Ezra felt both an inner shame before God and an outward humiliation before men for the sins of his people.1 In a concept known as community solidarity, Ezra identifies himself with the exiled community, acknowledging that the whole community is responsible for individual failure. Even though he has not committed the sin of intermarriage, he identifies himself with that sin and leads the people in a prayer.
6 saying:“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.