Ezra 9

King James Version

Full text for Ezra Chapter 9

1¶ Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

3And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

4Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.

5¶ And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

6And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

7Since the days of our fathers [have] we [been] in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, [and] our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as [it is] this day.

8And now for a little space grace hath been [shewed] from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

9For we [were] bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

10And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,

11Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

12Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave [it] for an inheritance to your children for ever.

13And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities [deserve], and hast given us [such] deliverance as this;

14Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed [us], so that [there should be] no remnant nor escaping?

15O LORD God of Israel, thou [art] righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as [it is] this day: behold, we [are] before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Upon learning that the people of Israel, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with the surrounding pagan nations, Ezra was deeply distressed. He rent his garments and hair, sitting in astonishment until the evening sacrifice. He then offered a profound prayer of confession to God, acknowledging the nation's long history of iniquity and expressing shame for their renewed trespass against divine commands, despite God's recent mercy.

Medium Summary

Ezra 9 opens with princes informing Ezra that the Israelites, priests, and Levites had not separated themselves from the abominations of the surrounding peoples, specifically by taking their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons. This act mingled the 'holy seed' with the nations, with leaders being chief in this trespass. Hearing this, Ezra reacted with extreme grief, tearing his clothes and hair, and sitting in shock. Many who trembled at God's word gathered to him, and at the evening sacrifice, Ezra arose from his prostration to offer a heartfelt prayer. He expressed deep shame and acknowledged that their iniquities had grown to the heavens, confessing the nation's persistent trespass since the days of their fathers. Despite God's recent grace in preserving a remnant and allowing them to rebuild, the people had again forsaken His commandments, leading Ezra to fear complete consumption by divine wrath.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with princes approaching Ezra, reporting that the people of Israel, along with the priests and Levites, had failed to separate themselves from the abominable practices of the surrounding lands, including the Canaanites, Hittites, and Egyptians. Specifically, they had taken daughters from these nations for themselves and their sons, thereby mingling the 'holy seed' with the unholy, with the princes and rulers being primary offenders. Ezra's reaction was one of profound distress: he tore his garment and mantle, plucked hair from his head and beard, and sat utterly astonished. This visible anguish drew together all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel due to the transgression of those who had returned from captivity. Ezra remained in this state of shock until the evening sacrifice. At that time, he arose from his heaviness, again tearing his garments, and fell upon his knees, spreading his hands in prayer to the LORD. He confessed deep shame, acknowledging that their iniquities had risen above their heads and their trespass had grown to the heavens. Ezra recounted the historical pattern of sin, noting that since the days of their fathers, Israel had been in great trespass, leading to their delivery into the hands of foreign kings, captivity, and spoil. He then recognized God's recent grace in preserving a remnant and providing a 'nail' or stability in His holy place, allowing for a 'reviving' in their bondage. Despite being bondmen, God had shown mercy through the kings of Persia, enabling the rebuilding of His house and a 'wall' of protection. Ezra lamented their renewed forsaking of God's commandments, specifically those given through the prophets against intermarriage with unclean peoples. He questioned whether, after all the past punishments and the recent deliverance, they should again break God's commands and join in affinity with those abominations, fearing complete divine consumption. He concluded by affirming God's righteousness, acknowledging that they remained escaped only by His grace, and confessed their inability to stand before Him in their trespasses.

Core Concepts

  • Intermarriage with ForeignersThe central transgression reported to Ezra was the Israelites, including priests and Levites, taking wives from the surrounding pagan nations, thereby mingling the 'holy seed' with those practicing abominations.
  • Ezra's Profound GriefUpon hearing of the sin, Ezra displayed extreme sorrow by tearing his garments, plucking his hair, and sitting in utter astonishment, demonstrating the severity with which he viewed the spiritual defilement.
  • Confession of National SinEzra's prayer is a deep and humble confession, acknowledging not only the current trespass but also the long history of Israel's iniquity and rebellion against God's commandments, which had led to past judgments.
  • God's Mercy and RemnantDespite the nation's persistent sin, Ezra recognized God's grace in preserving a remnant from captivity and providing a 'nail' or stability in His holy place, allowing for a 'reviving' and the rebuilding of the temple.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceEzra reflected on how past iniquities led to the nation's delivery into the hands of foreign kings, and he feared that renewed disobedience, particularly intermarriage, would lead to complete consumption by God's wrath.
  • Prophetic WarningsEzra recalled God's specific commandments given through the prophets, which warned against mingling with the unclean peoples of the land and their abominations, emphasizing the importance of separation.
  • Divine RighteousnessEven in the midst of confession and fear of judgment, Ezra affirmed God's righteousness, acknowledging that Israel remained escaped only by His grace and that they could not stand before Him in their trespasses.