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 9:8

9:8 “But now briefly ²  we have received mercy from the Lord our God, in that he has left us a remnant and has given us a secure position ³  in his holy place. Thus our God has enlightened our eyes ⁴  and has given us a little relief in our time of servitude.

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¹ tn Heb “the holy seed,” referring to the Israelites as God’s holy people.

² tn Heb “according to a little moment.”

³ 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.

⁴ 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.