Ezra 10:44, "All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children," is a powerful statement about the state of intermarriage among the Israelites returning from exile in Babylon. Let's break down its meaning:
"All these had taken foreign wives": This refers to the Israelite men listed earlier in Ezra 10 who had married women from the surrounding nations (e.g., Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, Canaanites). This was considered a violation of God's law and a threat to the purity of the Israelite people and their faith. The concern was that these foreign wives would lead the Israelite men and their families to worship foreign gods and adopt pagan practices.
"and some of them had wives by whom they had children": This emphasizes that the intermarriage wasn't just a theoretical problem; it had real-world consequences. Children had been born from these unions, creating a mixed-heritage generation. This made the situation more complex and emotionally charged, as the Israelites were now faced with the painful prospect of separating families.
In essence, this verse highlights the widespread nature of the problem of intermarriage and its implications for the Israelite community. The presence of children further complicated the situation, making the necessary corrective actions even more difficult and painful.
Ezra 10:44, "All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children," is a powerful statement about the state of intermarriage among the Israelites returning from exile in Babylon. Let's break down its meaning:
"All these had taken foreign wives": This refers to the Israelite men listed earlier in Ezra 10 who had married women from the surrounding nations (e.g., Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, Canaanites). This was considered a violation of God's law and a threat to the purity of the Israelite people and their faith. The concern was that these foreign wives would lead the Israelite men and their families to worship foreign gods and adopt pagan practices.
"and some of them had wives by whom they had children": This emphasizes that the intermarriage wasn't just a theoretical problem; it had real-world consequences. Children had been born from these unions, creating a mixed-heritage generation. This made the situation more complex and emotionally charged, as the Israelites were now faced with the painful prospect of separating families.
In essence, this verse highlights the widespread nature of the problem of intermarriage and its implications for the Israelite community. The presence of children further complicated the situation, making the necessary corrective actions even more difficult and painful.