Pagan Wives Put Away
November 9, 2021
Commentary
Here is a list of the priests who agreed to divorce their foreign wives and to sacrifice a ram as a sin offering. Although putting these pagan wives away was a severe solution, it involved only 113 families out of nearly 29,000. This record shows a serious moment of cleansing and repentance among the people of Judah. The public listing of names showed honesty and accountability before God and the community. Yet the problem did not fully disappear. Years later, during Nehemiah’s time, the same sin of mixed marriages had to be confronted again. This reminds us how easily God’s people can drift when they do not guard their hearts and remain faithful to His commands, especially over long periods of time.
Ezra understood that if God treated the people only according to strict justice, none of them could stand before Him. He knew that God is holy and the people were weak. Like the people then, we often ask for justice when we feel hurt or treated unfairly by others. Still, we should remember how much we depend on God’s mercy and grace every day. If God dealt with us only on the basis of fairness, we would have no hope. Instead of demanding justice, we are encouraged to humbly ask for God’s mercy, forgiveness, and patience, trusting His loving character.
Why were these men commanded to send away their wives and children? Though this action seems extreme, intermarriage with those who worshiped other gods was clearly forbidden, even for priests and Levites. Such marriages slowly pulled hearts away from the LORD and weakened the nation’s faith. Ezra’s firm response was meant to protect Israel’s spiritual identity, preserve future generations, and keep the nation devoted to God alone.
Application
Obedience to God may be costly, but it protects our hearts and keeps us faithful to Him. How are you allowing outside influences to affect your walk with God? What difficult change might God be asking you to make? How can you depend more on God’s mercy as you pursue obedience? Who can support and pray for you as you seek to obey God?
Ezra 10:18–44 (NET)
18 It was determined that from the descendants of the priests, the following had taken foreign wives: from the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 (They gave their word to send away their wives; their guilt offering was a ram from the flock for their guilt.)
20 From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21 From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also known as Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 From the Israelites: from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
26 From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30 From the descendants of Pahath Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33 From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34 From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38 From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43 From the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 All these had taken foreign wives, and some of them also had children by these women.
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