Wesley Corpus

Chapter IX The people keep a solemn fast, ver. 1 - 3. The Levites bless God for his goodness to them and their fathers, ver. 4 - 8. In Egypt and in their journey out of it, ver. 9 - 12. On mount Sinai, ver. 13, 14. And their journey toward Canaan, ver. 15 - 18. In the wilderness, ver. 19 - 21. In driving out the Canaanites, ver. 22 - 26. In hearing their prayer when in trouble, ver. 27 - 31. They confess their sin, ver. 32 - 37. And seal a covenant with God, ver. 38. 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 they resume their former thoughts, and recalling their sins to mind, set apart a day for solemn fasting and humiliation. 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 fallen into the same error, and shewed the truth of their repentance by forsaking their beloved sins, and dearest relations. 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 endeavour to make a day's work, a good day's work of it. 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 sense of their sins and miseries, and their servant, and importunate desire of God's mercy. Good statutes - The moral and judicial precepts were all founded on natural equity.