Ezra 10:16 - The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
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What does "Ezra 10:16" mean?
This verse, Ezra 10:16, describes the practical action taken after the people of Israel confessed their sin of marrying foreign women and vowed to separate from them. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"The children of the captivity did so." This refers to the people who had returned from exile in Babylon (the "captivity"). They took action based on the agreement they made with God to separate from their foreign wives.
"Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households..." Ezra, the spiritual leader, took the initiative to organize the process. He appointed leaders ("heads of fathers’ households") who were responsible for representing their families or clans.
"...after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart..." The leaders were selected according to their family lineage ("after their fathers' houses"), which signifies their authority and responsibility within their respective clans. Importantly, they were all identified "by their names," emphasizing the meticulous and official nature of this process. They were "set apart" for this specific task of investigating the issue.
"...and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter." This indicates the starting date of the official investigation. The "tenth month" refers to the tenth month of the Jewish calendar (Tevet, roughly corresponding to December/January). The fact that they "sat down" signifies a formal, deliberate, and organized approach to "examine the matter" - which was to identify and address the problem of intermarriage.
In essence, this verse outlines the commencement of a formal, organized, and meticulously documented investigation, led by Ezra and selected leaders, into the cases of Israelites who had married foreign women. It highlights the seriousness with which the community was addressing this issue and the determination to rectify the situation according to God's law. The naming of leaders and the specific date emphasize the deliberate and official nature of the undertaking.
Ezra 10:16 - The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
What does "Ezra 10:16" mean?
This verse, Ezra 10:16, describes the practical action taken after the people of Israel confessed their sin of marrying foreign women and vowed to separate from them. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"The children of the captivity did so." This refers to the people who had returned from exile in Babylon (the "captivity"). They took action based on the agreement they made with God to separate from their foreign wives.
"Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households..." Ezra, the spiritual leader, took the initiative to organize the process. He appointed leaders ("heads of fathers’ households") who were responsible for representing their families or clans.
"...after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart..." The leaders were selected according to their family lineage ("after their fathers' houses"), which signifies their authority and responsibility within their respective clans. Importantly, they were all identified "by their names," emphasizing the meticulous and official nature of this process. They were "set apart" for this specific task of investigating the issue.
"...and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter." This indicates the starting date of the official investigation. The "tenth month" refers to the tenth month of the Jewish calendar (Tevet, roughly corresponding to December/January). The fact that they "sat down" signifies a formal, deliberate, and organized approach to "examine the matter" - which was to identify and address the problem of intermarriage.
In essence, this verse outlines the commencement of a formal, organized, and meticulously documented investigation, led by Ezra and selected leaders, into the cases of Israelites who had married foreign women. It highlights the seriousness with which the community was addressing this issue and the determination to rectify the situation according to God's law. The naming of leaders and the specific date emphasize the deliberate and official nature of the undertaking.