Ezra 9:1

King James Version (KJV)

Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

The people of Israel - 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.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Abominations - 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. See 1 Kings 11:2 note.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Many corruptions lurk out of the view of the most careful rulers. Some of the people disobeyed the express command of God, which forbade all marriages with the heathen, De 7. Disbelief of God's all-sufficiency, is at the bottom of the sorry shifts we make to help ourselves. They exposed themselves and their children to the peril of idolatry, that had ruined their church and nation. Carnal professors may make light of such connexions, and try to explain away the exhortations to be separate; but those who are best acquainted with the word of God, will treat the subject in another manner. They must forebode the worst from such unions. The evils excused, and even pleaded for; by many professors, astonish and cause regret in the true believer. All who profess to be God's people, ought to strengthen those that appear and act against vice and profaneness.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

1. When these things were done. Some considerable time must have elapsed since Ezra’s arrival at Jerusalem. He had reached the city on the first day of the 5th month (ch. 7:9), rested 3 days (ch. 8:32), and on the 4th day of the same month had transferred the treasure to the Temple authorities. It was not till the 17th day of the 9th month that the matter of the mixed marriages was taken in hand (ch. 10:8, 9). We cannot suppose that action was long delayed after the matter came to Ezra’s attention.

The princes. It is remarkable that complaint on a matter of religious transgression came from the secular, not from the ecclesiastical, authorities of the city. The reason for this unusual situation is the fact that the religious dignitaries of the nation not only condoned the practice but were also guilty (v. 2). Since close relatives of Jeshua, the former high priest, had married foreign wives it is not strange to find that a movement for reform in this matter did not originate with the priests. When the religious leaders themselves were implicated it was understandable that the inferior orders should remain silent. By God’s good providence, however, it often happens that when things have come to such a pass, and the ministers are corrupt, lay people are raised up to take the initiative to secure religious reform.

According to their abominations. The complaint does not claim that the Jews had already adopted the idolatrous practices of the pagans about them, but that they were associating with these heathen neighbors. The foreign wives of these backslidden Jews had undoubtedly introduced idolatrous rites into their homes.

The Canaanites. Mention of eight nations of antiquity with whom admixture had taken place does not necessarily mean that wives had actually been taken from each of the eight groups listed. It is possible that the Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Amorites no longer even existed as distinct ethnic groups. The princes had in mind the prohibitions of the Pentateuch such as that of Deut. 7:1-4, where these nations are enumerated, and drew Ezra’s attention to the fact that these prohibitions had been violated.

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Ellen G. White
Selected Messages Book 2, 121-2

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). 2SM 121.1

The Lord's injunction, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14), refers not only to the marriage of Christians with the ungodly, but to all alliances in which the parties are brought into intimate association, and in which there is need of harmony in spirit and action. The Lord gave special direction to Israel to keep themselves distinct from idolaters. They were not to intermarry with the heathen nor form any confederacy with them: “Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: but ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:12-14). 2SM 121.2

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Ellen G. White
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, 279-80

The children of the world are called the children of darkness. They are blinded by the god of this world, and are led by the spirit of the prince of darkness. They cannot enjoy heavenly things. The children of light have their affections set on things above. They leave behind them the things of this world. They fulfill the command: Come out from among them, and be ye separate.” Here is the conditional promise: “I will receive you.” From the beginning, Christ has chosen His people out of the world and required them to be separate, having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. If they love God and keep His commandments, they will be far from having the friendship, and loving the pleasures, of the world. There is no concord between Christ and Belial. 1T 279.1

The prophet Ezra, and other faithful servants of the Jewish church, were astonished when the princes came to them saying: “The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations.” “And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this; should we again break Thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not Thou be angry with us till Thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? O Lord God of Israel, Thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before Thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before Thee because of this.” Ezra 9:1, 13-15. 1T 279.2

2 Chronicles 36:14-16: “Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which He had hallowed in Jerusalem. And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling place: but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” 1T 280.1

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Cross References

the princes

have not separated