Ezra 10:1-44
“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.” (Ezra 10:1)
People can get so used to a pain or discomfort they no longer notice it unless something happens to call their attention to it. The people in Judah were used to their conscience hurting because of their sin and hadn’t paid any attention until they heard Ezra’s prayer. When they heard his prayer, they became aware of the pain in their conscience and began to weep. A large group gathered around Ezra, wanting to take action to cure the problem.
“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.
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.
Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.” (Ezra 10:2-4)
Shechaniah spoke for the people when he acknowledged their sin in getting involved and marrying people who did not believe in God. Deuteronomy 7:3-4 commanded, “Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.”
The problem was not their race, but their religion. Unless they turned to God they would cause the Jews to turn away, and that was in fact what had happened. They had begun to participate in the other group’s religion to please their mates.
Shechaniah recognized thast God was a forgiving God, and would forgive if they confessed and stopped their sin. He recommended that they separate from the wives and children that did not worship God to show their commitment. He recommended that it be done in accordance with Deuteronomy 24:1. “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.” The people would do it if Ezra agreed. The easiest way to deal with temptation is to avoid situations that cause you to be tempted.
“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.
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.” (Ezra 10:5-6)
After obtaining a commitment from the people to put away their ungodly wives, Ezra went before the Lord, asking their forgiveness. He was still troubled that they had so easily turned away from god.
“And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; 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.
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. ” (Ezra 10:7-9)
A proclamation was made requiring every one of the Israelites to appear in Jerusalem within three days to take care of the matter. Anyone who didn’t show up would forfeit all his property and his Jewish citizenship. Everyone came as required, on a December day that was raining heavily, and the tension of what they were doing combined with the damp coldness made everyone shiver.
“And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 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.
Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. 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. 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.” (Ezra 10:10-14)
When Ezra explained what was needed, the people agreed to act on what was commanded, but pointed out that there were a lot of people involved and it would be difficult to see that everyone took actions immediately. There was not enough places for all of them to stay in Jerusalem, especially with it raining as it was. The people suggested that the rulers enforce the law, taking one city at time, working with the officials from each city to be sure everything was done properly.
"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. 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. And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.” (Ezra 10:15-17)
Following the peoples recommendation, they appointed several leaders, who together with Ezra, completed filing the divorces within three months.
“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. 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.” (Ezra 10:18-19)
The first group Ezra had to deal with was the priests, right there in Jerusalem, who were responsible for teaching the others as well as being obligated to meet a higher standard if they were to do their job. Leviticus 21:7 stated, “They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.”
Unfortunately, many in positions to lead are like the old joke about the difference between politicians and leaders. Leaders set out to do what they think needs done.. Politicians find out where people are trending then run out in front yelling “follow me” to make people think they are leading.
“And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah. And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah. Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah. And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth. And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau, And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.” (Ezra 10:20-44)
“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.” (Ezra 10:1)
People can get so used to a pain or discomfort they no longer notice it unless something happens to call their attention to it. The people in Judah were used to their conscience hurting because of their sin and hadn’t paid any attention until they heard Ezra’s prayer. When they heard his prayer, they became aware of the pain in their conscience and began to weep. A large group gathered around Ezra, wanting to take action to cure the problem.
“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.
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.
Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.” (Ezra 10:2-4)
Shechaniah spoke for the people when he acknowledged their sin in getting involved and marrying people who did not believe in God. Deuteronomy 7:3-4 commanded, “Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.”
The problem was not their race, but their religion. Unless they turned to God they would cause the Jews to turn away, and that was in fact what had happened. They had begun to participate in the other group’s religion to please their mates.
Shechaniah recognized thast God was a forgiving God, and would forgive if they confessed and stopped their sin. He recommended that they separate from the wives and children that did not worship God to show their commitment. He recommended that it be done in accordance with Deuteronomy 24:1. “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.” The people would do it if Ezra agreed. The easiest way to deal with temptation is to avoid situations that cause you to be tempted.
“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.
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.” (Ezra 10:5-6)
After obtaining a commitment from the people to put away their ungodly wives, Ezra went before the Lord, asking their forgiveness. He was still troubled that they had so easily turned away from god.
“And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; 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.
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. ” (Ezra 10:7-9)
A proclamation was made requiring every one of the Israelites to appear in Jerusalem within three days to take care of the matter. Anyone who didn’t show up would forfeit all his property and his Jewish citizenship. Everyone came as required, on a December day that was raining heavily, and the tension of what they were doing combined with the damp coldness made everyone shiver.
“And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 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.
Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. 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. 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.” (Ezra 10:10-14)
When Ezra explained what was needed, the people agreed to act on what was commanded, but pointed out that there were a lot of people involved and it would be difficult to see that everyone took actions immediately. There was not enough places for all of them to stay in Jerusalem, especially with it raining as it was. The people suggested that the rulers enforce the law, taking one city at time, working with the officials from each city to be sure everything was done properly.
"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. 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. And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.” (Ezra 10:15-17)
Following the peoples recommendation, they appointed several leaders, who together with Ezra, completed filing the divorces within three months.
“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. 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.” (Ezra 10:18-19)
The first group Ezra had to deal with was the priests, right there in Jerusalem, who were responsible for teaching the others as well as being obligated to meet a higher standard if they were to do their job. Leviticus 21:7 stated, “They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.”
Unfortunately, many in positions to lead are like the old joke about the difference between politicians and leaders. Leaders set out to do what they think needs done.. Politicians find out where people are trending then run out in front yelling “follow me” to make people think they are leading.
“And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah. And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah. Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah. And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth. And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau, And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.” (Ezra 10:20-44)
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