1 Esdras 9:5 (which corresponds to Ezra 10:9 in the Hebrew Bible) describes a mass gathering in Jerusalem of the people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem": This indicates that a summons had gone out, and within a relatively short period (three days), people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (the two primary tribes that constituted the Kingdom of Judah and remained after the Assyrian conquest) had assembled in Jerusalem. The urgency of this gathering is implied.
"this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month": This specifies the time of year the gathering took place. The ninth month in the Hebrew calendar is Kislev, which corresponds roughly to November-December. The exact date, the twentieth of Kislev, is important because it provides a specific historical context. Kislev is in the rainy season, and as subsequent verses explain, the gathering occurred during heavy rains, adding to the discomfort and seriousness of the situation.
Contextual Significance:
This verse is part of the larger narrative in Ezra (and 1 Esdras) describing the aftermath of the Jewish people's return from exile in Babylon. The book highlights the efforts to rebuild the temple and restore Jewish religious life. A major issue that had arisen was intermarriage between Jewish men and foreign women. This was seen as a violation of God's law and a threat to the purity of the Jewish community and its religious practices.
The gathering described in this verse is directly related to addressing this problem of intermarriage. Ezra had been praying and weeping over this issue, and the people were deeply affected. They realized the gravity of the situation and the need to take action. The gathering in Jerusalem was a crucial step in addressing this national crisis.
1 Esdras 9:5 (which corresponds to Ezra 10:9 in the Hebrew Bible) describes a mass gathering in Jerusalem of the people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem": This indicates that a summons had gone out, and within a relatively short period (three days), people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (the two primary tribes that constituted the Kingdom of Judah and remained after the Assyrian conquest) had assembled in Jerusalem. The urgency of this gathering is implied.
"this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month": This specifies the time of year the gathering took place. The ninth month in the Hebrew calendar is Kislev, which corresponds roughly to November-December. The exact date, the twentieth of Kislev, is important because it provides a specific historical context. Kislev is in the rainy season, and as subsequent verses explain, the gathering occurred during heavy rains, adding to the discomfort and seriousness of the situation.
Contextual Significance:
This verse is part of the larger narrative in Ezra (and 1 Esdras) describing the aftermath of the Jewish people's return from exile in Babylon. The book highlights the efforts to rebuild the temple and restore Jewish religious life. A major issue that had arisen was intermarriage between Jewish men and foreign women. This was seen as a violation of God's law and a threat to the purity of the Jewish community and its religious practices.
The gathering described in this verse is directly related to addressing this problem of intermarriage. Ezra had been praying and weeping over this issue, and the people were deeply affected. They realized the gravity of the situation and the need to take action. The gathering in Jerusalem was a crucial step in addressing this national crisis.
