Ezra 10:4
Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ezra 10:4
Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just a command to get up and do something; it's a powerful acknowledgment that the responsibility for this difficult reform is on Ezra. The phrase "this matter belongeth unto thee" isn't about burdening him, but recognizing his unique position, empowered by both God and the king, making him the one to lead this charge.
After Ezra publicly wept and confessed the sin of intermarriage with foreigners, a large crowd gathered, moved by his distress and confession. Shechaniah, speaking for the assembly, acknowledges the gravity of the situation and encourages Ezra to take the lead in addressing this sin, assuring him of their full support and commitment to the necessary reforms.
Ezra feels the weight of a nation's sin. How does he receive the strength to act?
Shechaniah's words to Ezra are a powerful blend of divine authority and human solidarity. "This matter belongeth unto thee" isn't just an observation; it's a recognition of Ezra's unique qualifications—his deep knowledge of God's law and his commission from King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:10, 25-26). He's uniquely positioned to lead this difficult task of national repentance and reform.
But Ezra isn't alone. The promise, "we are with you," signifies that the "very great congregation" gathered with him are ready to stand by him. This isn't just Ezra's burden; it's a communal responsibility. Their support, coupled with Ezra's God-given authority and skill, empowers him to move forward.
What does it truly mean to 'arise' and 'do it' when repentance is called for?
The command to "Arise" is more than just getting up from a posture of grief or prayer. It's a call to decisive, courageous action. Ezra had been weeping and confessing (Ezra 10:1), demonstrating profound sorrow for the nation's sin. But sorrow alone isn't enough.
The phrase "be strong and do it" is a direct imperative to move from a state of lament to a state of execution. It implies facing potential opposition and discontent head-on. This isn't about finding the easiest path, but the right one. The reform—putting away the foreign wives—was a painful but necessary step to restore the community's covenant faithfulness with God.
This verse arises from a moment of crisis and deep societal sin after the return from exile. Ezra, empowered by a Persian king, is being urged by the people themselves to confront and rectify the widespread issue of intermarriage, a challenge that required immense courage and a strong communal resolve.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and thousands of Jewish leaders, artisans, and skilled workers were exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II. This event marked the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity, a period of significant cultural and religious upheaval for the Jewish people.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah and exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This catastrophic event was seen as divine judgment for the people's disobedience.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, overthrew the Babylonian Empire. Cyrus issued a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
538 BC
Decree of Return and Temple Reconstruction Begins
Cyrus's decree allowed the first wave of Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Second Temple. This marked a pivotal moment in their national and religious restoration.
This verse echoes the command 'Be strong and courageous,' emphasizing that strength and courage come from God's presence and obedience to His Word, just as Ezra is being encouraged to act.
1 Samuel 16:7While not a direct command, this passage highlights that God looks at the heart and calls individuals to action based on His purposes, paralleling how Ezra is called to this task because of his alignment with God's law.
2 Chronicles 19:6The counsel given to the judges, 'Deal courageously, and the Lord will be with the doers of good,' directly parallels the encouragement given to Ezra to 'be strong and do it,' linking courage with divine assistance in carrying out God's will.
Nehemiah 13:13This passage uses similar phrasing, 'their business was to distribute,' indicating a divinely appointed task or responsibility that rests upon an individual, much like the 'matter belongeth unto thee' for Ezra.
1 Chronicles 28:10King David's charge to Solomon, 'be strong, and do it,' when entrusting him with the monumental task of building the Temple, mirrors the encouragement given to Ezra for his challenging reformative work.
clarkeEzra 10:4: "Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it."
Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee - By the decree of Artaxerxes, he was authorized to do everything that the law of God required: see Ezra 7:23-28 . And all officers were commanded to be aiding and assisting; hence Shechaniah says, We are with you.
bensonEzra 10:4: "Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it."
Ezra 10:4-5 . Arise, for this matter belongeth unto thee — Who hast a perfect knowledge of the law, and full power from the king of Persia to see every thing done according to it; and who hast most skill to manage this matter. We also will be with thee: be of good courage — He promises him his assistance, and that of many other principal persons, which might give him confidence of…
This isn't just a command to get up and do something; it's a powerful acknowledgment that the responsibility for this difficult reform is on Ezra. The phrase "this matter belongeth unto thee" isn't about burdening him, but recognizing his unique position, empowered by both God and the king, making him the one to lead this charge.
After Ezra publicly wept and confessed the sin of intermarriage with foreigners, a large crowd gathered, moved by his distress and confession. Shechaniah, speaking for the assembly, acknowledges the gravity of the situation and encourages Ezra to take the lead in addressing this sin, assuring him of their full support and commitment to the necessary reforms.
After Ezra publicly wept and confessed the sin of intermarriage with foreigners, a large crowd gathered, moved by his distress and confession. Shechaniah, speaking for the assembly, acknowledges the gravity of the situation and encourages Ezra to take the lead in addressing this sin, assuring him of their full support and commitment to the necessary reforms.
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c. 458 BC— this verse
Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem with Royal Commission
Ezra, a scribe learned in the Law of Moses, received a commission from King Artaxerxes I of Persia to return to Jerusalem. His mission was to teach the people God's law and ensure its observance.
Shortly after Ezra's arrival
Discovery of Intermarriage with Foreign Women
Upon his arrival, Ezra discovered that many Jewish men had married women from surrounding nations, a practice strictly forbidden by the Mosaic Law. This sin threatened the religious and cultural purity of the returned community.
"Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”" — This isn't just a command to get up and do something; it's a powerful acknowledgment that the responsibility for this difficult reform is on Ezra. The phrase "this matter belongeth unto thee" isn't…