Ezra 9:2

2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and their sons; and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers first in this transgression.

Ezra 9:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 9:2

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 ( Malachi 2:13-15 ) ,

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
^F9; which was the first gross and capital one the people fell into after their return from the captivity.

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 (hnavr hzh lemb) "in praevaricatione ista prima", Pagninus, Montanus.

Ezra 9:2 In-Context

1 And when these things were finished, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands in their abominations, the Chananite, the Ethite, the Pherezite, the Jebusite, the Ammonite, the Moabite, and the Moserite and the Amorite.

2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and their sons; and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers first in this transgression.

3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garments, and trembled, and plucked of the hairs of my head and of my beard, and sat down mourning.

4 Then there assembled to me all that followed the word of the God of Israel, on account of the transgression of the captivity; and I remained mourning until the evening sacrifice.

5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my humiliation; and when I had rent my garments, then I trembled, and I bow myself on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord God,