9:2 the holy race has mixed. The problem was not intermarriage of different ethnic groups, but the confusion of those set apart as holy by covenant with the Lord with those who were outside the covenant and therefore unclean (8:28, 29 note; 9:11–12 note).

the officials. The word for “officials” here is the same as in v. 1. Not all the leaders led people to sin; some led the way to reform.