Ezra 10

Ezra 10 is a result of Ezra’s prayer in Ezra 9.  After hearing of the deplorable condition in Yerushalayim, the intermarriage of the people, Ezra was devastated.  He set himself down until the evening Grain Offering, then Ezra started to pray.  He poured his heart out to God.  Ezra did not separate himself from the iniquities of the people.  No Yehudim or believer is a nation to themselves, we are one people.  As a believer, we are all effected by the sins of others.  As such, Ezra held up the nation in prayer.  He acknowledge that it was God who brought them back.  It was God that allowed them a nail, a remnant after all their past iniquities.  Ezra prayed for God’s grace, mercy and compassion in this situation.

In Ezra 10, God answers Ezar’s prayer.  It is also a foreshadowing of event leading up to and during the Millennium.  Men, women and children start to gather before Ezra.  They started to weep and acknowledge their sin.  They agree to make a covenant to separate from foreign wives.  A proclamation is made that all are to gather in Yerushalayim in three days.  Those who do not, will be separated from the congregation.  When they gather, Ezra admonishes the people.  They agree to take steps to resolve the transgression.

As believers today, we should not look down at these people.  The very sin that was committed in Ezra is occurring in today’s body of believers, Spiritual Adultery.  Unfortunately, it will not be corrected prior to the Millennium.  A major portion of the 1000 year reign of Messiah will be taken up to rectify the situation in these last days.  However, many of us do not need to wait for then and should take action before it is too late.

Ezra 10	44 Verses
God (H0410)	0
God (H0426)	0
Redeemer (H0430)	8
Yehovah (H3068)	1

Sections:

Genuine Heartfelt Repentance	Price of Repentance	Torah Restores Us
Further Prayer	Three Days	Gathered in Fear
Their Response	Opposition to the Plan	Decision Process
Sons of the Priests	Levites	Singers and Porters
Yehudim	Foreign Children

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Genuine Heartfelt Repentance

Genuine Heartfelt Repentance

Ezra 10:1

¹ Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of Redeemer, there assembled to him out of Yisrael a very great congregation of men and women and children.  For the people wept very sore.

In Ezra 9, the princes returned after carrying out their duties.  They reported to the Ezra the deplorable condition found in Yerushalayim and throughout the land.  The Yehudim had not separated themselves from foreigners and intermarried with them.

Upon hearing this Ezra was devastated.  He tore his garment and mantle, and ripped out the hair of his head and beard.  He sat there until the evening Grain Offering.  Then he began to pray.  Although not a party to the sin, Ezra did not separate himself from the overall offense.  It was his people and his nation.

In Ezra’s prayer, he acknowledged the transgression of the fathers against God.  These iniquities led to the exile.  It was only through God’s grace and mercy that the Yehudim returned to the land.  God had given them a nail, a remnant, in the land.  To this day they are still bondmen to the people of the earth, but God had not forsaken them.  Even after all this Yehudim once again sinned against God and forsaken the commandments.  They had sought the peace and wealth of the foreign people.  We failed to look to our God exclusively for strength and provision.  Further Ezra acknowledges that God has punished us less than our iniquities deserve.  Ezra states that they cannot stand before God.  The people have no justification for what they did.

Ezra is looking for repentance of the people, forgiveness by God and reconciliation that will rectify the situation.  It is only through God’s grace and mercy, this situation can be restituted.

Ezra’s prayer is answered by God’s grace moving the people to gather before him.  These people were moved by his pray and start to weep.

A similar situation will occur in the future.  It is prophesied in Zekharyah 12:10-11.

¹⁰ And I will pour upon the house of Daviyd, and upon the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, the spirit of grace and of supplications.  And they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for only (yachiyd), and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for firstborn.  ¹¹ In that day shall there be a great mourning in Yerushalayim, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon.

This occurs after Yeshua returns.  This is when many will realize they had been deceived.  For many, it will be the first time they will hear Truth.  Many of these will have formerly been involved in Spiritual Adultery.  They will mourn because they had been misled by false prophets and humanistic thinking.  They will realize that their efforts outside of God’s Spirit and Truth were dead works.  It only resulted in pain for them and others.  It will be clear to them that their only hope is in Yeshua, may be.  This will occur as a result of the early events of Yoel 2.

There is a shofar call in Yoel 2:1.

¹ Blow the shofar Tziyyon, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain.  Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble.  For the day of Yehovah comes, for nigh at hand;

One has to ask if it is the day of Yehovah, why are all trembling.  There should be millions of believers rejoicing for their redemption is near.  However, Yoel goes on to tell us in Yoel 2:2.

² A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains.  A great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it to the years of many generations.

It is a dark day when Yeshua returns.  The great and strong people are not your typical church goers.  These are the remnant, the ones who pursued after righteousness.  The ones that walked with God in power.  They are the ones that walked in Spirit and Truth in the newness of Torah.  They are different from so many of us and there are very few of them.  You will not find them in the social circle of Christianity nor are they the ones that gather thousands in auditoriums to preach their gospel.  The are ones of Revelation 14:4-5.

⁴ These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.  These are they which follow the Lamb where ever He goes.  These were redeemed from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.  ⁵ And in their mouth was found no guile.  For they are without fault before the throne of God.

These are footstep followers of Messiah.  They are not hypocrites and many avoid them today.  Because when you get around them, you pale in comparison to their righteousness.  You realize either you need to change or stay away because of the conviction.  These are ones who spent a greater portion of their lives pursuing the high calling of God in Yeshua Messiah in Philippians 3:13-14.

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended.  But one thing, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Messiah Yeshua.

For them it is not a pursuit, it is the very definition of them.

Amos backs up Yoel with Amos 5:18.

¹⁸ Woe to you that desire the day of Yehovah.  To what end it for you?  The day of Yehovah darkness, and not light.

The day of Yehovah is not the day when believers are recognized for all their good and all nonbelievers are sent off to a fiery hell.  It is a day of reckoning for all people.  If you are waiting to be recognized for all your good, then you already missed the prequel to the Day of Yehovah.

But why are all these people mourning in Zekharyah?  Yoel tells us in Yoel 2:10-11.

¹⁰ The land shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble.  The sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.  ¹¹ And Yehovah shall utter His voice before His army.  For His camp very great.  For strong that executes His word.  For the Day of Yehovah great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

The question is who can abide in it?  The answer is only those that are purified.

Few in the last 6000 years can claim they are pure enough to stand before Yehovah.  We have all fell short of His glory.  Few of us live a life of continuous repentance growing in His Spirit.  A life dedicated to His purposes and plans.

We need to be honest with ourselves.  Most of us are dedicated to our on contrived idea of God.  Few of us know Him in the way believers did in the First Century or even the Hebrew Prophets.  We barely take the time to meditate on His word.  Most of us meditate on Church doctrine or someone else’s words.  As such, on the Day of Yehovah many people including believers will be in great mourning and supplication.

We will be told on that day in Yoel 2:12-13.

¹² Therefore also now, says Yehovah, Turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.  ¹³ And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yehovah your Redeemer.  For He gracious and compassionate (rachum), slow to anger, and of great mercy (chesed), and repents him of the evil.

He is a gracious and compassionate God.  For some, this will be the only thing that will allow them to exist beyond the initial days of the Millennium.  For many, their hope will be in Yoel 2:14.

¹⁴ Who knows He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; a Grain Offering and a Drink Offering to Yehovah your Redeemer?

If you continue in Scriptures, there is an acceptable offering.  However, there is no guarantee that the offering will overcome the gap between us and His righteousness.  We can limit the repentance for us.  There will be those that will not accept His terms in the future.  As it was in Ezra’s days.  It is our choice.

If you are a believer today, you need to realize that you too have fallen short of the glory of God.  It is time to repent and change.  There is always a possibility that we can go the way of many who are persistently stubborn.  There is no offering to over come that gap.  Now is the time to change.

Those in Ezra 10 understand this and are crying out to God.  Remember just because you cry out, there is no guarantee.  It must be genuine heartfelt repentance that leads to a changed path in one’s life.

That day in Ezra 10, Ezra’s prayer was answered as the people gather in genuine heartfelt repentance.  We should do the same today.  We should be praying for the redemption as Ezra did.

 

Price of Repentance

Price of Repentance

Ezra 10:2 

² And Shekanyah (Shechaniah) the son of Yechiyel (Jehiel), of the sons of Eylam (Elam), answered and said to Ezra, We have trespassed against our Redeemer, and have taken foreign (nokriy) wives of the people of the land.  Yet now there is hope in Yisrael concerning this thing.

Shekanyah is likely a leader in the community.  He stands up for the people and declares that they have trespassed against Yehovah.  They have married strange wives, foreigners.  They have intermingled with those they were to be set apart from.  This is great tragedy.

It is because of what Yehovah describes in Devarim 7:3-4.

³ Neither shall you make marriages with them; your daughter you shall not give to his son, nor his daughter shall you take to your son.  ⁴ For they will turn away your son (ben) from following Me, that they may serve other redeemers.  So will the anger (af) of Yehovah be kindled (charah) against you, and destroy you suddenly.

When we marry an individual of different a spirit, it compromise that will draw us away from the true Faith.

Rather than selecting our spouse based on spiritual compatibility, many choose their spouse based on emotional compatibility.  That is similar to building a house on sandy soil.  It fluctuates back and forth.  Then when the storm of life come through, few are able to weather the storm.  Either they separate physically or emotionally.  This leaves little time for the spirit and are drawn away with the world.

After Shekanyah confesses their sin, he states there is hope.  In this situation, there was hope for repentance; however, the path to repentance is not always an easy one.  In this case, there is a high price to pay.

This is why it is important not to stray too far or even at all.  The longer and further we drift, the higher the price and time required to return to right standing with God.

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Shekanyah	Shechaniah	dweller with Yehovah	Ezra 10:2
Yechiyel	Jehiel	God lives	Ezra 10:2
Eylam	Elam	eternity	Ezra 10:2

In all tables containing names, the Hebrew refers to the transliteration.  English name is from the KJV.

 

Torah Restores Us 

Torah Restores Us

Ezra 10:3

³ Now therefore let us make a covenant with our Redeemer to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our Redeemer; and let it be done according to Torah.

Shekanyah tells the people that they need to make a covenant with Yehovah.  He tells the people to do two things, separate themselves from:

·         Their foreign wives.

·         Children that were born as a result of relations with the foreign wife.

In theory, this seem simple.  In reality, it is an extremely hard thing to do.  This will require permanently severing the emotional bond between these people.  Today, people find this hard to do even when adultery is involved.  The emotional tie for many exists decades later.

The really crux of problem here is not the emotional ties, it is the fact that these people did not walk with God.  If we would walk with God, we could avoid many of the issues of life.  Not because we are constrained by rules and regulation, but because as we walk in Torah in newness of the Spirit our hearts are converted, Tehillah 19:7 .

⁷ Torah of Yehovah complete (tamiym), converting the soul.  The testimony of Yehovah sure, making wise the simple.

When we follow Torah in the Spirit with genuineness, it changes us.  Over time, these changes are significant.  It brings wisdom in to our lives.  But more than that it, will bring sincere fulfillment.  Something that remains with us if we continue in His Spirit and Truth.  And even more, Tehillah 19:8-13.

⁸ The statutes of Yehovah right, rejoicing the heart.  The commandment of Yehovah pure (bar), enlightening the eyes.  ⁹ The fear of Yehovah clean, enduring for ever.  The judgments of Yehovah true righteous altogether.  ¹⁰ More to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold.  Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  ¹¹ Moreover by them is Your servant warned.  In keeping of them great reward.  ¹² Who can understand errors?  Cleanse me from secret.  ¹³ Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous; let them not have dominion over me.  Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

When we follow Torah with all our heart and soul in the newness of the Spirit, it will change us.  Over time it results in:

·         Converting the soul to righteousness.

·         Making one wise.

·         Rejoicing one’s heart.  Even in the most desperate of times.

·         Opening our spiritual eyes and ears.

·         One is purified and learns fear and reverence for Yehovah.

·         This alone keeps us on the path to Him.

·         Desiring righteousness above all things.

·         Disdaining the things of the world that only drain us of life.

·         Being warned before disaster strikes.

·         Knowing what to do ahead of time.

·         Blessing flow from walking in His Spirit and Truth.

·         Cleaning one from unknown and presumptuous sin, pride.

·         Having rule over sins.

·         Being the master and not the slave to sins.

Following Torah in the newness of the Spirit over lifetime places us far from the great transgressions of life.  This is very thing that happened in Ezra and even occurs today.  We may set ourselves apart from the people of Ezra thinking we have not married an unbeliever, but how many of us are involved in spiritual adultery.

Torah is there to help us through life.  But it only helps if we are willing to apply all of it consistently.  The question for all of us is, are we making full use of what God has given us?

Ezra 10:4

⁴ Arise; for word (davar) to you.  We also with you.  Be of good courage, and do.

The word was for the people.  They would stand together.  It would take courage to do the right thing.  Similar to the courage Yehoshua had.  We all need to be courageous if we are to do this, Yehoshua 1:7 .

⁷ Only be you strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the Torah, which Moses my servant commanded you.  Turn not from it the right hand or the left, that you may prosper whithersoever you go.

We need to be courageous and stay on the path Yehovah has laid out for us.

Do not be like those that simply go on with their lives.  Then they wonder why they have so many issues in life.  These will not taste the sweet fulfillment until they are courageous and walk the path.

We need to have the courage to do the right thing when no one else is willingly.  So we can help others find the courage.

 

Further Prayer 

Further Prayer

Ezra 10:5

⁵ Then arose Ezra, and made the chief (sar) priests, the Levites, and all Yisrael, to swear that they should do according to this word.  And they swore.

After hearing Shekanyah word, Ezra wants the people to swearing to this.  They swore to Ezra that they would carry out the covenant.

Note that Ezra never had to enforce the change.  God answered Ezra’s prayer with power.  God moved the peoples hearts.  It was the prayers of a righteous man that changed this situation.  We need to be the righteous individual today praying for restoration in the days we are living in.

Ezra 10:6

⁶ Then Ezra rose up from before the house of Redeemer, and went into the chamber of Yehochanan (Johanan) the son of Elyashiyv (Eliashib).  And he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water.  For he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Yehochanan	Johanan	Yehovah has graced	Ezra 10:6
Elyashiyv	Eliashib	God restores	Ezra 10:6

Ezra rose from the people and went to pray.  He went to the chamber of Yehochanan.  He fasted bread and water during this prayer.  Again he mourned because of the extent of transgression.  How long this continued is unknown.  It could have easily been several days.

 

Three Days

Three Days

Ezra 10:7-8

⁷ And they made proclamation throughout Yehudah and Yerushalayim to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Yerushalayim; ⁸ and that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

As a result of the covenant, it was proclaimed throughout Yehudah and Yerushalayim that all Yehudim were to gather in Yerushalayim in three days.  It is unknown if this is a result of Ezra’s pray or it was determined by the leaders in Yerushalayim.  It is likely that the leaders decided this, since there were severe consequence for those that did not come.  The penalty for not showing up was:

·         Forfeiture of all property.

·         Separation from the congregation.

They showed up on the third as many will in the future Millennium.  Keep in mind 2 Peter 3:8.

⁸ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

If one day is a thousand year, then the three days would be 3000 years.  In the third day would represent the Millennium.  If one does not come to Yerushalayim in the final 1000 year period, they forfeit all and will be excluded from the congregation of believers.  They will be as if they never existed.

 

Gathered in Fear

Gathered in Fear

Ezra 10:9

⁹ Then all the men of Yehudah and Binyamin gathered themselves together to Yerushalayim within three days.  It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of Redeemer, trembling because of word (davar), and for the great rain.

When the third day came, all the men of Yehudah and Binyamin gather in Yerushalayim.  This was the 20^th day of 9^th month, Kislev.  This would be in the winter months.  More than likely the people knew why they were gathering.  They were trembling because of the word.

What needs to be appreciated in these situations is that it effects the entire nation.  No one is excluded from the sin or responsibility.  All must work together to rectify the situation.  We must stand as a whole or we divide and be torn apart by our enemies.  We should all pray for God’s intervention, mercy and grace.  It is God that grants repentance.  We all need God to make the path for repentance.  This was a difficult situation that would take the efforts of many who did not directly participate in the transgression.

On the day they met, there was a great rain.  This is a recorded fact that could easily be over looked.  But we need to remember they met on the third day and it is God who grants repentance.  The rain should remind us of the rain in Yoel 2:23.

²³ Be glad then children of Tziyyon, and rejoice in Yehovah your Redeemer.  For he has given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first.

It is the rain that brings forth the growth and renews the people.  This will be occurring soon before the beginning of the Millennium.  It will bring forth the beginning of events that will lead to the restitution of many, Yoel 2:24-27.

²⁴ And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.  ²⁵ And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.  ²⁶ And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of Yehovah your Redeemer, that has dealt wondrously with you.  And My people shall never be ashamed.  ²⁷ And you shall know that I in the midst of Yisrael, and I am Yehovah your Redeemer, and none else.  And my people shall never be ashamed.

What they were about to do was seen by God as the path back to restoration.  As it is in all restorations, God can make a way, but we need to walk the path to Him.

Ezra 10:10

¹⁰ And Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have transgressed, and have taken foreign (nokriy) wives, to increase the trespass of Yisrael.

Ezra stands up and announces the transgress to the people.  The principle sin they had committed was not to separate themselves from foreigners.  To compound the problem, they married foreign women.

Today, this issue is ignored by many in the faith.  The amount of spiritual adultery in the faith is staggering.  Mainly because few appreciate what is pure unadulterated worship.  Most are raised in the faith with pagan beliefs and worship that would be considered foreign in the First Century.  Many of us are willing to do what we are taught rather than open up our Bibles and pray that God enlighten our eyes to His worship.  We must sanctify our lives to Yehovah’s worship and the faith that Yehudah describes in Yehudah 3.

³ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you, and exhort that should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.

The faith was delivered to the saints in the First Century.  It was sufficient at that time.  Since then various people have come along and changed the faith.  We have to question if it was sufficient in the First Century why were the changes made?

More than anytime the First Century saw the greatest moves of the Spirit.  Today we have a mere shadow of what occurred then.  Possibly all the changes that have been made have only put distance between us and God’s Spirit and Truth.

Ezra 10:11

¹¹ Now therefore make confession to Yehovah Redeemer of your fathers, and do his pleasure and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the foreign (nokriy) wives.

Confession is the Hebrew word תּוֹדָה todah (H8426).  It is in the Bible 32 times.  תּוֹדָה todah (H8426) is translated thanksgiving 18 times, praise 6 times, thanks 3 times, thank offerings 3 times and confession 2 times.  It is an extension of the hand in worship specifically a choir of worshipers for confession, sacrifice of praise or thanksgiving offering.  It is used in the sense of “thanksgiving.”

תּוֹדָה todah (H8426) basically means “confession,” either of sin or of God’s character and works.  The term was employed uniquely in reference to the sacrificial system of Yisrael.  One could bring a “thank-offering” or “praise-offering” in which he would make declarations of praise to God and/or a confession of sin as he offered his sacrifice.  When the accompanying confession concerned sin, the offering was classified as a “peace-offering” and was so offered in order that the individual may be accepted before God.  Such an offering and confession glorified God, showing His righteousness in contrast to the person’s sin and was a means by which one ordered his way right.

After telling the people of the transgression, Ezra tells them to make a confession.  This is basically a thanksgiving associated with a Peace Offering.  The Peace Offering was necessary to reconcile an individual with God.  In the case of Ezra 10, it was to be a reconciliation of the Nation, Priests and rulers.  Reconciliation was required on numerous levels.

Further, Ezra told them the people to separate from the:

·         People of the land.

·         Foreign wives.

Had they kept a sanctified life, they would have never severely crossed any boundaries.

 

Their Response

Their Response

Ezra 10:12

¹² Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As you have said, so must we do.

The people agreed to do what is necessary to rectify the situation.  Often people respond like this initially only to fall back at a later time.  The Children of Yisrael stated they would obey many times, only to rebel.  What is really occurring in these situations is, it is the few who rebel.  When this occurs, one must affirm their position and obey.  To not confirm is to be complicit in the rebellion.  If more would stand up less would follow the rebellious ones.

Ezra 10:13

¹³ But the people many, and a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither a work of one day or two.  For we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

It was recognized that the extent of this transgression was far and wide.  It would take more than a couple of days to resolve the issue.  With the rain coming down, it made things somewhat difficult.

In the future, the work that will need to be done will take time.  Just because an individual makes a confession, it take time to restitute the individual.  Hence the Millennium is a 1000 years long.  Confession only starts the process.  There must be a purging of one’s life and rebuilding what is left.

This could not be accomplished in one or two days, this foreshadows that only in the Millenium will this be finally resolved for eternity.

Ezra 10:14

¹⁴ Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken foreign (nokriy) wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath (charon) of our Redeemer for this word (davar) be turned from us.

Because of the number of people involved, it was determined that people would come back at an appointed time with the elders of the city and judges.  They would continue to do this until the situation was rectified and the wrath of God removed.

Possibly the people had seen ill-effects and now associate it with their great sin.  They realize that the only way to continue to live in the land and things go well, they need to rectify the situation.

There is a 10 day period between the time all gathered in Yerushalayim and when the judgement begins.  This was sufficient time for those involved to make a decision.

 

Opposition to the Plan

Opposition to the Plan

Ezra 10:15

¹⁵ Only Yonathan (Jonathan) the son of Asahel and Yachzeyah (Jahaziah) the son of Tiqvah (Tikvah) were employed about this and Meshullam and Shabbesay (Shabbethai) the Levite helped them.

“Employed about” is the Hebrew phrase עָמְדוּ עַל.  It is the Hebrew word עָמַד amad (H5975) and עַל al (H5921).

עָמַד amad (H5975) is in the Bible 521 times.  It typically is rendered a form of stand in various meanings both literal and figurative.  The basic meaning of this verb is “to stand upright”.  It is what a soldier does while on watch.  From this basic meaning comes the meaning “to be established, immovable, and standing upright” on a single spot.

עַל al (H5921) is in the Bible over 5000 times.  The most common meaning is to go up or above.

Some translations rendered this phrase “to oppose” or “stood against” the plan.

It is believed by some due to the nature of the transgression, there were those that did not agree with the plan.  Depending on one’s point of view, this scripture can be interpreted either way.  If this was opposition, the scripture seems to be out of place; however, that does preclude that these people were in opposition.  In the future Restitution of All Things, although it is God’s plan for mankind’s redemption, there will still be some who are in opposition.

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Yonathan	Jonathan	Yehovah has given	Ezra 10:15
Asahel	Asahel	God-made	Ezra 10:15
Yachzeyah	Jahaziah	Yehovah views	Ezra 10:15
Tiqvah	Tikvah	hope	Ezra 10:15
Meshullam	Meshullam	friend	Ezra 10:15
Shabbesay	Shabbethai	sabbatical	Ezra 10:15

 

Decision Process

Decision Process

Ezra 10:16-17

¹⁶ And the children of the captivity did so.  And Ezra the priest, men (enosh) head of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.  ¹⁷ And they made an end with all the men that had taken foreign (nokriy) wives by the first day of the first month.

The process took 90 days.

The process for rectifying the transgression begun on the 1^st Day of the 10^th Month, Teves.  Ezra sat down with the heads of families to resolve this matter.  They met with each family separately.

What is unknown at this time is the process.  If it was simply just separating the families that would be easy.  However, there is the possibility that there was a conversion process.  If this were the case, then there would be a process to determine if conversion was an acceptable solution.

A similar process will occur in the Millennium.  Yoel prophesies of this in Yoel 3:11-12.

¹¹ Assemble yourselves, and come, all you Nations, and gather yourselves together round about.  Thither cause your mighty ones to come down, Yehovah.  ¹² Let the Nations be wakened, and come up to the valley of Yehoshafat.  For there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

In the future, Yehovah will gather the people in the Valley of Yehoshafat.  It is the valley of Yehovah’s judgment.  At this time, people will be awaken to their sin.

Yoel 3:13

¹³ Put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.  Come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.  ¹⁴ Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision.  For the day of Yehovah near in the valley of decision.

In Yoel 3:13, there is a harvest spoken of; however, it is not a harvest of the believers over the last 2000 years.  It is the harvest of the Millennium, when so many will hear the God’s Message for the first time.  It will be their due time as promised in Scriptures, 1 Timothy 2:3-6.

³ For this good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; ⁴ who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge (epignosis) of the truth.  ⁵ For one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Messiah Yeshua; ⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

For many their due time is not until the Valley of Yehoshafat.  In Yoel 3:14, it is interesting that the Valley of Yehoshafat is now the Valley of Decision.  In the Day of Yehovah, in the valley of decision.  They must decide what they are going to do.  No longer can people do as Yehoshafat did.  It is either absolute sanctification to God or separation.

God calls it a time of decision, this is where the 1000 years that God is talking about is coming.  It will be a time of decision for the various nations of the world, whether they are going to be a part of God’s Kingdom or they are going to be ripped out of the Kingdom of God.  In the end, it will ultimately be their decision.  However, if they decide compromise outside of Torah, they will not be a part of Yehovah’s Kingdom.  Everything will be within the boundaries as Yehovah has established. 

Part of this process is described in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats.  This is when a separation will occur in Matisyahu 25:32-33. 

³² And before Him shall be gathered all nations (ethnos).  And He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides sheep from the goats.  ³³ And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 

The separation is a result of the testing that each goes through.  It is described in Matityahu 25:35-36. 

³⁵ For I was hungry, and you gave Me meat.  I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink.  I was a stranger, and you took Me in.  ³⁶ Naked, and you clothed Me.  I was sick, and you visited Me.  I was in prison, and you came to Me. 

And in Matityahu 25:42-43. 

⁴² For I was a hungry and you gave Me no meat.  I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink.  ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you took Me not in.  Naked, and you clothed Me not.  Sick, and in prison, and you visited Me not. 

They will be judged on what they did during the 1000 year reign of Messiah.  From that, a determination will be made.  Either they will be accepted into eternity or they will not, Matityahu 25:46. 

⁴⁶ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment.  But the righteous into life eternal. 

This is similar to the judgment and final decision that was made in Ezra.  However, the consequences were either part of the community or removed.

 

Sons of the Priests

Sons of the Priests

Ezra 10:18

¹⁸ And among the sons of the Priests there were found that had taken foreign (nokriy) wives: of the sons of Yeshua (Jeshua) the son of Yotzadaq (Jozadak), and his brethren; Maaseyah (Maaseiah), and Eliyezer (Eliezer), and Yariyv (Jarib) and Gedalyah (Gedaliah).

The process started with the sons of the Priests.  These were the ones who set the standard.  If they did not follow this issue, the question is, what else were they disregarding?

The worst part is, when leadership fails on one issue, it becomes permission for the people to violate commandments is all sorts of ways.  It is true what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:6.

⁶ Your glorying not good.  Know not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

One sin can spread through a congregation that can spoil the entire congregation.  It is no wonder that with all the scandals in Christianity today, so many believers are falling by the wayside.  The lack of victory in many believers lives is tied directly to the leadership that fails to set the Scriptural Example.  One does not need to be perfect, but they need to set a high standard and live a life of continuous repentance.  However, there is never a time for a leader to commit a sin of this level or to be secretive.

Ezra 5:19

¹⁹ And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and a ram of the flock for their trespass.

To give their hand was to take an oath that they would perform what was required.  These agreed to put away their wives.  Then they offered a ram as a Trespass Offering.

The ram was to fulfill the Trespass Offering for Vayyiqra 5:17-18.

¹⁷ And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of Yehovah; though he knew not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.  ¹⁸ And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest.  And the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and knew not, and it shall be forgiven him.  ¹⁹ It a trespass offering, he has certainly trespassed against Yehovah.

What needs to be understood in a Trespass Offering, the ignorance is not knowing.  It is related to some willingness to commit, although it may be ignorant.  It is an act committed by a person who knows better, but who, for selfish motives, acts in bad faith.

This is a common problem today.  We often look to leadership as shining examples only to find out, they have a secret sins they have covered up for years.  This was a pervasive problem in Ezra’s day as it has been for most of the history of Christianity.

The expectation from this point forward is for the people to separate from foreign wives and perform the Trespass Offering.

It is unlikely that Ezra fulfilled the role of the Priest granting forgiveness for all cases.  There was just too many offerings.  This would probably take a number of Priests to fulfill this role.

Ezra 10:20-22 

²⁰ And of the sons of Immer; Chananiy (Hanani), and Zevadyah (Zebadiah).  ²¹ And of the sons of Charim (Harim); Maaseyah (Maaseiah), and Eliyyah (Elijah), and Shemayah (Shemaiah), and Yechiyel (Jehiel), and Uzziyyah (Uzziah).  ²² And of the sons of Pashchur (Pashur); Elyehoeynay (Elioenai), Maaseyah (Maaseiah), Yishmael (Ishmael), Nesanel (Nethaneel), Yozavad (Jozabad), and Elasah.

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Yeshua	Jeshua	Yehovah saved	Ezra 10:18
Yotzadaq	Jozadak	Yehovah is righteous	Ezra 10:18
Maaseyah	Maaseiah	work of Yehovah	Ezra 10:18
Eliyezer	Eliezer	God is help	Ezra 10:18
Yariyv	Jarib	he contends	Ezra 10:18
Gedalyah	Gedaliah	Yehovah is great	Ezra 10:18
Immer	Immer	he has said	Ezra 10:20
Chananiy	Hanani	gracious	Ezra 10:20
Zevadyah	Zebadiah	endowment of Yehovah	Ezra 10:20
Charim	Harim	dedicated	Ezra 10:21
Maaseyah	Maaseiah	work of Yehovah	Ezra 10:21
Eliyyah	Elijah	my God is Yehovah	Ezra 10:21
Shemayah	Shemaiah	heard by Yehovah	Ezra 10:21
Yechiyel	Jehiel	Yehovah lives	Ezra 10:21
Uzziyyah	Uzziah	my strength is Yehovah	Ezra 10:21
Pashchur	Pashur	freedom	Ezra 10:22
Elyehoeynay	Elioenai	to Yehovah are my eyes	Ezra 10:22
Maaseyah	Maaseiah	work of Yehovah	Ezra 10:22
Yishmael	Ishmael	God will hear	Ezra 10:22
Nesanel	Nethaneel	given of God	Ezra 10:22
Yozavad	Jozabad	Yehovah has endowed	Ezra 10:22
Elasah	Elasah	God has made	Ezra 10:22

 

Levites

Levites

Ezra 10:23

²³ Also of the Levites; Yozavad (Jozabad), and Shimiy (Shimei), and Qelayah (Kelaiah), the same Qeliyta (Kelita), Pesachyah (Pethahiah), Yehudah (Judah), and Eliyezer (Eliezer).

These were the Levites.

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Yozavad	Jozabad	Yehovah has endowed	Ezra 10:23
Shimiy	Shimei	renowned	Ezra 10:23
Qelayah	Kelaiah	Yehovah has dishonored	Ezra 10:23
Qeliyta	Kelita	crippled	Ezra 10:23
Pesachyah	Pethahiah	freed by Yehovah	Ezra 10:23
Yehudah	Judah	praised	Ezra 10:23
Eliyezer	Eliezer	God is help	Ezra 10:23

 

Singers and Porters

Singers and Porters

Ezra 10:24

²⁴ Of the singers also; Elyashiyv (Eliashib) and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and (Uri).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Elyashiyv	Eliashib	God restores	Ezra 10:24
Shallum	Shallum	retribution	Ezra 10:24
Telem	Telem	oppression	Ezra 10:24
Uriy	Uri	fiery	Ezra 10:24

 

Yehudim

Yehudim

Ezra 10:25

²⁵ Moreover of Yisrael: of the sons of Parosh; Ramyah (Ramiah), and Yizziyyah (Jeziah), and Malkiyyah (Malchiah), and Miyyamin (Miamin), and Elazar (Eleazar), and Malkiyyah (Malchijah), and Benayah (Benaiah).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Parosh	Parosh	flea	Ezra 10:25
Ramyah	Ramiah	Yehovah has loosened	Ezra 10:25
Yizziyyah	Jeziah	Yehovah sprinkles	Ezra 10:25
Malkiyyah	Malchiah	my king is Yehovah	Ezra 10:25
Miyyamin	Miamin	from the right hand	Ezra 10:25
Elazar	Eleazar	God has helped	Ezra 10:25
Malkiyyah	Malchijah	my king is Yehovah	Ezra 10:25
Benayah	Benaiah	Yehovah has built up	Ezra 10:25

Ezra 10:26

²⁶ And of the sons of Eylam (Elam); Matanyah (Mattaniah), Zekaryah (Zechariah), and Yechiyel (Jehiel), and Avddiy (Abdi), and Yeriymos (Jeremoth), and Eliyyah (Eliah).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Eylam	Elam	eternity	Ezra 10:26
Matanyah	Mattaniah	gift of Yehovah	Ezra 10:26
Zekaryah	Zechariah	Yehovah remembers	Ezra 10:26
Yechiyel	Jehiel	Yehovah lives	Ezra 10:26
Avddiy	Abdi	servant of Yehovah	Ezra 10:26
Yeriymos	Jeremoth	He is Most High	Ezra 10:26
Eliyyah	Eliah	my God is Yehovah	Ezra 10:26

Ezra 10:27 

²⁷ And of the sons of Zattu; Elyehoeynay (Elioenai), Elyashiyv (Eliashib), Mattanyah (Mattaniah), and Yeriymos (Jeremoth), and Zavad (Zabad), and Aziyza (Aziza).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Zattu	Zattu	brightness of him	Ezra 10:27
Elyehoeynay	Elioenai	to Yehovah are my eyes	Ezra 10:27
Elyashiyv	Eliashib	God restores	Ezra 10:27
Mattanyah	Mattaniah	gift of Yehovah	Ezra 10:27
Yeriymos	Jeremoth	He is Most High	Ezra 10:27
Zavad	Zabad	he endows	Ezra 10:27
Aziyza	Aziza	strong	Ezra 10:27

Ezra 10:28

²⁸ Of the sons also of Bevay (Bebai); Yehochanan (Jehohanan), Chananyah (Hananiah), Zabbay (Zabbai), Aslay (Athlai).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Bevay	Bebai	my cavities	Ezra 10:28
Yehochanan	Jehohanan	Yehovah has graced	Ezra 10:28
Chananyah	Hananiah	God has favored	Ezra 10:28
Zabbay	Zabbai	pure	Ezra 10:28
Aslay	Athlai	whom Yehovah afflicts	Ezra 10:28

Ezra 10:29

²⁹ And of the sons of Baniy (Bani); Meshullam (Meshullam), Malluk (Malluch), and Adayah (Adaiah), Yashuv (Jashub), and Sheal, and Yeriymos (Ramoth).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Baniy	Bani	built	Ezra 10:29
Meshullam	Meshullam	friend	Ezra 10:29
Malluk	Malluch	counsellor	Ezra 10:29
Adayah	Adaiah	Yehovah has adorned Himself	Ezra 10:29
Yashuv	Jashub	he will return	Ezra 10:29
Sheal	Sheal	asking	Ezra 10:29
Yeriymos	Ramoth	He is Most High	Ezra 10:29

Ezra 10:30

³⁰ And of the sons of Pachas Moav (Pahath-Moab); Adna, and Kelal (Chelal), Benayah (Benaiah), Maaseyah (Maaseiah), Mattanyah (Mattaniah), Betzalel (Bezaleel), and Binnuy (Binnui), and Menashsheh (Manasseh).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Pachas Moav	Pahath-moab	pit of his father	Ezra 10:30
Adna	Adna	rest or pleasure	Ezra 10:30
Kelal	Chelal	completed	Ezra 10:30
Benayah	Benaiah	Yehovah has built up	Ezra 10:30
Maaseyah	Maaseiah	work of Yehovah	Ezra 10:30
Mattanyah	Mattaniah	gift of Yehovah	Ezra 10:30
Betzalel	Bezaleel	in the shadow (i.e., protection) of God	Ezra 10:30
Binnuy	Binnui	built up	Ezra 10:30
Menashsheh	Manasseh	causing to forget	Ezra 10:30

Ezra 10:31-32

³¹ And of the sons of Charim (Harim); Eliyezer (Eliezer), Yishshiyyah (Ishijah), Malkiyyah (Malchiah), Shemayah (Shemaiah), Shimon (Shimeon), ³² Binyamiyn (Benjamin), Malluk (Malluch), Shemaryah (Shemariah).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Charim	Harim	dedicated	Ezra 10:31
Eliyezer	Eliezer	God is help	Ezra 10:31
Yishshiyyah	Ishijah	Yehovah will lend	Ezra 10:31
Malkiyyah	Malchiah	my king is Yehovah	Ezra 10:31
Shemayah	Shemaiah	heard by Yehovah	Ezra 10:31
Shimon	Shimeon	heard	Ezra 10:31
Binyamiyn	Benjamin	son of the right hand	Ezra 10:32
Malluk	Malluch	counsellor	Ezra 10:32
Shemaryah	Shemariah	kept by Yehovah	Ezra 10:32

Ezra 10:33 

³³ Of the sons of Chashum (Hashum); Matenay (Mattenai), Matatsh (Mattathah), Zavad (Zabad), Eliyfelet (Eliphelet), Yeremay (Jeremai), Menashsheh (Manasseh), Shimiy (Shimei).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Chashum	Hashum	rich	Ezra 10:33
Mattenay	Mattenai	gift of Yehovah	Ezra 10:33
Matatsh	Mattathah	gift of Yehovah	Ezra 10:33
Zavad	Zabad	he endows	Ezra 10:33
Eliyfelet	Eliphelet	God is deliverance	Ezra 10:33
Yeremay	Jeremai	my exaltations	Ezra 10:33
Menashsheh	Manasseh	causing to forget	Ezra 10:33
Shimiy	Shimei	renowned	Ezra 10:33

Ezra 10:34-42

³⁴ Of the sons of Baniy (Bani); Maaday (Maadai), Amram (Amram), and Uel, ³⁵ Benayah (Benaiah), Bedeyah (Bedeiah), Keluhay (Chelluh), ³⁶ Vanyah (Vaniah), Meremos (Meremoth), Elyashiyv (Eliashib), ³⁷ Matanyah (Mattaniah), Matenay (Mattenai), and Yaasu (Jaasau), ³⁸ And Baniy (Bani), and Binnuy (Binnui), Shimiy (Shimei), ³⁹ And Shelemyah (Shelemiah), and Nasan (Nathan), and Adayah (Adaiah), ⁴⁰ Maknadvay (Machnadebai), Shashay (Shashai), Sharay (Sharai), ⁴¹ Azarel (Azareel), and Shelemyah (Shelemiah), Shemaryah (Shemariah), ⁴² Shallum, Amaryah (Amariah), Yosef (Joseph).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Baniy	Bani	built	Ezra 10:34
Maaday	Maadai	ornament of Yehovah	Ezra 10:34
Amram	Amram	exalted people	Ezra 10:34
Uel	Uel	wish or will of God	Ezra 10:34
Benayah	Benaiah	Yehovah has built up	Ezra 10:35
Bedeyah	Bedeiah	servant of Yehovah	Ezra 10:35
Keluhay	Chelluh	my accomplishment	Ezra 10:35
Vanyah	Vaniah	Yehovah is praise	Ezra 10:36
Meremos	Meremoth	elevations	Ezra 10:36
Elyashiyv	Eliashib	God restores	Ezra 10:36
Matanyah	Mattaniah	gift of Yehovah	Ezra 10:37
Matenay	Mattenai	gift of Yehovah	Ezra 10:37
Yaasu	Jaasau	they will do	Ezra 10:37
Baniy	Bani	built	Ezra 10:38
Binnuy	Binnui	built up	Ezra 10:38
Shimiy	Shimei	renowned	Ezra 10:38
Shelemyah	Shelemiah	repaid by Yehovah	Ezra 10:39
Nasan	Nathan	giver	Ezra 10:39
Adayah	Adaiah	Yehovah has adorned Himself	Ezra 10:39
Maknadvay	Machnadebai	he brought low my willing ones	Ezra 10:40
Shashay	Shashai	noble	Ezra 10:40
Sharay	Sharai	releaser	Ezra 10:40
Azarel	Azareel	God has helped	Ezra 10:41
Shelemyah	Shelemiah	repaid by Yehovah	Ezra 10:41
Shemaryah	Shemariah	kept by Yehovah	Ezra 10:41
Shallum	Shallum	retribution	Ezra 10:42
Amaryah	Amariah	Yehovah speaks or has promised	Ezra 10:42
Yosef	Joseph	Yehovah has added	Ezra 10:42

Ezra 10:43

⁴³ Of the sons of Nevo (Nebo); Yeiyel (Jeiel), Matisyah (Mattithiah), Zavad (Zabad), Zeviyna (Zebina), Yiddo (Jadau), and Yoel (Joel), Benayah (Benaiah).

Hebrew	English	Meaning	Scripture
Nevo	Nebo	prophet	Ezra 10:43
Yeiyel	Jeiel	God sweeps away	Ezra 10:43
Matisyah	Mattithiah	gift of Yehovah	Ezra 10:43
Zavad	Zabad	he endows	Ezra 10:43
Zeviyna	Zebina	bought	Ezra 10:43
Yiddo	Jadau	timely or lovely	Ezra 10:43
Yoel	Joel	Yehovah is God	Ezra 10:43
Benayah	Benaiah	Yehovah has built up	Ezra 10:43

 

Foreign Children

Foreign Children 

Ezra 10:44

⁴⁴ All these had taken foreign (nokriy) wives and of them had wives by whom they had children.

Some of these had children.  Although, separation had to occur when a spouse would not convert, sometimes the children were a consideration.  In the future, we will be judged on how we treat children, Matisyahu 18:5-7.

⁵ And who ever shall receive one such little child in My Name receives Me.  ⁶ But who ever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  ⁷ Woe to the world because of offences.  For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence comes.

Special care is always taken in the case of Children.

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