Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ezra 9:8
Verse 8. And now for a little space] This interval in which they were returning from servitude to their own land. Grace hath been showed] God has disposed the hearts of the Persian kings to publish edicts in our favour.
To leave us a remnant to escape] The ten tribes are gone irrecoverably into captivity; a great part even of Judah and Benjamin had continued beyond the Euphrates: so that Ezra might well say, there was but a remnant which had escaped.
A nail in his holy place] Even so much ground as to fix our tent-poles in.
May lighten our eyes] To give us a thorough knowledge of ourselves and of our highest interest, and to enable us to re-establish his worship, is the reason why God has brought us back to this place.
A little reviving] We were perishing, and our hopes were almost dead; and, because of our sins, we were sentenced to death: but God in his great mercy has given us a new trial; and he begins with little, to see if we will make a wise and faithful use of it.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. And now, for a little space, grace hath been showed from the Lord our God , etc.] It was but a small time since the Lord first began to show favour to them, so that they soon after began to revolt from him; which argued the strange propensity of their minds to that which is evil, and from which they could not be restrained by the recent goodness of God unto them: to leave us a remnant to escape ; out of captivity, from whence a small number were graciously and safely returned to their own land: and to give us a nail in his holy place ; a fixed settlement in the land of Judea, the holy land the Lord had chosen, and in the temple, the holy place sacred to his worship; or a prince of their own, Zerubbabel, to be the governor of them, under whom they might enjoy settled happiness and prosperity, (see Isaiah 22:23 Zechariah 10:4), that our God may lighten our eyes ; refresh our spirits, cheer our souls, and give us light and gladness, (see 1 Samuel 14:27) and give us a little reviving in our bondage ; for they were still in some degree of bondage, being in subjection, and tributaries to the kings of Persia; but yet being returned to their own land, it was as life from the dead unto them, at least it was giving them a little life, liberty, and joy.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-15 - The sacrifice, especially the evening sacrifice, was a type of the blessed Lamb of God, who in the evening of the world, was to take awa sin by the sacrifice of himself. Ezra's address is a peniten confession of sin, the sin of his people. But let this be the comfor of true penitents, that though their sins reach to the heavens, God' mercy is in the heavens. Ezra, speaking of sin, speaks as one muc ashamed. Holy shame is as necessary in true repentance as holy sorrow Ezra speaks as much amazed. The discoveries of guilt cause amazement the more we think of sin, the worse it looks. Say, God be merciful to me sinner. Ezra speaks as one much afraid. There is not a surer of saddler presage of ruin, than turning to sin, after great judgments and great deliverances. Every one in the church of God, has to wonde that he has not wearied out the Lord's patience, and brough destruction upon himself. What then must be the case of the ungodly But though the true penitent has nothing to plead in his own behalf the heavenly Advocate pleads most powerfully for him __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ועתה 6258 כמעט 4592 רגע 7281 היתה 1961 תחנה 8467 מאת 853 יהוה 3069 אלהינו 430 להשׁאיר 7604 לנו פליטה 6413 ולתת 5414 לנו יתד 3489 במקום 4725 קדשׁו 6944 להאיר 215 עינינו 5869 אלהינו 430 ולתתנו 5414 מחיה 4241 מעט 4592 בעבדתנו׃ 5659
