The verse "And those who were of the captivity did according to all these things" (1 Esdras 9:15) in its context means that the Jewish people who had returned from the Babylonian exile followed the recommendations and instructions given to them regarding the separation from foreign wives and the consequences of mixed marriages.
Let's break it down:
"And those who were of the captivity": This refers to the Jewish people who had been taken into captivity in Babylon and had subsequently returned to Jerusalem and the land of Israel. They are also referred to as the returned exiles.
"did according to all these things": This means they acted in accordance with the advice, guidelines, and decisions that had been made concerning the issue of Jewish men marrying foreign women. Specifically it refers to the instructions given by Ezra to send away their foreign wives and children.
In the broader narrative of 1 Esdras 9, Ezra is deeply distressed to discover that many Jewish men have married foreign women, a violation of Jewish law and a threat to the religious purity of the community. The leaders of the people, including Ezra, grappled with this issue, seeking a solution that would uphold the law and preserve the Jewish identity. The assembly agreed on a plan to deal with this problem, and the verse indicates that the people largely complied with this plan by separating themselves from their foreign wives and children.
In summary, the verse highlights the obedience and willingness of the returned exiles to adhere to the measures taken to address the issue of foreign marriages and uphold Jewish law and identity after their return from captivity.
The verse "And those who were of the captivity did according to all these things" (1 Esdras 9:15) in its context means that the Jewish people who had returned from the Babylonian exile followed the recommendations and instructions given to them regarding the separation from foreign wives and the consequences of mixed marriages.
Let's break it down:
"And those who were of the captivity": This refers to the Jewish people who had been taken into captivity in Babylon and had subsequently returned to Jerusalem and the land of Israel. They are also referred to as the returned exiles.
"did according to all these things": This means they acted in accordance with the advice, guidelines, and decisions that had been made concerning the issue of Jewish men marrying foreign women. Specifically it refers to the instructions given by Ezra to send away their foreign wives and children.
In the broader narrative of 1 Esdras 9, Ezra is deeply distressed to discover that many Jewish men have married foreign women, a violation of Jewish law and a threat to the religious purity of the community. The leaders of the people, including Ezra, grappled with this issue, seeking a solution that would uphold the law and preserve the Jewish identity. The assembly agreed on a plan to deal with this problem, and the verse indicates that the people largely complied with this plan by separating themselves from their foreign wives and children.
In summary, the verse highlights the obedience and willingness of the returned exiles to adhere to the measures taken to address the issue of foreign marriages and uphold Jewish law and identity after their return from captivity.
