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NASB | Ezra 9:2 "For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ezra 9:2 "For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands. Indeed, the officials and chief men have been foremost in this unfaithful act and direct violation [of God's will]." [Deut 7:3, 4] |
Subject: Intermarriage |
Bible Note: PART 2 3) Let's look to verse 1. "Now when these things had been completed, the princes approached me, saying, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites." *** and now compare this with Duet. 7:1. "When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you..." --- Notice any differences? Ezra adds three groups, The Ammonites, Moabites, and Egyptians, to the original group in Deuteronomy. Plus, the original idolatrous groups in Dueteronomy no longer exist in the time after the return from exile. *** Ezra takes this verse out of context, adds three groups of people to the list, and misapplies it to the people of his time! 4) Now verse 2. "For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness." *** God's commandment in Deuteronomy 7 was in light of religious idolatry. BUT what is the concern of the people in Ezra 9? Not Religion, but RACE! Religion was not the issue here. They simply do not want to be mixing with other people. This is RACISM! --- Ezra, with a good heart and conscience, is utterly appalled with this news. He tears his clothes and is sits in astonishment. Then he offers a sicere, but unnecessary prayer to God. He wants so much to honor God, and he feels that sins have been committed. Ezra was sincere in his heart, but he was sincerely wrong! |