Ezra 10:15

Slight opposition.

Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about thismatter] R.V. stood up against (Marg. Or, were appointed over) this matter.

The word -only", the English reader should take notice, is not used in the sense of -alone", but as an adversative, -notwithstanding", -nevertheless". It would therefore naturally introduce the mention of an exception or of an opposition.

There are two views as to the correct rendering of the verse. The point of difference lies in the Hebrew words variously rendered -were appointed over" and -stood up against". (1) The rendering of the A.V. -were employed about", though less accurate, agrees with that of the R.V. margin -were appointed over". The Hebrew literally translated is -stood over"; (a) it is noticeable that this verb to -stand" is the same as that used in the previous Ezra 10:12 -Let now our rulers be appointed(Heb. stand)". If there were no other point to be considered, it would seem most natural that the narrative should be resumed with the same verb as had just occurred in a reported speech and with the repetition of the phrase -about this matter" (Ezra 9:15). (b) After the people's declaration, it was to be expected that the names of some of the commission would be recorded. (c) The use of the adversative may betaken to imply a departure from the first proposal of a commission. (d) The mention of Meshullam and Shabbethai, who -helped", seems to suggest cooperation in the execution of, not in the opposition to, the scheme. (2) The rendering of the R.V. -stood up against" has greater probability. (a) It accounts for the use of the adversative -only". (b) The use of the words to -stand over or against" in a hostile sense is supported by 1 Chronicles 21:1; 2 Chronicles 20:23; Daniel 8:25; Daniel 11:14. (c) Except for this verse we should have no record of any of the opposition, which, considering the extreme severity of the measures, would be almost inevitable. It is indeed a reasonable objection that the mention of the opposition is very awkwardly inserted between the people's declaration and the statement (in Ezra 10:16) of their action. But this objection applies to the verse (15) as a whole rather than to the special interpretation of it, and, as a matter of fact, the abruptness of the insertion is due to the Compiler's work, and is scarcely lessened by the alternative interpretation. Another objection, that the word -help" used of Meshullam and Shabbethai would not naturally express their support of an opposition, can only be partially admitted. It is true that, as only four opponents are mentioned by name, they might much more easily have been grouped together, unless there was some special reason for separating them. But whatever special reason there was for separating the pairs of names, would apply equally well, whether the individuals were said to carry out or to oppose the scheme. This objection therefore like the other is equally well raised against any explanation of the verse; it does not affect the selection to be made between the two renderings.

Accepting the rendering of the R.V., we need not suppose that these four individuals were the only opponents of Ezra's policy. They are here mentioned as the leaders of the opposition, and there is every reason to suppose that their opinions must have been shared by very many.

and Meshullam Possibly the same as the Meshullam mentioned in Ezra 10:29. If so, we may suppose from Ezra 10:19 that he along with the others who had similarly offended -gave his hand" that he would put away his wife. Perhaps he had been convinced of the public necessity for the action, which for private reasons he felt obliged to condemn. This conflict of feeling might account for his being described as only -helping" the opponents.

Shabbethai the Levite This name does not occur in 23 or 24 among the Levites who had offended. Shabbethai may have opposed for other reasons, either because members of his family were implicated, or because he considered the letter of the law to be strained by the adoption of the proposed measures. The opposition of a Levite deserved especial record.

helped them As if their position were a subordinate one in the opposition. They supported, but did not head the movement, cf. 1 Kings 1:7 -they following Adonijah helped him".