Ezra 9:2

Ezr 9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

Ver. 2. For they have taken of their daughters] Taken them for wives: which was flatly forbidden, Deu 7:3, and a reason given, Ezr 9:4, from the evil effect of such unblest marriages. This abuse Malachi complaineth of, Mal 2:11; Mal 2:13, whom some make to be the same man with Ezra.

For themselves, and for their sons] Whom they herein helped to a cold armful (as Lycephron calleth a bad wife, ψυχρον παραγκαλισμα), or rather to an unnatural heat, worse than that of a quartan ague, as said Simonides; as bad as that of an evil spirit, said another heathen.

So that the holy seed] i.e. The children of Israel, who were all federally holy at least, Deu 7:6, as are also all the children of Christian parents, 1Co 7:14.

Hath been chief in this trespass] Which they think audaciously to bear out with their big looks, to obtrude and justify to the world this most malapert misdemeanour, because it is facinus maioris abollae, the fact of a great one (Juvenal).

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Ezr 9:2. So that the holy seed, &c. — They are called a holy seed, because of the covenant which God had made with them, whereby they were constituted a peculiar people, separated from all other nations. Have mingled themselves with the people of those lands — Since their return, as may be gathered from Ezr 9:8-14. Yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass — Who ought to have restrained the people from it by their authority and example; and who, by acting otherwise, have made the sin more general, and have involved themselves and the nation in the guilt of it. The case, certainly, was much the more dangerous, because the great men of the nation were the principal offenders; for through this the people would be freed from all fear of punishment, and therefore would the more readily imitate their bad example. It is probable the princes, who informed Ezra of this enormous practice, had endeavoured to reform it, but could not, because they were opposed by men as great as themselves.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That is, the governors are the chief beginners hereof.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 2. Hath been chief in this trespass.] They who are the first men have been the most capital offenders; so VIRGIL, AEn. ix. 783: -

Unus homo, vestris, o cives, undique septus

Aggeribus, tantas strages impune per urbem

Ediderit? Juvenum primos tot miserit orco?

"Shall one, and he enclosed within your walls,

One rash imprisoned warrior, vanquish all?

Calm you look on, and see the furious foe

Plunge crowds of heroes to the shades below!"

PITT.

The first of the Trojan youth were the chief, the most illustrious; so we say the first men of the kingdom for the nobles, &c.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

2. they have taken] i.e. ‘taken wives’ as in Ezr_10:44; 2Ch_11:21; 2Ch_13:21.

the holy seed] i.e. the race set apart and consecrated to God, cf. Exo_19:5-6. The term ‘the holy seed’ is found also in Isa_6:13.

have mingled themselves] The same phrase occurs in a passage which well illustrates our verse. Psa_106:34-35. ‘They did not destroy the peoples (‘ammîm) as the Lord commanded them; but mingled themselves with the nations (haggoyyim) and learned their works’.

with the people of those lands] R.V. with the peoples of the lands, as in Ezr_9:1.

the hand of the princes and rulers] marg. ‘princes and deputies’. compare the same phrase Neh_5:7.

The word rendered ‘rulers’ (marg. ‘deputies’) ‘segânîm’ is of Assyrian origin. It occurs in Isa_41:25, and preceded by ‘pekhah’ in Jer_51:23; Jer_51:28; Jer_51:57; Eze_23:6; Eze_23:12; Eze_23:23 as ‘governors and deputies’; in Neh_4:14; Neh_4:19; Neh_5:7; Neh_7:5; Neh_12:40; Neh_13:11 as ‘rulers’ (marg. ‘deputies’).

‘The princes’ seem to have been the chief authorities. A ruler or deputy (sagan) held under the governor a post of subordinate responsibility.

chief in this trespass] R.V. marg. first. This is probably more correct; the chiefs and rulers had set the example of wrong-doing, ‘Trespass’ Ezr_9:4, Ezr_10:6. Compare the use of this word with reference to national sin, Jos_7:1; Jos_22:16.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sorts,.... Some that were widowers not only took wives to themselves of the above nations, either when they were of Babylon, where many of these nations also were, or rather since their return; but they took for their sons also; yea, some that had wives took Heathenish ones to them, see Mal 2:13,

so that the holy seed; such as the Lord had separated from other nations, chosen them to be an holy people above all others, and devoted them to his service and worship:

have mingled themselves with the people of those lands; before mentioned, by marrying with them:

yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass; they were the first that went into it, were ringleaders of it, who should by their authority and example have restrained others; or they were

in this first trespass (i); which was the first gross and capital one the people fell into after their return from the captivity.

(i) "in praevaricatione ista prima", Pagninus, Montanus.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

First. Or "was in this first transgression," incurred by those who returned with Zorobabel; or "was concerned in this very heinous transgression;" in transgressione hac prima. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "hath been chief." 3 Esdras, "and the leaders and grandees partook in this illegal affair, from its commencement." Septuagint, "and the hand of the chiefs was in this transgress, in the beginning." This would greatly increase the difficulty of reformation. Some of the princes were however ready to undertake the work, and had preserved themselves from the two general contagion. (Haydock) --- All marriages with the Moabites, &c., were prohibited, if the women remained infidels, Exodus xxxiv. (Tirinus)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

This they had done, either,

1. In the land of their captivity, into which these people were carried as well as others, as appears from Jer 25:9, &c. Or rather,

2. Since their return, as may be gathered from Ezr 9:8,9,10,14.

The princes and rulers; who should have restrained the people from this sin by their authority and example; and, by doing otherwise, made the sin more general, and involved themselves and the nation in the guilt of it.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

2. Holy seed — Jehovah’s chosen people. See marginal references.

Princes and rulers… chief in this trespass — This was the most alarming fact of all. When the rulers transgress the law the people must needs become corrupt and demoralized.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The holy seed. Compare (Isa_6:13) The "seed of Israel,"however much it polluted itself by transgressions, was still "holy" by profession, by call, by obligation, by prophetic announcement. They were "a kingdom of priests, a holy nation"; (Exo_19:6) bound to be "separated from all the people that were on the face of the earth", (Exo_33:16) and to keep themselves a "peculiar people." When they mingled themselves with the people of the lands, they not only broke a positive command, (Deu_7:3) but did their best to frustrate God"s entire purpose in respect of them, and to render all that he had done for them of no effect. The hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in the trespass. "Princes and rulers" are here opposed to people of the middle and lower ranks. The upper classes, whether clerical or lay, had been the chief offenders; (see Ezr_10:18) and compare the similar defection of Jews of the upper classes in Nehemiah"s time. (Neh_6:17, 18 13:4, 28)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

was first in this treachery for they commenced to deal treacherously by intermarrying with the peoples of the lands.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.