Ezra 10:32

KJV

Benjamin, Malluch, [and] Shemariah.

KJV (with Strong's)

Benjamin {H1144}, Malluch {H4409}, and Shemariah {H8114}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Binyamin, Malukh, and Sh'maryah;

Berean Standard Bible

Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

American Standard Version

Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 10:32 is a succinct verse within a comprehensive list in Ezra chapter 10, identifying Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah as individuals from the "sons of Harim" who had taken foreign wives and subsequently participated in a national act of repentance by putting them away. This verse, therefore, serves as a specific record of individual obedience and commitment to covenant fidelity, highlighting the personal dimension of Israel's spiritual restoration during the post-exilic period under Ezra's leadership.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 10:32 is embedded within a detailed register (Ezra 10:18-44) of men who had intermarried with foreign women and agreed to divorce them as an act of repentance. This list directly follows Ezra's profound prayer of confession and lament in [Ezra chapter 9](/ezra/9 "Ezra 9 - Ezra's Prayer of Confession"), and the subsequent covenant made by the people to separate themselves from these forbidden alliances (Ezra 10:1-17). The inclusion of specific names, such as Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah, underscores the individual accountability and difficult personal sacrifice involved in this collective spiritual renewal, demonstrating the tangible outcome of the community's commitment. These men are identified as belonging to the "sons of Harim," a priestly family previously mentioned among those who returned from Babylonian exile in [Ezra 2:39](/ezra/2-39 "Ezra 2:39 - Return of the Priestly Families").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Ezra chronicles the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon and the challenging task of rebuilding their temple and community in Jerusalem. The period was marked by a fervent desire to re-establish their identity as God's covenant people, distinct from the surrounding pagan nations. Intermarriage with these peoples was a direct violation of Mosaic Law, specifically prohibited in texts like [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition Against Intermarriage"), because it historically led to idolatry and spiritual apostasy, threatening the purity of their faith and their unique calling. Ezra, a priest and skilled scribe, arrived in Jerusalem with a mandate to teach God's law and enforce its statutes, recognizing that the spiritual health of the returned community depended on strict adherence to the covenant. The drastic measure of putting away foreign wives, though culturally shocking to modern sensibilities, was seen as a necessary act to cleanse the community and prevent a recurrence of past national sins that led to the exile.

* **Key Themes:** Ezra 10:32, within its broader narrative, powerfully illustrates several core themes. Firstly, it highlights **Covenant Fidelity and Obedience**, emphasizing the absolute necessity of adhering to God's commands, even when demanding immense personal sacrifice, to maintain a right relationship with Him. Secondly, the verse contributes to the theme of **Purity of the Community**, demonstrating the rigorous measures taken to preserve the spiritual and ethnic distinctiveness of Israel as a people set apart for God's purposes, safeguarding their identity and preparing the way for the Messiah. Thirdly, it speaks to **Repentance and Restoration**, showing that genuine repentance involves not just sorrow for sin but decisive action to rectify it, leading to the spiritual restoration of the nation. Finally, by naming individuals, the verse underscores **Individual Accountability**, revealing that national repentance is composed of countless personal acts of obedience and commitment to God's will.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Benjamin (Hebrew, _Binyamin'_):** Meaning "son of the right hand" or "son of good fortune," this name carries significant tribal weight in Israel's history, representing one of the twelve tribes, the youngest son of Jacob. While the name here refers to an individual, its inclusion subtly connects this act of repentance to the broader lineage and covenant identity of Israel, emphasizing that even members of established tribes were implicated and needed to participate in the purification.
* **Malluch (Hebrew, _Mallukh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to reign" or "to counsel," this name suggests a person of potential influence or authority. His inclusion in the list, alongside others, indicates that the call to repentance and separation extended across various social strata, including those who might have held positions of respect or leadership within the community, reinforcing the universal demand for obedience to God's law.
* **Shemariah (Hebrew, _Shemaryah'_):** Meaning "Yahweh has guarded" or "kept by Yahweh," this name ironically highlights God's protective hand over His people, even as they strayed. For an individual named "Yahweh has guarded" to be listed among those who needed to repent and be "put away" from sin, it underscores the tension between God's faithfulness and human disobedience, and the ultimate need for God's people to align themselves with His protective and purifying will.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Benjamin,"**: The first name in this specific subset of the list, representing an individual who had taken a foreign wife and was now complying with the covenant to put her away. His inclusion signifies personal participation in the national repentance.
* **"Malluch,"**: The second individual named, further emphasizing the breadth of the problem and the scope of the solution. Each name represents a difficult, personal decision made in obedience to God's command for the sake of the community's spiritual health.
* **"[and] Shemariah."**: The final name in this particular verse, completing the trio. The cumulative effect of these names within the larger list in Ezra 10 is to document the tangible, individual acts of obedience that collectively formed the nation's spiritual renewal, underscoring that the covenant was restored through the difficult choices of its members.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Ezra 10:32, and indeed throughout Ezra 10:18-44, is **Catalog** or **List**. This technique is not merely a dry enumeration but serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it provides a **Historical Record**, offering concrete evidence of the individuals who participated in this significant act of covenant renewal and purification. This lends authenticity and weight to the narrative, ensuring that the repentance was not merely a theoretical declaration but a tangible, personal commitment. Secondly, the act of naming each individual emphasizes **Individual Accountability** within a collective context. While the nation as a whole repented, the list highlights that this repentance was comprised of specific, difficult choices made by each person. Lastly, the **Repetition** inherent in a list of names underscores the pervasive nature of the problem (intermarriage) and the widespread, unified response of the community in seeking to rectify it, demonstrating the depth of their commitment to Ezra's reforms and God's law.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 10:32, though a simple listing of names, resonates with profound theological implications that extend beyond its immediate historical context. It serves as a stark reminder of the sanctity of God's covenant with His people and the absolute necessity of maintaining spiritual purity and distinction. The act of separating from foreign wives, while culturally challenging, was seen as a vital step to prevent syncretism and idolatry, which had historically led Israel astray. This commitment to holiness underscores God's desire for His people to be set apart, reflecting His own character and purpose for them as a light to the nations. The personal sacrifice involved for Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah exemplifies genuine repentance, where sorrow for sin is accompanied by decisive action to align one's life with divine commands, illustrating that true spiritual restoration requires both individual and corporate obedience.

* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition Against Intermarriage")
* [2 Corinthians 6:14-17](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14-17 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")
* [Joshua 24:23-24](/joshua/24-23 "Joshua 24:23-24 - Israel's Covenant Renewal")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezra 10:32, within its larger narrative of repentance and reform, offers enduring principles for believers today. While the specific command regarding intermarriage with foreign nations was unique to ancient Israel's covenant and context, the underlying call to purity, obedience, and wholehearted devotion to God remains profoundly relevant. Our lives as followers of Christ are meant to reflect our covenant with Him, requiring us to examine our relationships, choices, and priorities to ensure they align with His Word rather than the prevailing cultural norms. Genuine repentance, as demonstrated by the men in Ezra, involves more than just acknowledging sin; it demands decisive action to turn away from anything that compromises our faith or devotion to Christ. This often requires difficult personal sacrifices, but it is through such acts of obedience that spiritual vitality is restored, both individually and within the community of faith, allowing us to truly be set apart for God's purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What areas of my life might be subtly compromising my devotion to Christ, requiring a similar "putting away" or separation?**
* **How does my understanding of genuine repentance move beyond mere sorrow to include decisive action and personal sacrifice?**
* **In what ways can I, as an individual, contribute to the spiritual purity and health of my local church community?**
* **What specific commands of God's Word do I find most challenging to obey in today's cultural climate, and how can I cultivate a deeper commitment to them?**

### FAQ
**Why are lists of names, like those in Ezra 10:32, important in the Bible?**

Answer: Lists of names, often perceived as dry or uninteresting, serve several crucial purposes in biblical texts. Firstly, they provide a **historical record**, authenticating the events and confirming the participation of specific individuals, lending credibility to the narrative. Secondly, they emphasize **individual accountability** within a collective context, showing that national movements, whether of sin or repentance, are comprised of personal choices. For Ezra 10, the names underscore the difficult, personal sacrifices made by each man to obey God's command. Thirdly, they highlight the **scope and breadth** of an issue or a movement, demonstrating that the problem of intermarriage was widespread and that the response of repentance was comprehensive across the community. Finally, such lists often serve a **genealogical or communal function**, preserving the identity and lineage of God's people, which was particularly vital in the post-exilic period for maintaining their distinctiveness and preparing for the coming Messiah.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezra 10:32, with its seemingly mundane list of names, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Covenant. The rigorous demand for purity and separation in Ezra's time, particularly concerning intermarriage, foreshadows the ultimate purity and holiness that Christ establishes for His church. The Old Covenant's emphasis on a distinct, set-apart people, maintained through strict adherence to the Law, points to Jesus Christ as the one who perfectly fulfills the Law and establishes a new, spiritual Israel. His sacrifice on the cross purifies a people "for himself, a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works" ([Titus 2:14](/titus/2-14 "Titus 2:14 - Christ's Purpose for His People")). The difficult act of "putting away" sin in Ezra's day finds its ultimate resolution in Christ's atoning work, which enables believers to "put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires" ([Ephesians 4:22](/ephesians/4-22 "Ephesians 4:22 - Putting Off the Old Self")). Furthermore, the individual obedience of Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah, though imperfect, prefigures the perfect obedience of Christ, whose singular act of righteousness brings justification to many ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Christ's Obedience")). The preservation of Israel's lineage and identity through such acts of repentance was crucial for the coming of the Messiah, ensuring that the promises made to Abraham would be fulfilled in Jesus, the "seed" through whom all nations would be blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - The Seed of Abraham")). Thus, this verse, representing a moment of cleansing and covenant renewal, ultimately points to Christ, who is the true and lasting source of purity, reconciliation, and the perfect fulfillment of God's covenant with His people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.