Ezra 9

Revelation of Mixed Marriages

1-2 After Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem and the delivery of precious metals to the temple, officials come to Ezra and inform him that those who have returned from exile are intermarrying with pagans who live in the area.

3-4 Ezra is “appalled,” tears his clothes, pulls out his hair, and sits all day in his distress, surrounded by others who “trembled at the words of the God of Israel.” Since their birth as a nation, God had warned the Israelites not to take on the practices of the nations around them. Marriage to pagans always led the Israelites to adopt pagan idolatrous practices.

Ezra’s Prayer

5 At the evening sacrifice, Ezra falls to his knees, spreads out his hands, and prays. Notice he waits until evening to pray. During the day, he’s been too shocked even to pray. He must be thinking, Here, we’ve just come home after 70 years in captivity – punishment for idolatry – and we’re jumping right back into it?

6-9 First, he confesses their iniquities then expresses gratitude to God for their new life back in Judea. It seems typical in the prayers of faithful prophets to take on the guilt of those who are unfaithful.

10-15 More confession of disobedience, recounting of God’s original instructions to Israel as they entered Canaan, and recognition that their intermarrying led to their captivity by other nations. Then a question: If we, as the remnant, break your commandments again, won’t you punish us again?