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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 | 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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2 | Ezra and Family Values? | Ezra 10:3 | kalos | 118550 | ||
The Bible does not prohibit marriage between two people because of the color of their skin. Israel was forbidden to marry Gentiles only in order to preserve the purity of their faith, i.e., so that the Israelis would not worship idols. Also a believer is prohibited from marrying an unbeliever in the NT. The only restriction in force today is based on God's original intention for marriage: that marriage should only take place between one male believer and one female believer. |
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3 | Ezra and Family Values? | Ezra 10:3 | Just Read Mark | 118636 | ||
Thanks, Kalos. The discussion of OT inclusion of foreigners has been interesting in this thread. It still is not reflected in Ezra, however. For this scene of rededication, there is no talk of converting family members --- only of divorcing "foreign wives." This is very different than what we see in Paul's writing. For Paul, if someone becomes a Christian, he or she shouldn't end the marriage bond with the unbeliever -- but instead, remain faithful to God and faithful to the spouse, praying that God would work in their lives. 1 Cor 7:12 ff. "But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?" This is pretty different from the mass divorce in Ezra, don't you think? And about the children: Paul says that one Christian parent is enough to produce "holy" children. In Ezra, the children of foreign parentage are "sent away". Again, in an effort to understand this, I look at the context. The Jews have been scattered, and taken into captivity. Now, after their identity as God's people has been so challenged, they are trying to rebuild Jerusalem, the Temple, and their relationship with God. They are countering the dilution of their covenant identity by expelling foreign influences --- including marriages and children. No distractions. But also, by tightening their identity as God's people in this way, certain elements of their people are cast aside. This is why I asked about daughters that married foreign men --- they are not called upon to divorce their husbands (which they would have been powerless to do, no?). It seems like they are just abandoned to the pagan culture of their spouses. And think of all the children that are "sent away." I guess it is saying there are times when a small focused group is more benefitial than a larger group with mixed alegiances. JRM. |
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