MPV Commentary

1. When Ezra prayed in public, his distress and fear at the sad state of affairs were deeply felt by the people gathered for the evening sacrifice. His passionate grief and expressions in the temple court quickly spread throughout the city, drawing a large crowd to the scene.

2-4. Shechaniah, a respected leader who was not himself involved in the matter, spoke out on behalf of the people. He acknowledged their wrongdoing and proposed that they take immediate action to correct it, relying on God's mercy for forgiveness. His suggestion was bold, considering his own family ties were entangled in the problem. However, he prioritized obedience to God over pleasing his relatives.

5-8. Ezra then convened a private meeting with the princes and elders at Johanan's chamber. There, they decided to make a public covenant to divorce their foreign wives and children. A proclamation was issued, requiring all who had returned from Babylon to gather in Jerusalem within three days under penalty of excommunication and property confiscation.

9-11. The men of Judah and Benjamin, along with other Israelites occupying the territory formerly assigned to these tribes, were summoned to assemble in the street – likely the temple court. This gathering took place during the ninth month, a time of cold and rain in Palestine.

10-17. Ezra stood up and addressed the crowd, emphasizing the gravity of their sin and urging them to dissolve their unlawful connections. The people acknowledged his reproof and promised compliance. However, due to the unfavorable weather and large number of defaulters, it was decided to appoint a commission to investigate each case. After three months of thorough examination by the commissioners, judges, and elders from various cities, all evidence of the abuse was removed.