Ezra 10 Study Notes: The Covenant to Put Away Foreign Wives
As Ezra weeps and prays, a large crowd gathers in sorrow, and Shecaniah urges a covenant to dismiss the foreign wives along with their children in keeping with the Law. The people gather in heavy rain, agree to Ezra’s call, and leaders examine each case, ending with a list of the men involved.
General
Why were the people trembling as they sat in the open square by God’s house (Ezra 10:9)?
Answer: The grave matter before them and a heavy downpour of rain
A proclamation went out through Judah and Jerusalem calling all the exiles to Jerusalem within three days; anyone who did not come would lose all his property and be put out of the community of exiles (10:7-8). The decree of Artaxerxes had earlier listed confiscation of property among the penalties for anyone who disobeyed the law of Ezra’s God (7:25-26). Every man from Judah and Benjamin came and sat in the open square in front of God’s house, trembling over this serious matter and over the pouring rain (10:9). Earlier, those who trembled at God’s words had gathered around Ezra (9:4); now the whole assembly sat trembling.
- Ezra 10:7-9 (BSB)“And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem. Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles. So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.”The exiles are summoned under penalty, and they sit in the square trembling over the matter and the heavy rain.
- Ezra 7:25-26 (BSB)“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them. If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.”The decree of Artaxerxes listed confiscation of property among the penalties for not keeping the law of Ezra’s God.
- Ezra 9:4 (BSB)“Then 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.”Earlier, those who trembled at the words of God had gathered around Ezra.
Theological
What two causes does the text give for the trembling of the gathered men (Ezra 10:9)?
Answer: The grave matter before them and a heavy downpour of rain
The summons was backed by real sanctions: forfeiture of property and exclusion from the community of the returned exiles for anyone failing to come in three days (10:7-8); the decree of Artaxerxes had earlier listed confiscation of property among the penalties for not keeping the law of Ezra’s God (7:25-26). The men from Judah and Benjamin sat in the open square before God’s house, trembling over the matter itself and over the pouring rain (10:9). Earlier, those who trembled at God’s words had gathered around Ezra (9:4); now the whole assembly sat trembling.
- Ezra 10:7-9 (BSB)“And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem. Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles. So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.”The exiles are summoned under penalty, and they sit in the square trembling over the matter and the heavy rain.
- Ezra 7:25-26 (BSB)“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them. If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.”The decree of Artaxerxes listed confiscation of property among the penalties for not keeping the law of Ezra’s God.
- Ezra 9:4 (BSB)“Then 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.”Earlier, those who trembled at the words of God had gathered around Ezra.
General
What happened while Ezra was praying and weeping before God’s house (Ezra 10:1)?
Answer: A huge crowd of men and women and children joined him in bitter tears
As Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and lying face down in front of God’s house, a huge crowd of Israelites, men and women and children alike, came around him, and they too wept bitterly (10:1). The people joined Ezra in grieving over the sin. The LORD had called His people to return to Him with fasting and with weeping and mourning (Joel 2:12-13), and the New Testament says that sorrow that comes from God leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).
- Ezra 10:1 (BSB)“While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.”As Ezra prays and weeps before God’s house, a very large assembly gathers and weeps bitterly.
- Joel 2:12-13 (BSB)““Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.”The LORD calls His people to return to Him with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
- James 4:9-10 (BSB)“Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”James calls sinners to grieve, mourn, and humble themselves before the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10 (BSB)“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.
Theological
How did the people respond as Ezra prayed and confessed before the temple (Ezra 10:1)?
Answer: A huge crowd of men and women and children joined him in bitter tears
Ezra’s public confession, made with weeping and prostration in front of God’s house, drew a very great assembly of men and women and children, who also wept bitterly (10:1). The people joined their grief to his. Scripture calls for exactly this response to sin, a turning back to the LORD with weeping and mourning (Joel 2:12-13), a humbling that God honors (James 4:9-10), and the godly sorrow that produces repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).
- Ezra 10:1 (BSB)“While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.”As Ezra prays and weeps before God’s house, a very large assembly gathers and weeps bitterly.
- Joel 2:12-13 (BSB)““Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.”The LORD calls His people to return to Him with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
- James 4:9-10 (BSB)“Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”James calls sinners to grieve, mourn, and humble themselves before the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10 (BSB)“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.
General
What did Ezra tell the gathered assembly to do (Ezra 10:10-11)?
Answer: Confess to the LORD, do His will, and separate from foreign wives
Then Ezra, who was a priest, rose and told the assembly that they had broken faith in taking foreign wives and had added to Israel’s guilt (10:10). He called them to confess to the LORD, their fathers’ God, to do His will, and to part from the peoples around them and from their foreign wives (10:11). His call began with confession to God, the step that runs through Scripture’s prayers of repentance: the psalmist owned his sin before God and was forgiven (Psalm 32:5), the one who admits and forsakes sin finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13), and God is faithful to forgive those who confess (1 John 1:9). The assembly answered with a loud voice that they must do as he said (10:12).
- Ezra 10:10-11 (BSB)“Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.””Ezra calls the people to confess to the LORD, do His will, and separate from the peoples of the land and their foreign wives.
- Proverbs 28:13 (BSB)“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”Whoever confesses and renounces sin will find mercy.
- Psalm 32:5 (BSB)“Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah”When the psalmist confessed his sin, the LORD forgave the guilt of it.
- 1 John 1:9 (BSB)“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”God faithfully and justly forgives those who confess their sins.
Theological
What did Ezra call the assembly to do in response to their guilt (Ezra 10:10-11)?
Answer: Confess to the LORD, do His will, and separate from foreign wives
Ezra names the sin plainly as unfaithfulness that added to Israel’s guilt (10:10), and then calls the assembly to confess to the LORD, their fathers’ God, to do His will, and to part from the peoples around them and from the foreign wives (10:11). His call begins with confession to God, which Scripture everywhere joins to forgiveness: the psalmist owned his transgressions and the LORD pardoned his guilt (Psalm 32:5), the one who confesses and renounces sin finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13), and God, being faithful and just, forgives those who confess (1 John 1:9). The assembly answered with a loud voice that they must do as he said (10:12).
- Ezra 10:10-11 (BSB)“Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.””Ezra calls the people to confess to the LORD, do His will, and separate from the peoples of the land and their foreign wives.
- Proverbs 28:13 (BSB)“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”Whoever confesses and renounces sin will find mercy.
- Psalm 32:5 (BSB)“Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah”When the psalmist confessed his sin, the LORD forgave the guilt of it.
- 1 John 1:9 (BSB)“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”God faithfully and justly forgives those who confess their sins.
General
After the oath was sworn, why did Ezra go without food and water in Jehohanan’s room (Ezra 10:5-6)?
Answer: He was grieving over the exiles’ betrayal of the LORD
Ezra rose and had the leading priests, the Levites (the tribe set apart to serve at the temple), and all Israel swear to act on the proposal, and they swore it (10:5). Then he went from the front of God’s house to the room of Jehohanan, Eliashib’s son, where he went without food and water, grieving because the returned exiles had broken faith (10:6). Nehemiah would later fast and mourn in the same way over Jerusalem’s condition (Nehemiah 1:4). Ezra grieved as the psalmist did, whose eyes ran with tears because God’s law was not kept (Psalm 119:136).
- Ezra 10:5-6 (BSB)“So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath. Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.”Ezra has the leaders take the oath, then fasts in Jehohanan’s chamber, mourning over the exiles’ unfaithfulness.
- Nehemiah 1:4 (BSB)“When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”Nehemiah also wept, mourned, and fasted over the condition of his people.
- Psalm 119:136 (BSB)“My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.”The psalmist weeps because God’s law is not obeyed.
- Ezekiel 9:4 (BSB)““Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.””The LORD marks those who sigh and groan over Jerusalem’s abominations.
Theological
What reason does the text give for Ezra’s fast in Jehohanan’s chamber (Ezra 10:5-6)?
Answer: He was grieving over the exiles’ betrayal of the LORD
Once the chief priests, the Levites, and the whole people had sworn (10:5), Ezra withdrew to Jehohanan’s room and fasted from food and water, mourning over the exiles’ unfaithfulness (10:6). The covenant was made, but Ezra did not treat the sin lightly; his grief continued. He shares the mourning of those whom the LORD marked out for sighing over Jerusalem’s abominations (Ezekiel 9:4), the psalmist’s tears over a broken law (Psalm 119:136), and Nehemiah’s fasting over his people (Nehemiah 1:4).
- Ezra 10:5-6 (BSB)“So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath. Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.”Ezra has the leaders take the oath, then fasts in Jehohanan’s chamber, mourning over the exiles’ unfaithfulness.
- Nehemiah 1:4 (BSB)“When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”Nehemiah also wept, mourned, and fasted over the condition of his people.
- Psalm 119:136 (BSB)“My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.”The psalmist weeps because God’s law is not obeyed.
- Ezekiel 9:4 (BSB)““Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.””The LORD marks those who sigh and groan over Jerusalem’s abominations.
General
True or False: Every man in the assembly supported the plan, and no one opposed it (Ezra 10:15).
Answer: False
This is false. Two men, Jonathan and Jahzeiah, opposed the plan, with Meshullam and Shabbethai, a Levite, backing them (10:15). Their reasons are not given. Apart from these few, the exiles carried out what they had proposed: Ezra chose heads of families by name, and they began looking into the cases when month ten began and finished with every man involved by the beginning of month one (10:16-17). This followed the assembly’s loud agreement (10:12) and the oath sworn earlier by the priests, the Levites, and all the people (10:5).
- Ezra 10:15-17 (BSB)“(Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.) So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation, and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.”A few men oppose the plan, but the exiles carry it out and complete the investigation.
- Ezra 10:12 (BSB)“And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say!”The whole assembly had answered with a loud voice that they must do as Ezra said.
- Ezra 10:5 (BSB)“So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.”The leading priests, Levites, and all Israel had already sworn the oath.
Theological
True or False: Ezra 10:15 records that the plan met with no opposition from anyone in the assembly.
Answer: False
This is false. A small group opposed the plan: Jonathan and Jahzeiah, backed by Meshullam and by Shabbethai, a Levite (10:15). Their reasons are not given. The rest of the exiles carried out what they had proposed; Ezra appointed family heads, and the inquiry ran from the beginning of month ten to the beginning of month one (10:16-17). The work went forward on the basis of the assembly’s public agreement (10:12) and the oath already sworn (10:5).
- Ezra 10:15-17 (BSB)“(Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.) So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation, and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.”A few men oppose the plan, but the exiles carry it out and complete the investigation.
- Ezra 10:12 (BSB)“And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say!”The whole assembly had answered with a loud voice that they must do as Ezra said.
- Ezra 10:5 (BSB)“So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.”The leading priests, Levites, and all Israel had already sworn the oath.
General
How did the assembly answer Ezra’s call (Ezra 10:12-14)?
Answer: They agreed but asked to handle it town by town at set times
The whole assembly shouted back that they must do as Ezra said (10:12). But they pointed out that there were many people, it was the rainy season, they could not stand outside, and the matter could not be finished in a day or two because their sin in this matter was great (10:13). They asked that their leaders act for the whole assembly, and that each man with a foreign wife appear at a set time along with his own town’s elders and judges, until God’s fierce anger over the matter was turned away (10:14). The law had warned that the LORD’s anger would burn against such disobedience (Deuteronomy 7:4), and Scripture links turning back to the LORD with His anger turning away (2 Chronicles 30:8).
- Ezra 10:12-14 (BSB)“And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say! But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter. Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.””The assembly agrees, but asks that leaders and local elders and judges handle each case at appointed times.
- Deuteronomy 7:4 (BSB)“because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.”The law warned that the LORD’s anger would burn against Israel for such marriages.
- 2 Chronicles 30:8 (BSB)“Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.”Hezekiah urged the people to serve the LORD so that His fierce anger would turn away.
Theological
What was the assembly’s response to Ezra, and what arrangement did they request (Ezra 10:12-14)?
Answer: They agreed but asked to handle it town by town at set times
The assembly affirmed Ezra’s word with a loud voice (10:12) but proposed an orderly procedure: the numbers were great, the rain heavy, and the transgression great (10:13), so officials should represent the assembly and each case be heard at a set time with the town’s elders and judges, until God’s fierce anger turned from them (10:14). They understood their situation as one under God’s just displeasure (Deuteronomy 7:4), and Scripture ties the turning away of His fierce anger to a people returning to serve Him (2 Chronicles 30:8).
- Ezra 10:12-14 (BSB)“And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say! But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter. Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.””The assembly agrees, but asks that leaders and local elders and judges handle each case at appointed times.
- Deuteronomy 7:4 (BSB)“because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.”The law warned that the LORD’s anger would burn against Israel for such marriages.
- 2 Chronicles 30:8 (BSB)“Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.”Hezekiah urged the people to serve the LORD so that His fierce anger would turn away.
General
What did the priests from the priestly family of Jeshua do once they were found to have married foreign women (Ezra 10:18-19)?
Answer: They promised to put away their wives and offered a ram for guilt
The list of offenders begins with priests, including members of the family of Jeshua, who with his fellow priests had built the altar after the return (10:18; 3:2). These men gave their word that they would put away their wives, and they brought a ram for a guilt offering (a sacrifice for wrongdoing that required making amends) for their guilt (10:19). In the law, Leviticus 5:15 names a ram as the guilt offering for someone who unintentionally breaks faith regarding the LORD’s holy things. The list goes on to include Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and other Israelites, and it ends by noting that some of these men had children by their wives (10:20-44). Priests and Levites had been named in the very first report (9:1).
- Ezra 10:18-19 (BSB)“Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.”Priests of Jeshua’s family pledge to send their wives away and offer a ram as a guilt offering.
- Leviticus 5:15 (BSB)““If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.”Leviticus names a ram as the guilt offering for one who unintentionally breaks faith regarding the LORD’s holy things.
- Ezra 3:2 (BSB)“Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.”Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests had led in rebuilding the altar.
- Ezra 9:1 (BSB)“After 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.”The first report had named the priests and Levites among those who had not kept separate.
Theological
How did the priests of Jeshua’s family respond when they were found among the offenders (Ezra 10:18-19)?
Answer: They promised to put away their wives and offered a ram for guilt
The list opens with priests, among them members of the family of Jeshua, who with his fellow priests had built the altar after the return (10:18; 3:2). They promised to put away their wives and offered a ram for a guilt offering because of their guilt (10:19). Leviticus 5:15 names a ram as the guilt offering for one who unintentionally breaks faith regarding the LORD’s holy things. The list continues through Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and lay Israelites, closing with the note that some of the men had children with them (10:20-44). Priests and Levites were named first in the opening report (9:1), and priests come first in the closing list, followed by Levites.
- Ezra 10:18-19 (BSB)“Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.”Priests of Jeshua’s family pledge to send their wives away and offer a ram as a guilt offering.
- Leviticus 5:15 (BSB)““If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.”Leviticus names a ram as the guilt offering for one who unintentionally breaks faith regarding the LORD’s holy things.
- Ezra 3:2 (BSB)“Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.”Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests had led in rebuilding the altar.
- Ezra 9:1 (BSB)“After 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.”The first report had named the priests and Levites among those who had not kept separate.
General
True or False: Shecaniah admitted that the people had been unfaithful to God, yet said there was still hope for Israel (Ezra 10:2).
Answer: True
This is true. Shecaniah spoke up and confessed that they had been unfaithful to God in marrying foreign women, yet he said that even so there was hope for Israel (10:2). He did not deny the sin, but he did not give up either. The LORD had promised that if His people confessed their sins He would remember His covenant (Leviticus 26:40-42). He is full of compassion and grace and slow to anger, and rich in loving devotion (Psalm 103:8), and whoever confesses and turns from sin finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13).
- Ezra 10:2 (BSB)“Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.”Shecaniah confesses the people’s unfaithfulness and says there is still hope for Israel.
- Leviticus 26:40-42 (BSB)“But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.”God promised to remember His covenant when His people confessed their iniquity.
- Psalm 103:8 (BSB)“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.”The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving devotion.
- Proverbs 28:13 (BSB)“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”Whoever confesses and renounces sin will find mercy.
Theological
True or False: In Ezra 10:2, Shecaniah joins confession of unfaithfulness with a declaration that hope remains for Israel.
Answer: True
This is true. Shecaniah’s words hold together honest confession and real hope: they have broken faith with God in marrying foreign women, yet hope remains for Israel (10:2). Scripture grounds such hope in God’s character and promise, not in Israel’s record. The LORD pledged to remember His covenant when His people confessed their iniquity (Leviticus 26:40-42); He is compassionate, gracious, and rich in loving devotion (Psalm 103:8); and the one who confesses and renounces sin finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13).
- Ezra 10:2 (BSB)“Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.”Shecaniah confesses the people’s unfaithfulness and says there is still hope for Israel.
- Leviticus 26:40-42 (BSB)“But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.”God promised to remember His covenant when His people confessed their iniquity.
- Psalm 103:8 (BSB)“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.”The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving devotion.
- Proverbs 28:13 (BSB)“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”Whoever confesses and renounces sin will find mercy.
General
What did Shecaniah propose that the people do (Ezra 10:3-4)?
Answer: Bind themselves by covenant to dismiss the foreign wives with the children
Shecaniah proposed that the people make a covenant (a solemn, binding promise) before God to dismiss every foreign wife together with the children born to them, as advised by the one he called his lord and by all who stand in awe of what God commands, the same people who had gathered around Ezra in his grief (9:4), and he asked that it be carried out in line with the Law (10:3). Moses’ law had forbidden entering such marriages, giving the reason that they would lead Israel into the worship of other gods (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Shecaniah then urged Ezra to rise and act, since the matter was his responsibility, and promised that the people would stand with him (10:4). Ezra then rose and had the leading priests, the Levites, and the whole people swear to carry out the proposal (10:5).
- Ezra 10:3-4 (BSB)“So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!””Shecaniah proposes a covenant to send away the foreign wives and their children according to the Law, and urges Ezra to act.
- Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (BSB)“Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.”The Law forbade entering these marriages because they would turn Israel to other gods.
- Ezra 9:4 (BSB)“Then 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.”Those who trembled at the words of God had gathered around Ezra, the group Shecaniah appeals to.
- Ezra 10:5 (BSB)“So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.”Ezra had the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do as proposed.
Theological
What course of action did Shecaniah put before Ezra (Ezra 10:3-4)?
Answer: Bind themselves by covenant to dismiss the foreign wives with the children
Shecaniah proposed a covenant before God to dismiss the foreign wives together with their children, as advised by the one he called his lord and by all who stand in awe of God’s command (10:3; compare 9:4), and he insisted it be carried out in line with the Law, which had forbidden entering these unions on the ground that they turn hearts to other gods (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). He then charged Ezra to rise, since the responsibility was his, and pledged the people’s support: be strong and act (10:4). Ezra rose and put the leading priests, the Levites, and the whole people under oath to do as proposed (10:5).
- Ezra 10:3-4 (BSB)“So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!””Shecaniah proposes a covenant to send away the foreign wives and their children according to the Law, and urges Ezra to act.
- Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (BSB)“Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.”The Law forbade entering these marriages because they would turn Israel to other gods.
- Ezra 9:4 (BSB)“Then 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.”Those who trembled at the words of God had gathered around Ezra, the group Shecaniah appeals to.
- Ezra 10:5 (BSB)“So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.”Ezra had the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do as proposed.