THEOSISJerome of Stridon
Those who returned from Babylonian exile, including the leaders, priests, Levites, and the rest of the community, chose to forsake their Israelite wives. This decision was influenced by their hardships, the toll of the arduous journey, and the frailty of their wives, who were overwhelmed by suffering and fatigue. Instead, they sought unions with younger, attractive foreign women, noted for their beauty, nobility, or wealth. As a result, Ezra felt compelled to address this situation, urging these men to annul their recent marriages and to take back the wives they had forsaken.