UNROLL
Late afternoon in the paved court of the plain second temple: a thin column of smoke rises straight up from a square altar of rough fieldstones into still air, the court almost empty, long shadows across the stones, under a calm pale gold sky.

The Book of

Ezra 9

A report that undid him, and a prayer that says “our iniquities” when it could have said theirs.

15 verses≈ 4 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–2The returnCyrus lets them go up
  2. 3The altarFoundations laid
  3. 4OppositionThe work stopped
  4. 5–6The templeFinished and dedicated
  5. 7–8Ezra comesThe good hand of God
  6. 9–10RepentanceFaithless marriages confessedChapter 9

Intermarriage with Neighboring Peoples

Morning in a stone side court of the plain second temple: a few older Judean leaders in wool mantles with woven borders come to Ezra the priest-scribe; the foremost speaks urgently with open hands while the others stand grave, and Ezra listens, stricken.

After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”

Ezra
Ezra

When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.

Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.

Reflect

Those who trembled

The people who gathered around Ezra were “everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel.” When did God’s Word last shake you rather than soothe you? What did you do with it?

Ezra’s Prayer of Confession

The hour of the evening offering in the court of the plain second temple: Ezra, seen from behind, kneels on the paving stones in his torn tunic and mantle with both hands spread open toward heaven, smoke rising from the rough stone altar beyond him, under a fading gold sky.

At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God, and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.

0:20

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Ezra

Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.

Ezra 9:8

Pray

Ours, not theirs

Ezra had not married outside the faith, yet he prayed, “our iniquities are higher than our heads.” Confess your sin as yours, without pointing at anyone else. Then thank God that, even now, He gives “new life and light to our eyes,” and ask Him for a heart that trembles at His Word.

And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandments that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end. Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’

After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this),

shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor?

Ezra
Ezra

O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You.”

Why it mattered so much

ignoredgracenot race, but faithThe law’swarningthey will turnyour sons awaySolomon’swiveshis heartturned awayThe exile586 BCA smallremnanthome again, bygraceThe samedangerjoined toother godsAlwayswelcomeall who soughtthe LORD, 6:21

Whiteboard

The marriages were not about race: anyone who turned to the LORD was welcome (6:21; Ruth; Rahab). The danger was the one the law named and Solomon proved, being turned to other gods, and it had ended once in exile.

Question

Quick question

Ezra sat in horror while those who trembled at God’s words gathered around him.

When did Ezra rise from his mourning to pray?

You’ve experienced

Ezra 9

0 of 10 chapters read

A verse to carry with you

But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.

Ezra 9:8

or swipe left