6 And said, H559 O my God, H430 I am ashamed H954 and blush H3637 to lift up H7311 my face H6440 to thee, my God: H430 for our iniquities H5771 are increased H7235 over H4605 our head, H7218 and our trespass H819 is grown up H1431 unto the heavens. H8064
For G3754 her G846 sins G266 have reached G190 G2853 unto G891 heaven, G3772 and G2532 God G2316 hath remembered G3421 her G846 iniquities. G92
But a prophet H5030 of the LORD H3068 was there, whose name H8034 was Oded: H5752 and he went out H3318 before H6440 the host H6635 that came H935 to Samaria, H8111 and said H559 unto them, Behold, because the LORD H3068 God H430 of your fathers H1 was wroth H2534 with Judah, H3063 he hath delivered H5414 them into your hand, H3027 and ye have slain H2026 them in a rage H2197 that reacheth up H5060 unto heaven. H8064
Were they ashamed H3001 when they had committed H6213 abomination? H8441 nay, they were not at all H954 ashamed, H954 neither could H3045 they blush: H3637 therefore shall they fall H5307 among them that fall: H5307 in the time H6256 of their visitation H6486 they shall be cast down, H3782 saith H559 the LORD. H3068
And G1161 the son G5207 said G2036 unto him, G846 Father, G3962 I have sinned G264 against G1519 heaven, G3772 and G2532 in G1799 thy G4675 sight, G1799 and G2532 am G1510 no more G3765 worthy G514 to be called G2564 thy G4675 son. G5207
O Lord, H136 righteousness H6666 belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion H1322 of faces, H6440 as at this day; H3117 to the men H376 of Judah, H3063 and to the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 and unto all Israel, H3478 that are near, H7138 and that are far off, H7350 through all the countries H776 whither thou hast driven H5080 them, because of their trespass H4604 that they have trespassed H4603 against thee. O Lord, H136 to us belongeth confusion H1322 of face, H6440 to our kings, H4428 to our princes, H8269 and to our fathers, H1 because we have sinned H2398 against thee.
Surely after H310 that I was turned, H7725 I repented; H5162 and after H310 that I was instructed, H3045 I smote H5606 upon my thigh: H3409 I was ashamed, H954 yea, even confounded, H3637 because I did bear H5375 the reproach H2781 of my youth. H5271
But the men H582 of Sodom H5467 were wicked H7451 and sinners H2400 before the LORD H3068 exceedingly. H3966
Were they ashamed H3001 when they had committed H6213 abomination? H8441 nay, H1571 they were not at all H954 ashamed, H954 neither H1571 could H3045 they blush: H3637 therefore they shall fall H5307 among them that fall: H5307 at the time H6256 that I visit H6485 them they shall be cast down, H3782 saith H559 the LORD. H3068
For shame H1322 hath devoured H398 the labour H3018 of our fathers H1 from our youth; H5271 their flocks H6629 and their herds, H1241 their sons H1121 and their daughters. H1323 We lie down H7901 in our shame, H1322 and our confusion H3639 covereth H3680 us: for we have sinned H2398 against the LORD H3068 our God, H430 we and our fathers, H1 from our youth H5271 even unto this day, H3117 and have not obeyed H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 our God. H430
Come now, H3212 and let us reason together, H3198 saith H559 the LORD: H3068 though your sins H2399 be as scarlet, H8144 they shall be as white H3835 as snow; H7950 though they be red H119 like crimson, H8438 they shall be as wool. H6785
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezra 9
Commentary on Ezra 9 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 9
The affairs of the church were in a very good posture, we may well suppose, now that Ezra presided in them. Look without; the government was kind to them. We hear no complaints of persecution and oppression; their enemies had either their hearts turned or at least their hands tied; their neighbours were civil, and we hear of no wars nor rumours of wars; there were none to make them afraid; all was as well as could be, considering that they were few, and poor, and subjects to a foreign prince. Look at home; we hear nothing of Baal, or Ashtaroth, nor Moloch, no images, nor groves, nor golden calves, no, nor so much as high places (not only no idolatrous altars, but no separate ones), but the temple was duly respected and the temple service carefully kept up. Yet all was not well either. The purest ages of the church have had some corruptions, and it will never be presented "without spot or wrinkle' till it is "a glorious church,' a church "triumphant,' Eph. 5:27. We have here,
Ezr 9:1-4
Ezra, like Barnabas when he came to Jerusalem and saw the grace of God to his brethren there, no doubt was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord, Acts 11:23. He saw nothing amiss (many corruptions lurk out of the view of the most vigilant rulers); but here is a damp upon his joys: information is brought him that many of the people, yea, and some of the rulers, had married wives out of heathen families, and joined themselves in affinity with strangers. Observe,
Ezr 9:5-15
What the meditations of Ezra's heart were, while for some hours he sat down astonished, we may guess by the words of his mouth when at length he spoke with his tongue; and a most pathetic address he here makes to Heaven upon this occasion. Observe,