EZRA LESSON 10
We will begin this lesson in Ezra 10:1 "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."
The people saw the grief of Ezra, and heard his prayer to God to
forgive them. Now, many of the people had realized the seriousness of
what they had done, and they, too, began to weep. It seemed this was
not just the men who were disturbed by this, but all of the people.
Ezra 10:2 "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."
It appears, that Shechaniah believed there was hope for the LORD
to forgive them, because they had repentant hearts.
Ezra 10:3 "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."
This would be a drastic move on their part, since some of these
people had children by the heathen wives, or husbands, they had. They
were willing to make a covenant with God, that they would divorce the
wives that were not Hebrews, and even give up their children that were
born of them.
Ezra 10:4 "Arise; for [this] matter [belongeth] unto thee: we
also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it]."
Ezra had already said to let judgement come upon those who would
not obey God's law. This would be an effort to make things right. Ezra
believed this might be enough repentance of what they had done, to
keep the LORD from killing them.
Ezra 10:5 "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."
The only way this would work, would be if everyone participated.
Everyone, including the priests, Levites, and the people had to swear
they would all do this, to get back in right standing with God.
Ezra 10:6 "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."
This fast was of a personal nature. He was not eating, because he
was still grieving. Johanan was grandson of the high priest and would
assign a chamber to Ezra. This was a total fast.
Ezra 10:7 "And they made proclamation throughout Judah and
Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should
gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;"
The divorcement of the heathen wives, husbands, and children had
to be done throughout the land, so proclamation was sent for the
people to gather in Jerusalem.
Ezra 10:8 "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."
This left them no choice, but to come. The furthest settlements
from Jerusalem were no more than 40 miles, so it would be fairly easy
for them to come within the three days allowed. The consequences were
so great if they did not come, that all came.
Ezra 10:9 "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."
This would have been about December the 12th on our calendar. The
month would have been Chisleu on their calendar. This is the rainy
season in Judah. Perhaps, that is what is meant by the great rain.
Ezra 10:10 "And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye
have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the
trespass of Israel."
Ezra had been put in a place of great authority by the Persian
king. He, now, used that authority to speak to the people about what
they must do. He was speaking to them as a spiritual leader, when he
informed them of their transgressions.
Ezra 10:11 "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."
It would be of no use to rid themselves of their heathen wives,
if they did not realize in their hearts that they must do this,
because they had sinned. The first step to being forgiven is to
confess the sin.
Ezra 10:12 "Then all the congregation answered and said with a
loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do."
Once they were made aware of their sins, they agreed to make it
right. They would be divorced from the heathen.
Ezra 10:13 "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."
It appears, that a large percentage of the population had
committed this sin. It was the rainy season, and hard to move this
many people. They were explaining it would take some time to implement
this.
Ezra 10:14 "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."
It appears, there was some sort of ceremony that took place to
release the people from this marriage. It was a reverse wedding, I
suppose.
Ezra 10:15 "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."
The dissolving of the marriages was handled by Jonathan and
Jahaziah. Meshullam and Shabbethai were their helpers. This could
mean they issued them bills of divorcements.
Ezra 10:16 "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."
This took until January on our calendar, there were so many of
them. On the twelfth of January, Ezra and the chiefs of the fathers
checked to make sure they had completed the work.
Ezra 10:17 "And they made an end with all the men that had taken
strange wives by the first day of the first month."
We see that it was not until April 1st on our calendar, that they
finally had finished issuing the divorces.
Ezra 10:18 "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." Ezra 10:19 "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."
It appears, that 4 of the high priest's sons had taken these
heathen wives. The "giving of their hands" meant they made solemn
pledges accompanied by handshakes. This meant they agreed they would
do this, and gave their word on it. The sacrifices were for them, and
for others, who had committed this same sin.
Ezra 10:20 "And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah."
Ezra 10:21 "And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and
Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah." Ezra 10:22 "And of the sons of
Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah."
The above names are lists of the families of the priests who took
the strange women to wife.
Ezra 10:23 "Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and
Kelaiah, (the same [is] Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer."
These are Levites, who were not priests.
Ezra 10:24 "Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters;
Shallum, and Telem, and Uri."
These were, also, in the service of the LORD in the temple, but
were singers and porters. They were Levites with specified service.
Ezra 10:25 "Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah,
and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and
Benaiah." Ezra 10:26 "And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah,
and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah." Ezra 10:27 "And of
the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and
Zabad, and Aziza." Ezra 10:28 "Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan,
Hananiah, Zabbai, [and] Athlai." Ezra 10:29 "And of the sons of Bani;
Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth." Ezra
10:30 "And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah,
Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh." Ezra 10:31
"And [of] the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah,
Shimeon," Ezra 10:32 "Benjamin, Malluch, [and] Shemariah." Ezra 10:33
"Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet,
Jeremai, Manasseh, [and] Shimei." Ezra 10:34 "Of the sons of Bani;
Maadai, Amram, and Uel," Ezra 10:35 "Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh," Ezra
10:36 "Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib," Ezra 10:37 "Mattaniah, Mattenai,
and Jaasau," Ezra 10:38 "And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei," Ezra 10:39 "
And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah," Ezra 10:40 "Machnadebai,
Shashai, Sharai," Ezra 10:41 "Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah," Ezra
10:42 "Shallum, Amariah, [and] Joseph." Ezra 10:43 "Of the sons of
Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah."
This was a very long list of just ordinary people, who had taken
heathen wives. We can see the widespread sin that was in the land.
Ezra 10:44 "All these had taken strange wives: and [some] of them
had wives by whom they had children."
This would make the divorces more difficult, when there were
children born to them, by their heathen wives.
Ezra 10 Questions
1. What had Ezra done to show his shame for their sins?
2. Who joined him in the grief?
3. Who is the father of Shechaniah?
4. What hope did he express?
5. What did he suggest that they do?
6. What was the covenant they would make with God?
7. What would they do with their children by their heathen wives?
8. How did Ezra feel about this suggestion?
9. Who did Ezra make swear to the covenant agreement?
10. How was the only way this could work?
11. Who did Ezra go to see at the temple?
12. What did Ezra do at the temple?
13. Was this just a problem in Jerusalem?
14. How did they get word to those in Judah?
15. How long did they have to comply?
16. What time of year did this notice go out?
17. This was the ________ season.
18. Who had given Ezra great authority?
19. What must they do, besides get rid of their heathen wives?
20. Why would it take some time to implement this?
21. Who was issuing the divorces?
22. Who examined to see, if they were carrying this out?
23. When were all of the divorces finished?
24. What were some of the classes of people, who had committed this
sin
25. What made the divorces more difficult?
Home