John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Arise , etc.] 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Shechaniah owned the national guilt. The case is sad, but it is no desperate; the disease threatening, but not incurable. Now that the people begin to lament, a spirit of repentance seems to be poured out now there is hope that God will forgive, and have mercy. The sin tha rightly troubles us, shall not ruin us. In melancholy times we mus observe what makes for us, as well as against us. And there may be goo hopes through grace, even where there is the sense of great guil before God. The case is plain; what has been done amiss, must be undon again as far as possible; nothing less than this is true repentance Sin must be put away, with a resolution never to have any thing more to do with it. What has been unjustly got, must be restored. Arise, be of good courage. Weeping, in this case, is good, but reforming is better As to being unequally yoked with unbelievers, such marriages, it is certain, are sinful, and ought not to be made; but now they are no null, as they were before the gospel did away the separation betwee Jews and Gentiles.
Original Hebrew קום6965 כי3588 עליך5921 הדבר1697 ואנחנו587 עמך5973 חזק2388 ועשׂה׃6213
