Intermarriage With Pagans

Topic: Separation
Passage: Ezra 9:1–5

June 2, 2019

Commentary

After Ezra had been in the land for a period of time, he was informed by some of the princes that many were involved in sin. This grievous sin involved not only the people in general but even the priests and Levites who should have been the spiritual leaders (v. 1). This lack of separation involved intermarriage with the Gentile population around them (v. 2). In disobedience to God’s word (Deut. 7:1-6) the men of the land had married heathen wives and thus mixed with the wicked and idolatrous people of the land. Another example of this type of situation was when Godly Lot became corrupt and intermingled with those in perversion (Gen. 19). In fact Lot enjoyed staying in Sodom even though it was sinful.

The effect of this information upon Ezra was heart rendering (v. 3). In deep sorrow he tore his clothes and plucked out some of the hair from his head and beard. As he sat in silent amazement there gathered around him a crowd of like-minded people (v. 4). These were people who “trembled at the words of the God of Israel” and were fearful of the awful judgement God would bring on His people because of this sin. At the evening sacrifice he arose from his depression, and, having rent his undergarment and his mantle, he fell on his knees and spread out his hands to the Lord (v. 5).

Application

The next time I ask God for fair and just treatment I need to stop and think what would happen if He gave me what I really deserve. How fortunate I am that God gives me mercy and grace rather than justice

Ezra 9:1– 5 (NET)

1 Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents. Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all this unfaithfulness!”

3 When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and my robe and ripped out some of the hair from my head and beard. Then I sat down, quite devastated. 4 Everyone who held the words of the God of Israel in awe gathered around me because of the unfaithful acts of the people of the exile. Devastated, I continued to sit there until the evening offering.

5 At the time of the evening offering I got up from my self-abasement, with my tunic and robe torn, and then dropped to my knees and spread my hands to the Lord my God.