Ezra
Chapter 9
The Problem of Marriages with Foreigners
After all this was finished, the leaders approached me and said: “The people of Israel, the priests and the Levites have not departed from the pagan people and are now serving the idols of the Canaanites, the Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites;
for they took women from among these people for themselves and their sons, and mixed their holy race with that of the pagans. The leaders and magistrates were the first to commit this sin.”
When I heard this, I tore my garments and mantle, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down very much grieved.
All who remembered the words of the God of Israel gathered around me. They were afraid because of this sin committed by those who had returned from exile.
I remained seated and dismayed until the evening sacrifice; then, at the time for the evening offering, I rose from my fasting, and with my clothes and mantle torn, I knelt, spreading out my hands to the Lord, my God.
I said: “My God! I am ashamed and confused, my God; I do not dare raise my eyes to you, for our sins have increased over our heads, and our crimes reach up to the heavens.
From the days of our ancestors to this day, our guilt has been great. We, our kings and priests, have been given into the hands of foreign kings because of our crimes; we have been delivered to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and put to shame as on this day.
However, for a brief moment, the mercy of the Lord, our God, has been shown to us. He made a remnant of our people survive and allowed the survivors to settle once again in his Holy Place. He has given us joy and life, though we are in bondage.
We are no more than slaves, but amid our slavery, God has not abandoned us; he has extended a merciful hand over us to support us before the kings of Persia. He has revived our lives, enabled us to rebuild the house of our God, and has strengthened the walls of Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah.
But now, our God, what shall we say when, despite all this, we have abandoned your commandments?
You have said through your servants, the prophets: The land you are entering to take possession of was defiled by the impurities of its inhabitants. Their idolatry made it entirely unclean from one end to the other.
Therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters as wives for your sons. Do not work with them solely for their prosperity and well-being. Be strong, eat the best fruits of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.
After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and sins, you, our God, have pardoned our wickedness since you allowed everyone here to survive.
How could we despise your commandments once more and intermarry with these wretched people? Will you not be angry with us and destroy us without leaving any remnant or survivors?
The Lord, God of Israel, you are just; see that we are a remnant of survivors. We are in your presence with our sins, but cannot remain so.
Commentaries
The Problem of Marriages with Foreigners.
In this chapter and the next, Ezra describes his actions in a manner he considers important: the issue of mixed marriages. The fear of idolatry or syncretism drove the prohibitions in Exodus and Deuteronomy, a threat that was resurfacing. Within a large, unified empire, the presence of different groups posed the biggest threat to national identity. A single Temple meant little if families practiced strange cults and rites around it. Ezra’s decisive actions aim to cut off and stop these dangers. The community of the chosen people is still called “the exiles,” even though most were born in Judah, as if exile were a necessary part of their identity. If we compare the list in 10:18-43 with the group of returnees (2:1-70), we see that almost all are descendants of families from the first caravan. Ezra leaves the scene, leaving his people with a focus on separation to protect their national and religious identity. His legacy is a strict interpretation of the Law.