_EZRA, HAVING DEMANDED AND RECEIVED AN OATH FROM THE CHIEF PERSONS, COMMANDS THAT THOSE WHO HAD MARRIED STRANGE WIVES SHOULD PUT THEM AWAY. RULERS ARE CHOSEN TO INQUIRE AFTER THOSE WHO WERE GUILTY. THE NAMES OF SUCH ARE ENUMERATED._ _Before Christ 457._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 3. _TO PUT AWAY ALL THE WIVES, AND SUCH AS ARE BORN OF THEM_— It has been objected by some, that it seems an act of extreme severity, if not of injustice, upon the dissolution of these illegal marriages, to turn the children adrift, and cause them to suffer. Now let it be first observed, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 8. _SEPARATED_— Or, _excommunicated,_ by which he was excluded from all society. After sixty days contumacy, the anathema or execration followed; which, however, was rescinded upon repentance: nevertheless, it was not allowable for any one to kill the person under such an anathema; but he mig... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 9. _IT WAS THE NINTH MONTH,_ &C.— That is, some time in _December,_ when the rains in the Holy Land are extremely cold. Dr. Russel, in his account of the weather at Aleppo, which very much resembles that in Judea, says, that "the natives reckon the severity of the winter to last but forty day... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 19. _THEY GAVE THEIR HANDS_— See 2 Kings 10:15. Houbigant renders the last clause, _and who had offended, gave one ram of the flock for their offence._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 44. _THESE HAD TAKEN STRANGE WIVES,_ &C.— The number is not very great, if compared with all those who came out of captivity; but they seem to have been eminent persons, and their examples would, doubtless, have spread the contagion, if a speedy stop had not been put to the evil. Justin Marty... [ Continue Reading ]