Ezra 10:18
Now there were found some of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, some of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It’s striking that the first group listed for this grave transgression are priests, specifically from the family of the High Priest himself. This wasn’t just a matter of common folk straying, but of spiritual leaders setting a profoundly disappointing example, highlighting how sin can infect even those closest to God.
Following a solemn assembly where the people confess their sin of marrying foreign women, Ezra and the leaders begin the difficult work of addressing these transgressions. This verse specifically reveals that even members of the priestly line, descendants of the high priest Jeshua son of Jozadak, were among those who had broken God's law by taking foreign wives. This highlights the pervasive nature of the problem, reaching into the very households responsible for upholding the covenant.
Understand the original words
ben · Hebrew Noun
Individuals who are descendants of the tribe of Levi, specifically the house of Aaron, dedicated to leading the people in worship and maintaining the holiness of the sanctuary.
This verse highlights the pervasive nature of the intermarriage problem, reaching even into the high priestly family. It underscores that religious leadership itself needed reform, emphasizing Ezra's daunting task of restoring covenant faithfulness among the returned exiles.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
The first wave of Jewish exiles, led by Zerubbabel and the high priest Jeshua, returned to Jerusalem after Cyrus the Great's decree. They began rebuilding the Temple.
c. 536-516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
The foundations of the Second Temple were laid, but the work faced significant opposition and was eventually halted. It was completed decades later.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Commission and Return
Ezra, a scribe and priest, received authorization from King Artaxerxes I to lead a second group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He focused on religious and social reforms.
c. 458 BC— this verse
Ezra Confronts Intermarriage
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Ezra discovered that many of the returned exiles, including priests and leaders, had married foreign women, violating Mosaic Law. This discovery led to a profound crisis and public confession.
This passage lays down the command not to intermarry with the surrounding nations, setting the theological backdrop for Ezra's concern about foreign wives and establishing the reason for separation.
Nehemiah 13:23-27This passage details a similar situation and reform under Nehemiah, showing how this issue of intermarriage persisted and required further attention, highlighting the ongoing struggle with assimilation and adherence to covenant.
Malachi 2:10-11This prophecy laments the spiritual unfaithfulness of the people, including priests, who have 'profaned the covenant of our fathers' by marrying foreign women, directly echoing the sins Ezra is addressing.
1 Corinthians 5:6Paul uses the analogy of yeast to warn the Corinthian church that a little unfaithfulness can corrupt the whole body, paralleling how the sin of these priests could influence and damage the community's spiritual health.
pulpitEzra 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."
Verse 18. - Joshua the son of Jozadak is, undoubtedly, the high priest of chs. 3. and 5. Four members of his family had committed the sin (compare Nehemiah 13:28).
pooleEzra 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."
No text from Poole on this verse.
It’s striking that the first group listed for this grave transgression are priests, specifically from the family of the High Priest himself. This wasn’t just a matter of common folk straying, but of spiritual leaders setting a profoundly disappointing example, highlighting how sin can infect even those closest to God.
Following a solemn assembly where the people confess their sin of marrying foreign women, Ezra and the leaders begin the difficult work of addressing these transgressions. This verse specifically reveals that even members of the priestly line, descendants of the high priest Jeshua son of Jozadak, were among those who had broken God's law by taking foreign wives. This highlights the pervasive nature of the problem, reaching into the very households responsible for upholding the covenant.
Following a solemn assembly where the people confess their sin of marrying foreign women, Ezra and the leaders begin the difficult work of addressing these transgressions. This verse specifically reveals that even members of the priestly line, descendants of the high priest Jeshua son of Jozadak, were among those who had broken God's law by taking foreign wives. This highlights the pervasive nature of the problem, reaching into the very households responsible for upholding the covenant.
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c. 444 BC
Nehemiah's Return and Reforms
Nehemiah, cupbearer to Artaxerxes I, returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. He also addressed social and religious issues, including enforcing the prohibition against intermarriage.
"Now there were found some of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, some of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers." — It’s striking that the first group listed for this grave transgression are priests, specifically from the family of the High Priest himself. This wasn’t just a matter of common folk straying, but of…
