And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our leaders, Levites, and priests, seal it.
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Bede
AD 735
“And Ezra said, ‘You yourself, O Lord, you alone made the heaven, the heaven of heavens, and all their host, the earth and all that is on it,’ ” and so on up until the end of his prayer or confession. It was said above that they were confessing their sins and the sins of their ancestors; here, when Ezra prays, it is shown more fully how this was done. But where he says at the end, “Because of all this, therefore, we ourselves are making a covenant and writing it down, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are signing it,” and so on, it is shown more clearly with what gracious devotion all the various persons made a new assembly after the Feast of the Tabernacles, namely, so that after purging themselves with resolved purpose from the contagions of their wrongdoings, they might unite themselves to the divine covenant and confirm its terms by word and in writing. Thus separated from association with the ungodly, they would more confidently complete the work they began long ag...
Because. Or "considering all these things "as chastisements due to our transgressions, we are resolved now to reform our conduct, (Haydock) and to comply more exactly with the covenant, which we will now solemnly renew. A copy was probably deposited in the temple, signed by the princes, (Calmet) in the name of all. (Haydock)
Malachy (Malachi as i. 4.) seems to allude to this covenant. (Calmet)
