1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
15 O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
The Book of Ezra is a historical account of the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. It is a continuation of the Book of Chronicles and is believed to have been written by Ezra, a priest and scribe, around 450-430 BC. Chapter 9 of the book focuses on the events that took place after the completion of the temple.
The Jews had returned to Jerusalem under the decree of King Cyrus of Persia and had successfully rebuilt the temple. However, they faced many challenges and opposition from the local inhabitants, which led to a pause in the rebuilding process. Under the leadership of Ezra, the people resumed the work and completed the temple in 516 BC. The chapter before us takes place about 50 years after the completion of the temple, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia.
The main themes of this chapter are repentance, intercession, and the consequences of disobedience. The chapter begins with Ezra learning that some of the Israelites had intermarried with the people of the land, contrary to God's commandment. This news greatly troubled Ezra, and he immediately fell to his knees and cried out to God in repentance. He then intercedes on behalf of the people, pleading for God's mercy and forgiveness. The consequences of disobeying God's commandments are also highlighted in this chapter, as we see the people facing the threat of judgment and punishment for their actions.
Chapter 9 of the Book of Ezra serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the consequences of disobedience. It also emphasizes the power of repentance and intercession in seeking God's forgiveness and mercy. The chapter also highlights the dangers of compromise and the need to remain faithful to God's laws, even in the face of opposition and challenges.
The events of this chapter take place during a time when the Jews had returned to their homeland and had successfully rebuilt the temple. However, despite their physical return, they were still struggling with spiritual obedience. The news of intermarriage with the people of the land was a clear indication that the Israelites had not fully separated themselves from the practices and beliefs of the surrounding nations. This was a direct violation of God's commandment to not intermarry with the nations and to remain a holy and set-apart people (Deuteronomy 7:3-4).
Ezra's response to this news is a powerful example of true repentance. He immediately fell to his knees and cried out to God, confessing the sins of the people and acknowledging their guilt. He did not try to justify their actions or make excuses but took full responsibility for their disobedience. In his prayer, Ezra also acknowledges God's righteousness and the people's unworthiness to stand before Him. This shows a deep understanding of God's holiness and the seriousness of sin.
In addition to repentance, Ezra also intercedes on behalf of the people. He pleads for God's mercy and forgiveness, not because the people deserve it, but because of God's great compassion and love. He reminds God of His covenant with His people and the promises He had made to them. This is a powerful reminder that even in the midst of judgment, God is a merciful God who hears the prayers of His people.
The consequences of disobedience are also evident in this chapter. God had warned the Israelites of the consequences of intermarrying with the surrounding nations. He had promised to bring judgment upon them if they turned away from Him and followed after other gods (Deuteronomy 11:16-17). The fact that Ezra was so deeply troubled by the news of intermarriage is a clear indication of the severity of their sin. The people had not only disobeyed God's commandment but had also broken their covenant with Him. This was a serious offense that required repentance and intercession.
Furthermore, the consequences of disobedience were not only limited to the individual but also affected the entire community. The actions of a few had put the entire nation at risk of God's judgment. This serves as a reminder that our actions, whether good or bad, have consequences not only for ourselves but also for those around us.
In conclusion, Chapter 9 of the Book of Ezra teaches us the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the consequences of disobedience. It also highlights the power of repentance and intercession in seeking God's forgiveness and mercy. We are reminded that God is a holy God who requires holiness from His people. However, even in the face of our disobedience, He is a merciful God who is willing to forgive us when we come to Him in true repentance. Let us, therefore, strive to live obediently and honor God in all that we do.
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