1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, [one] of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
4 Arise; for [this] matter [belongeth] unto thee: we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].
5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;
8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It [was] the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of [this] matter, and for the great rain.
10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
13 But the people [are] many, and [it is] a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither [is this] a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.
14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this [matter]: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, [with] certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by [their] names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.
18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: [namely], of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and [being] guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their trespass.
20 And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
21 And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same [is] Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
25 Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26 And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
27 And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
28 Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, [and] Athlai.
29 And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.
30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 And [of] the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Benjamin, Malluch, [and] Shemariah.
33 Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, [and] Shimei.
34 Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 Shallum, Amariah, [and] Joseph.
43 Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
44 All these had taken strange wives: and [some] of them had wives by whom they had children.
Overview of Ezra Chapter 10
Ezra Chapter 10 concludes the book of Ezra with a significant event in the history of the Israelites. It deals with the issue of intermarriage between the Israelites and foreign women, which was seen as a violation of the covenant with God. This chapter highlights the themes of repentance, communal responsibility, and the need for spiritual renewal.
Key Themes
- Repentance: The chapter illustrates the collective sorrow of the Israelites over their sins, leading to a communal act of repentance.
- Separation from Foreign Influence: The emphasis on separating from foreign wives underscores the importance of maintaining the purity of the Israelite community.
- Leadership and Accountability: Ezra’s role as a leader is highlighted, showing the importance of accountability in spiritual matters.
Summary of Events
- Ezra’s Reaction: Upon learning about the intermarriage, Ezra tears his clothes, pulls hair from his head and beard, and sits appalled. This reaction signifies deep distress and a strong emotional response to the sin of the people.
- Gathering of the People: A large assembly of Israelites gathers around Ezra in response to his mourning, indicating a shared concern for the state of their community.
- Confession of Sin: The people confess their sins and acknowledge their guilt, recognizing the severity of their actions in marrying foreign women.
- Proposal for Action: Ezra proposes that the people put away their foreign wives and children born from these unions as a means of returning to faithfulness to God.
- Commitment to Reform: The assembly agrees to Ezra’s proposal, demonstrating a commitment to reform and a desire to restore their covenant relationship with God.
Character Analysis
- Ezra: A priest and scribe, Ezra exhibits leadership qualities through his passionate response to sin. His actions and words reflect a deep commitment to God’s law and the spiritual well-being of the community.
- The People: The Israelites demonstrate a collective sense of guilt and a willingness to repent. Their response shows a desire to align with God’s commandments and restore their identity as His chosen people.
Theological Implications
This chapter emphasizes the importance of holiness and separation from sin. The act of putting away foreign wives serves as a metaphor for the need to distance oneself from influences that lead away from God. It also illustrates the communal aspect of sin and repentance, suggesting that the actions of individuals can impact the entire community.
Conclusion
Ezra Chapter 10 serves as a powerful reminder of the need for repentance and the importance of maintaining spiritual integrity within a community. The chapter closes with a commitment to reform, highlighting the transformative power of collective confession and the desire to return to a faithful relationship with God.
