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CHAP. X.
WHen Ezra had ended his confession made with the people, both men and women weeping about him, Shechaniah said unto him, we have sinned, * 1.1 but now there may be some hope in this matter. Therefore let us make a Covenant, &c. The Vulgar Latine for these words, there may be some hope, hath, If there be repentance in Israel, let us make a Covenant, but in Hebrew it is, There is hope to Israel in this matter, meaning, because they were all full of sorrow and penitent, therefore who this Shechaniah was I finde not, but onely that he was a Prince amongst the people, who in the name of all confessed their guiltinesse, and exhorteth to the making of a Covenant, of putting all such wives away (that Gods anger might be averted) and the children borne by them. Onely it appea∣reth by the catalogue of those that had marryed strange vvives here follovving, ver. 26. that he vvas none of them, because his name is not in amongst the sonnes of Elam, of vvhich family he vvas: He vvas therefore most probably a godly man, and vvhen he confessed this sin, did it but as Ezra had done before, as a member of the same body, in which regard the most innocent is not vvithout guiltinesse, till that by humiliation and sorrow he obteineth forgivenesse.
In what place and authority he was, may be gathered, ver. 4. where he telleth Ezra, that it belonged to him to doe this, and promiseth him assistance. And * 1.2 because he spake so unto him, it appeareth that Ezra the High Priest had now the principality, as also by the Kings letter unto him, wherby he set him over all in those parts. Then Ezra arose and sware the Princes, or chief of the Priests, Levits, and all Israel to doe thus, so they were bound by oath, or vow, which none may * 1.3 dare to break. Then Ezra went into the chamber of Iehohanan the sonne of Eliasib, he was one of the Princes of the Priests, and with him and others, he ha∣ving * 1.4 most probably consulted there, a Decree was sent out through Iudah and Ie∣rusalem, that all should come together to Ierusalem within three dayes, upon pain of losing all their goods, and being cast out from the congregation. Hereupon all * 1.5 assembled together, the 20 day of the 9 moneth, and being moved by Ezra to con∣fesse their sin, and to put away their strange wives, they promised so to doe, but because much time would be requisite to set it down by every one, and it was then wet and cold, Officers were appointed to set it down in all parts, with all con∣venient speed, & accordingly it was performed by the first day, of the first moneth, * 1.6 of the next year, being begun the first of the tenth moneth, and that was in three moneths, and the number that had thus sinned was 113, whereof 28 of the Priests and Levites, with whom it seemeth, Malac. 2. 8, 9, 10, 11, &c. that God was most offended, because when their lips should have preserved knovvledge, and they should have been a guide to others, they contrariwise gave an ill example, and maintained the lawfulnesse of these promiscuous marriages, so it may seem they are brought in, arguing for them, ver. 9, 10. They that hold Hester to have been taken to vvife by this Artaxerxes, place her marriage vvith him about this time, viz. the eighth year of his reigne, and so betvvixt this and his 13 year, bring in the rest of the History of Hester, but of this more vvhen I come to that Book it selfe. From Ezra his example, bevvailing the sins of the people, and fasting therefore, vve should learn to be likevvise affected vvith the sins of others, and not vvith [Note.] our ovvn onely, and to pray for the forgivenesse of them, and to seeke their refor∣mation.