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Denunciation of Mixed Marriages

After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.(A) For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. Thus the holy seed has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands, and in this faithlessness the officials and leaders have led the way.”(B) When I heard this, I tore my garment and my mantle and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.(C)

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Ezra’s Reaction to Foreign Marriages(A)

After these things occurred, certain[a] officials approached me and said “The people of Israel, the priests, and the descendants of Levi have not separated themselves from the people of the lands or from the detestable behavior of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites, because they and their sons have married foreign women.[b] As a result, the holy people[c] have mingled themselves among the people who live in these lands. As a matter of fact, the senior officials and the rulers have been foremost in this sin.”

When I heard this, I tore both my garment and robe, plucked hair from both my head and my beard, and collapsed in shock!

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 9:1 The Heb. lacks certain
  2. Ezra 9:2 Lit. married some of their daughters
  3. Ezra 9:2 Lit. seed