John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. There were assembled unto me everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel , etc.] That had a reverence for the word of God, and the things contained in it; feared to break the laws of God, and trembled at his judgments, which they might apprehend would come upon transgressors, (see Isaiah 46:2), because of the transgression of those that had been carried away ; into Babylon, and were now returned, and which was an aggravation of their transgression: and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice : or until the ninth hour, as the Syriac version, which was about our three o’clock in the afternoon, at which time the evening sacrifice was offered; perhaps it was in the morning when Ezra first received his information from the princes.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - Many corruptions lurk out of the view of the most careful rulers. Some of the people disobeyed the express command of God, which forbade all marriages with the heathen, De 7. Disbelief of God's all-sufficiency is at the bottom of the sorry shifts we make to help ourselves. The exposed themselves and their children to the peril of idolatry, tha had ruined their church and nation. Carnal professors may make light of such connexions, and try to explain away the exhortations to be separate; but those who are best acquainted with the word of God, wil treat the subject in another manner. They must forebode the worst from such unions. The evils excused, and even pleaded for; by man professors, astonish and cause regret in the true believer. All wh profess to be God's people, ought to strengthen those that appear an act against vice and profaneness.
Original Hebrew ואלי413 יאספו622 כל3605 חרד2730 בדברי1697 אלהי430 ישׂראל3478 על5921 מעל4604 הגולה1473 ואני589 ישׁב3427 משׁומם8074 עד5704 למנחת4503 הערב׃6153
