Ezra 9:2

9:2 Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race ¹  has become intermingled with the local residents. Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all of this!”

Ezra 8:31

8:31 On the twelfth day of the first month we began traveling from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from our enemy and from bandits ²  along the way.

Ezra 9:8

9:8 “But now briefly ³  we have received mercy from the Lord our God, in that he has left us a remnant and has given us a secure position ⁴  in his holy place. Thus our God has enlightened our eyes ⁵  and has given us a little relief in our time of servitude.

[9:2]  ¹ tn Heb “the holy seed,” referring to the Israelites as God’s holy people.

[8:31]  ² tn Heb “from the hand of the enemy and the one who lies in wait.” Some modern English versions render the latter phrase as “ambushes” (cf. NASB, NRSV).

[9:8]  ³ tn Heb “according to a little moment.”

[9:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “a peg” or “tent peg.” The imagery behind this word is drawn from the experience of nomads who put down pegs as they pitched their tents and made camp after times of travel.

[9:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “to cause our eyes to shine.” The expression is a figure of speech for “to revive.” See DCH 1:160 s.v. אור Hi.7.