beard and head, Ezra 9:3 / Job 1:20 / Ezekiel 7:18. He was deeply grieved by what had happened.
Notice also that Ezra’s appeal was both moral and religious, Ezra could have ordered the needed reforms and enforced them even with the death penalty, Ezra 7:26, but he chose the better way, Deuteronomy 23:7. They now understood that marrying Gentiles would lead to a loss of identity as God’s chosen people Ezra 9:4. It was Israel as a nation that God would fulfil His promise to Abraham concerning the Messiah, Genesis 12:1-3.
The ‘evening sacrifice’, Ezra 9:5, took place about 3:00 pm, Exodus 12:6 / Acts 3:1. Ezra was so deeply moved that he rose from his self-abasement, fell to his knees and prayed to God, Ezra 9:5 / 1 Kings 8:54 / Psalm 95:6 / Daniel 6:10 / Matthew 17:14.
His prayer is one of humbleness, as he confesses the people’s sins, and is aware of how Israel has relied on God’s grace in times past, Ezra 9:6-7. Because his people married foreign wives, Ezra knows that they were testing God’s grace again and they needed God’s mercy.
Ezra’s prayer is deeply moving, he can’t even bring himself to look up to God because their sin and guilt have reached the heavens, Ezra 9:6-7 / Nehemiah 9:29-35 / Daniel 9:5-8. When Israel returned from Babylon, they appear to have a new attitude toward God and sin.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Very similar in tone to this are the confessions of Nehemiah, Nehemiah 9:29-35, and of Daniel 9:5-8. The captivity had done its work by deeply convincing of sin the Jewish nation that had previously been so proud and self-righteous.’
Ezra also wisely appealed to God’s righteousness, especially in leaving a remnant in fulfilment of His prior promises, Ezra 9:8 / 2 Chronicles 30:6 / Isaiah 10:20-22. Ezra offers no excuses and not even an explanation because he knew their conduct was indefensible and disobedient to what God commanded by His servants the prophets, Ezra 9:10-11.
Kiel and Delitzsch, in their commentary, say the following.
‘Ezra here, by the words, ‘The land unto which ye go to possess it,’ clearly had the Mosaic age in mind and we have already cited three references in the Books of Moses that forbade foreign covenants including marriages but the mention here of ‘prophets’ has led some scholars to point out that there are no specific commandments in the prophets regarding this. However, as Moses was the Great Prophet unto whom even the Christ was compared and since all of the prophets endorsed the Mosaic Law and commanded the people to observe it, ‘It was proper for Ezra to designate the Mosaic Law as the sayings of the prophets also.’
Ezra says, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons and do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance, Ezra 9:12. He once again acknowledges that what happened to them is because of their own evil deeds and our great guilt, Ezra 9:13.
Broadman, Bible Commentary, says the following.
‘The guilt which Ezra confessed was not merely that of his contemporary generation but that of their whole history. The guilt of the corporate community transcended that of a given generation.’
He also acknowledges the punishment they received was God’s doing, but the punishment was less than their sins deserved, in that God has given them a remnant of people, Ezra 9:14. He then asks two questions, shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? Ezra 9:15.
In response to the two questions he declares that the God of Israel is righteous! Ezra 9:16 / Romans 3:25. God’s righteousness is seen in the fact that there is a remnant and because they are before God in their guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence, Ezra 9:16 / Psalms 130:3. In other words, if the Jews wanted God’s mercy and grace, they were going to have to amend the problem of intermarriage.