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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Ezra and Family Values? | Ezra 10:3 | Just Read Mark | 118345 | ||
I am a little stunned by the end of Ezra -- it is so concerned with racial purity. I wonder what happened to all of the wives and children? ... and I think of the grief that divorce causes children: to turn to divorce as a societial solution would have such devistating effects for the next generation... Are we to see holiness in this covenant? JRM |
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2 | Ezra and Family Values? | Ezra 10:3 | JCrichton | 118437 | ||
Hi, JRM! I think that the problem lies not in the "cleansing" but in what is the "cleansing." God did not command the people of Israel to exclude other nationality or people of different ethnicity... the call was to purify themselves from the pagan people around them. There are many statements in the Old Testament made by God in reference to the "foreigners:" they are to be respected, considered one of Israel's children, allowed to live in peace among Israel, allowed to partake of the covenants... the one requirement on the "foreigners" was that they too had to be as Israel: One God, obey His commandments, be as the people of Israel were commanded to live! Heard the story of Ruth? She did not marry one of Israel's king... but she was selected by God to protect His people in among the non-Jews! God Bless! Angel |
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3 | Ezra and Family Values? | Ezra 10:3 | Just Read Mark | 118449 | ||
Bloodlines. Hello Angel. Thanks for your post. I agree that is important to see each Bible passage in light of others. While the goal in Ezra is certainly purity, this is understood in racial terms. They were to keep the bloodline pure to prevent the split allegiances that come from marrying pagan partners. (Throughout Chronicles, we see Kings get wrapped up with idolatry through their family ties.... so this rule is not without reason.) As for the explicit concern with race, see how the officials report the situation to Ezra: “For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons. Thus the holy seed has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands, and in this faithlessness the officials and leaders have lead the way.” (Ezra 9:2) The phrase “holy seed” would refer, I think, to Abrahams bloodline. So, this is difficult to hear. Some other questions I have: How are we to understand family, when priveleging ancestral family leads to breaking marriage bonds? Since Ezra takes action regarding Jewish men with gentile wives, what of the Jewish women with gentile husbands? |
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4 | Ezra and Family Values? | Ezra 10:3 | Rowdy | 118469 | ||
It should be emphasized that Ruth (Gentile) was not ONLY allowed into the Jewish nation, she became part of the very lineage of Christ Himself. So this bloodline was not nearly as important to God as was the attitude like her's. Apparently God has such an affinity for people like her with her wonderfully humble attitude that he would make exceptions. But generally, God did see and knew that to make this a practice of marrying outside the Jewish bloodline would detract from God's Will and His Holy Purpose of introducing Christ into the world, as in the case of Solomon. God bless. --Rowdy |
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