Intermarriage with Neighboring Peoples
Ezra addressed the issue of marrying idol-worshipping foreigners....
Ezra addressed the issue of marrying idol-worshipping foreigners. The Jewish leaders had permitted this practice, even though the early settlers had promised to stay away from pagan influences (Ezra 4:1–5). Ezra prayed for the nation and assisted those who felt guilty about their sins to correct their actions.
The events that follow occurred about four months...
The events that follow occurred about four months after Ezra arrived (compare Ezra 7:9; 10:9).
Intermarriage with non-Israelites was risky because Israelites might worship other gods and adopt harmful religious practices (compare Ezra 4:1–5; Deuteronomy 7:1–4).
the holy seed has been mixed: Literally the holy seed has intermingled itself. Israel was a holy covenant nation (Exodus 19:6) and was not supposed to engage in pagan practices (Leviticus 19:2–4; 20:6–8, 22–26). Therefore, the people were to avoid marrying those who might influence them to adopt such practices. When religious and political leaders married foreigners, they risked leading others astray and damaging Israel's unique identity as a holy people.
The events that follow occurred about four months after Ezra arrived (compare Ezra 7:9; 10:9).
Intermarriage with non-Israelites was risky because Israelites might worship other gods and adopt harmful religious practices (compare Ezra 4:1–5; Deuteronomy 7:1–4).
the holy seed has been mixed: Literally the holy seed has intermingled itself. Israel was a holy covenant nation (Exodus 19:6) and was not supposed to engage in pagan practices (Leviticus 19:2–4; 20:6–8, 22–26). Therefore, the people were to avoid marrying those who might influence them to adopt such practices. When religious and political leaders married foreigners, they risked leading others astray and damaging Israel's unique identity as a holy people.
1After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. 2Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”
3When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.
4Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.
Ezra’s Prayer of Confession
5At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
Ezra’s prayer serves as a model for intercessory...
Ezra’s prayer serves as a model for intercessory prayer (compare Nehemiah 1:5–11; Daniel 9:4–19). It involves:
Confessing sin (Ezra 9:6–7)
Recalling God’s past kindness (Ezra 9:8–9)
Admitting the people have ignored God (Ezra 9:10–12)
Acknowledging their unworthiness (Ezra 9:13–15)
Confessing sin (Ezra 9:6–7)
Recalling God’s past kindness (Ezra 9:8–9)
Admitting the people have ignored God (Ezra 9:10–12)
Acknowledging their unworthiness (Ezra 9:13–15)
6and said:
“O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens. 7From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and subjected to the sword and to captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day.
God's abundant grace and unfailing love should influence...
God's abundant grace and unfailing love should influence how people respond to him (see Deuteronomy 30:1–5). After all God had done for the remnant, it was shameful they were so quick to betray him.
grace in the sight of the kings of Persia: Babylon and Assyria had tortured and exiled their enemies (2 Kings 17; 25), but Persia treated exiled people kindly and returned them to their homelands (see Ezra 1:1–3).
a wall of protection: This phrase refers to God's presence protecting the nation of Judah, not the physical walls of Jerusalem, which Nehemiah rebuilt several years later.
God's abundant grace and unfailing love should influence how people respond to him (see Deuteronomy 30:1–5). After all God had done for the remnant, it was shameful they were so quick to betray him.
grace in the sight of the kings of Persia: Babylon and Assyria had tortured and exiled their enemies (2 Kings 17; 25), but Persia treated exiled people kindly and returned them to their homelands (see Ezra 1:1–3).
a wall of protection: This phrase refers to God's presence protecting the nation of Judah, not the physical walls of Jerusalem, which Nehemiah rebuilt several years later.
8But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake† in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes. 9Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but He has extended to us grace in the sight of the kings of Persia, giving us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and giving us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
10And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandments
Your servants the prophets, saying: God clearly explained...
Your servants the prophets, saying: God clearly explained what he expected from his people (see Deuteronomy 7:3–4; Malachi 2:10–12). He promised great blessings if they followed his covenant rules (see Leviticus 26:1–13; Deuteronomy 28:1–14; Jeremiah 32:36–33:18; Ezekiel 37:15–28; Hosea 14:1–8).
11that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end. 12Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’
13After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this), 14shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor?
15O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You.”