Ezra 10:4

4 Arise! For this matter is your responsibility; but we will be with you; chazak and act.

Ezra 10:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 10:4

Arise
From the ground, where he lay prostrate:

for this matter belongeth unto thee;
as a priest and scribe of the law, well versed in it, and therefore could direct what was to be done according to it; and as a ruler under the king of Persia, and a commissioner of his, to inquire whether the law of God was observed by the Jews, ( Ezra 7:14 ) and so had authority to put the law in execution:

we also will be with thee;
to help and assist in the reformation of this evil:

be of good courage, and do it;
do not despair of going through it, though there may be some opposition to it; begin, and doubt not of succeeding.

Ezra 10:4 In-Context

2 And Shechanyah ben Yechiel, of the Bnei Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have been unfaithful to Eloheinu, have married foreign am ha’aretz women; yet now there is mikveh for Yisroel in spite of this.

3 So now let us make a Brit with Eloheinu to put away all nashim and that born of them, according to the counsel of Adonoi and the charedim at the mitzvot of Eloheinu; and let it be done according to the Torah.

4 Arise! For this matter is your responsibility; but we will be with you; chazak and act.

5 Then Ezra rose and made the leading Kohanim, the Levi’im, and kol Yisroel take an oath that they would do according to this proposal; so they took the oath.

6 Then Ezra arose from before the Beis HaElohim and went into the chamber of Yehochanan ben Elyashiv. Although he went there, he did not eat lechem, nor drink water, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of those of the Golus.