Ezra, the Final Chapter (10)

In yesterday's writing I told you of the incredible pain that Ezra was in due to the transgressions of the people of Israel... they had really gone against the laws of God. So at this point, Ezra talks to some of the people and he says to them that they need to deal with the situation, they need to take care of the intermarriages that have taken place, and that they need to completely deal with the situation. Not just a little piece of it, but all of it.  

So one of the men, Shechaniah, says that they need to put away these wives that they have taken, from the pagens, as well as the children that were born of these marriages.  Ezra knew that this was the best thing to do, but he didn't want to say this...he felt that this was going to be a better situation all around if one of the people came up with this consequence. So once this was established within this group that this was the accepted course of action to be taken;  Ezra speaks, and says to all present that this will be a covenant between the people of Israel and their God.

Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.”

So a proclamation was sent out that all the peoples of the exile were to come to Jerusalem within three days, and if they didn't come they would forfeit any property that they had in Israel.  Well needless to say this got the people there..

They were then all informed that this covenant had been established ad that this was what the were doing.  Someone said that this thing was going to take some time to be done correctly...there were many things to be considered.  And so it was established that the cases would be heard over a three month period.  If the women (of the pagans) decided to embrace the God of Israel they could continue as a family.  If not they were gone...and the husbands had to provide for these women and for any children that had resulted from the unions.  Although because of the hand of God there were very few children.  At the end of it all there were about 144 lost souls that would not embrace the God of the Israeli's.

The people decreed, if you would, that they would not do this again.  That they would marry within their faith.  

Now it is that time of day for me to get ready for work and have some breakfast.  So it is time for you to consider, who can you bless today...your husband, your wife, your children, your parents, a stranger...way not all of them?