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The Intermarriage List in Ezra
Ezra 10:18–44 is a formal list of names. It records people from different groups who had married foreign women, and it notes a response taken by some of them. The passage reads as community records rather than a set of personal stories.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the setting
In this passage, names are arranged by groups within the community. Priests are listed first, then Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and other Israelites. One priestly group is said to give their hand and offer a ram for guilt. The passage ends by stating that all these had taken foreign wives, and that some had children.
Ezra 10:18–44Main takeaway
This passage records by name that the same matter reached several groups within the community, and it notes a stated response for one priestly group.
Explore the instructions
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The list begins with priestly familiesThe record starts among the sons of the priests. It names men from the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
Explanation
The record starts among the sons of the priests. It names men from the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. The verse gives specific names and family connection, but it does not expand into personal accounts about them.
02A pledge and a guilt offering are notedAfter naming the first priestly group, the text says they gave their hand that they would put away their wives.
Explanation
After naming the first priestly group, the text says they gave their hand that they would put away their wives. It also says that, being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt. These details are stated for this group here in the passage.
03The record moves through several community groupsThe list continues through more priestly families, then Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Israel.
Explanation
The list continues through more priestly families, then Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Israel. The arrangement shows the names under group headings such as Immer, Harim, Pashhur, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and the sons of Parosh. The focus remains on recorded names, not biography.
04A long name list ends with a brief summaryMost of the passage is a sequence of names from family groups including Elam, Zattu, Bebai, Bani, Pahathmoab, Harim, Hashum, and Nebo.
Explanation
Most of the passage is a sequence of names from family groups including Elam, Zattu, Bebai, Bani, Pahathmoab, Harim, Hashum, and Nebo. The final verse gathers the list together by saying all these had taken foreign wives. It also adds that some had wives by whom they had children.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which groups are specifically named in this record, and in what order do they appear?
Trace the headings in the text from priests to Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Israel, rather than focusing only on the individual names.
02What two actions are mentioned for the first priestly group after they were found?
Look for the stated pledge and the offering, and notice that the text also says they were guilty.
03What does the final verse add to the meaning of the long list of names?
Notice the summary statement about all of them and the added note that some had wives by whom they had children.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezra 10:18–44
18Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.
20Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25Of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30Of the sons of Pahathmoab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu,
38Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, Joel, and Benaiah.
44All these had taken foreign wives. Some of them had wives by whom they had children.