The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 152

Vers. 6-12.-A national call. We have traced before the probable influence of E~ra's piety and instructions; how they seem to have aroused the national con• 11c1ence, and so to have brought to light the secret national sin; and how they after• ~ards brought together so many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, first to grieve for it, ~nd then to renounce _it, and resolve to suppress it. B_ut these men, however influ- entrnl, were only a fractional part of the nation. If their resolves were to be carried out satisfactorily, and so as to insure a truly national forsaking of the evil amongst them, ~hey required the ~~neral consent, and, at leas_t, the partial co-operation, of all the children of the capt1nty. And, as a first practical step towards obtaining these things, they would naturally desire, ln Jerusalem itself, the presence of all such. Accordingly, we find described to us in this section (1) such a national call to assemble, and (2) snch a national call to amend. J· TH~ c~LL TO ASS~MBLE. This call is deserving_ of notice-1. As to i~s origin. °\\'her~ did 1t really anse_? I1; that chamber to which we find Ezra retinng after pledgmg the assembled mhab1tants of Jerusalem to suppress the evil bewailed by them. At first sight it seems strange, when there was so much requiring to be done in public, that be should seek privacy in this manner; but doubtless in that priestly chamber (see Neh. xii. 10, 22) to which he retired he was in frequent communication with the most like-minded of the princes and priests; and doubtless, also, his peni- tent abstinence there from bread and water, with other signs of his still continuing grief and alarm, would be an effectual means of stirring them up to do their part of the work. Wherever he was, at this time, there was but one thought in his heart. This would lead in them to but one endeavour, that of putting a stop to the plague. Hence the "proclamation" which "they made" (ver. 7). 2. As to its extent. Here, also, see Ezra's influence. The proclamation was universal; made "through- out," and made to "all;" to all the "children of the caJ?tivity" (ver. 7)-to all "those that had been carried away" (ver. 8)-to all those, i. e., for whose transgres- sions (ver. 6) Ezra was mourning at that time. In this thrice-repeated description of them can we not trace the mainspring of his grief, the recollection, viz., of the great judgment and still greater deliverance which those who thus sinned had experienced (comp. ix. 7-9)? It is to all such, therefore, as thus described, that the proclama- tion goes forth. 3. As to its urgency. How speedily these "children of the captivity" are called to come up. Within "three days" they must all be at Jeru- salem. One day, probably, for receiving the message; one day for preparing and travelling: on the third day to be there ( comp. Mark viii. 31 ; ix. 31 ). Also, how peremptorily. Every man summoned must come up on pain of two things, the confiscation of his property (comp. vii. 26, as connecting this with Ezra's infl~ence) and the excommunication of his person. No man so refusing would be considered by the returned remnant as still belonging to their company. If he did so refuse, the sin of it should belong exclusively to himself (see 1 Tim. v. 22). 4. As to its success. "All the men of Judah and Jerusalem" came up within the required time. It is also evident that they came up in the requisite spirit. It was a great day-a wonderful scene. Both seem to have impressed themselves upon the national memory. "It was the ninth month; the twentieth day." They could see it all ~till ; the restored house, the open court before it, the multitudes there a~embled, tbeir weary attitude, their trembling grief. They could even hear still the h£'avy showers-not unusual indeed at that season, yet evidently at this time of very unusual si,verity-which would help so much, in that land of sunshine, to intensify the prevailing gloom; not impossibly, also, reminding some of those present of 1 Sam. xii. 18. See how well this call had succeeded; and how much reason there was to trace its success (when we remember Prov. xvi. 1 ; Matt. vi. 6) to the secret intercessioIIB of Ezra in the "chamber of Johanan, the son of Eliaapib." II. THE CALL TO AMEND. This again was very successful, and, doubtless, from much the same cause. Not only had the people come together, as we ~ave alr~ady seen most willing to hear; but all that followed was also correspondmgly bright. For 'example, observe-I. How faithful the counsel ~iven. Dou1:>ly distressing as the distress of tlie people must nave been to Ezra himself, be will not attempt to remove it by any cry of false peace (Jer .. vi. 14),. On the contrar)'., he states the fact plainly, "Ye have tramJgreseed;" that 1e certam. Aleo he states 1t exactly, "Ye OR, ][, 1-44.] THE BOOK OF EZRA. 159