Now — The next day, but one after the feast of tabernacles, which begun on the fourteenth day, and ended on the twenty second, for their consciences having been fully awakened and their hearts filled with grief for their sins, which they were not allowed to express in that time of publick joy; now t... [ Continue Reading ]
Separated — From all unnecessary society with the Heathens, and particularly from those strange women whom some of them had married. For though Ezra had done this formerly, yet, it seems, there were some criminals, without his knowledge, or, these were some new delinquents, that since that time had... [ Continue Reading ]
Book of the law — As they did before, giving them the sense of what they read. Fourth part — For three hours; there were twelve hours in their day, probably they began after the morning sacrifice, and continued their work till the evening sacrifice. The work of a fast — day is good work. We should e... [ Continue Reading ]
Stairs — Upon such stairs, or pulpits, as the Levites used to stand upon, when they taught the people. But they stood upon several pulpits, each of them teaching that part of the congregation which was allotted him, or praying, or blessing God with them. Loud voice — Thereby testifying their deep se... [ Continue Reading ]
Good statutes — The moral and judicial precepts were all founded on natural equity. And even the ceremonial were tokens of God's goodness, being types of gospel — grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
Made — Designed, and resolved to do so, Numbers 14:4, and therefore they are said to do so, as Abraham is said to have offered up Isaac, Hebrews 11:17, because he intended to do it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Divide — The Heathen nations, whom God in a great measure destroyed, and the remainders of them he dispersed into corners; that whereas before the Israelites came, they had large habitations, now they were cooped up, some in one town, and some in another, in the several corners of their land, while... [ Continue Reading ]
Mercy — He adds mercy, because the covenant in itself was not a sufficient ground of hope, because they had so basely broken it. God was discharged from keeping it, and therefore they fly to God's free and rich mercy for relief.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou art just. &c. — It becomes us, when we are under the rebukes of providence, be they ever so sharp, or ever so long continued, still to justify God, and to own we are punished less than our iniquities deserve.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yieldeth much, &c. — We plow, and sow, and labour, and thou givest thy blessing to our endeavours; and yet in a great measure this is not for ourselves, as formerly it was, but for our kings, to whom we pay heavy tributes. Dominion — Pressing or forcing both us and our beasts to go and to do what th... [ Continue Reading ]
Sure covenant, &c. — It was sealed and left upon record, that it might be a witness against them, if they dealt deceitfully.... [ Continue Reading ]