Why did Esdras mourn over the reported marriages?

After completing the temple offerings and administrative deliveries, Jewish princes approached Esdras with a grave report regarding the returning community. They disclosed that the people of Israel, along with their priests and Levites, had failed to separate themselves from the surrounding pagan inhabitants and their abominable customs, specifically naming the Chanaanites, Hethites, Pherezites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorrhites. The community members had taken foreign daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, mingling the consecrated seed with the local populations; moreover, the princes and civic magistrates had taken the lead in this religious violation. An editorial annotation in the Challoner edition underscores the gravity of this offense, observing that marrying those whom the Church forbids carries grave danger of perversion and falling away from the true faith.

Upon hearing this disturbing report, Esdras was overcome with grief; he tore his outer mantle and inner tunic, plucked out hairs from his head and beard, and sat down in mourning. A gathering of all who revered the God of Israel soon formed around him, shaken by the unfaithfulness of the returned exiles. Esdras remained sorrowful until the time of the evening sacrifice.

At the evening sacrifice, Esdras arose from his posture of affliction, and with his torn garments fell upon his knees, stretching out his hands toward the Lord his God in public prayer. He confessed that he was ashamed and confounded to lift his face toward heaven, because Israel's iniquities had multiplied above their heads and their sins had grown up to the heavens. From the days of their forefathers to the present day, they had sinned grievously, causing their kings and priests to be delivered into foreign captivity, slaughter, plundering, and public shame. Esdras prayed for a small surviving remnant, a foothold or pin in God’s holy place, enlightened eyes, and a little life in bondage. A Challoner annotation clarifies that a pin or nail signifies a small settlement or holding that Esdras begs for, to preserve part of the people who had incurred divine wrath. Esdras emphasized that although they remained subject to foreign rule, God had not abandoned them in their bondage, but had moved the Persian kings to show them kindness, allowing them to rebuild the temple ruins and find protection in Juda and Jerusalem.

Esdras then turned to the immediate crisis, acknowledging that Israel had forsaken the clear commands communicated through God's servants the prophets. Those prophetic warnings had declared that the land they were entering was contaminated by the defilements of its inhabitants from border to border, and had expressly forbidden giving daughters to foreign sons, taking foreign daughters in marriage, or seeking their peace and prosperity. The law had promised that keeping this separation would strengthen Israel, allow them to enjoy the land's bounty, and preserve an inheritance for their children forever. In light of their past punishments and God's undeserved deliverance, Esdras asked how they could dare repeat those very sins by intermarrying with the pagan peoples. He questioned whether such renewed defiance would provoke divine anger to the point of utter ruin without leaving any surviving remnant. Concluding his confession, Esdras proclaimed that the Lord God of Israel is righteous, leaving the people alive as a surviving remnant who stood defenseless and guilty before Him, unable to justify their transgression.