Ezra 10:7

And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

And they made proclamation {H5674}{H6963} throughout Judah {H3063} and Jerusalem {H3389} unto all the children {H1121} of the captivity {H1473}, that they should gather themselves together {H6908} unto Jerusalem {H3389};

A proclamation was issued throughout Y'hudah and Yerushalayim that all the exiles were to assemble in Yerushalayim;

And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.

And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

Ezra 10:7 marks a pivotal moment in the post-exilic community's effort to restore their spiritual purity and adherence to God's law. Following the deep repentance initiated by Ezra (as seen in Ezra 9:5-15), this verse describes the immediate practical step taken to address the widespread sin of intermarriage with foreign women.

Context

After the return from Babylonian captivity, a significant spiritual challenge arose: many of the "children of the captivity," or Jewish exiles who had returned to Judah, had married women from the surrounding pagan nations. This was a direct violation of God's covenant commands, intended to preserve Israel's spiritual distinctiveness and prevent idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Ezra, a priest and scribe devoted to God's law, was profoundly distressed by this sin (Ezra 9:1-5). Moved by his grief and the people's confession, a solemn covenant was made to put away these foreign wives (Ezra 10:3). Verse 7 initiates the public, administrative process to carry out this difficult but necessary reformation, calling for a general assembly in Jerusalem.

Key Themes

  • Communal Action and Accountability: The verse highlights the necessity of a collective gathering to address a pervasive sin. It wasn't just an individual matter but a community-wide issue requiring a unified response and corporate repentance.
  • Divine Authority and Leadership: The "proclamation" issued by Ezra and the leaders demonstrates their authority to enforce God's commands and call the people to account. This act underscores the seriousness with which God's law was to be upheld among the returned exiles.
  • Purity and Separation: A central theme is the restoration of Israel's spiritual and social purity. The command to gather in Jerusalem was a step towards cleansing the community from influences that threatened their identity as God's chosen people.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "made proclamation" comes from the Hebrew word קָרָא (qara'), which means "to call out," "to proclaim," or "to summon." This indicates a formal, authoritative public announcement, not merely an invitation. The phrase "children of the captivity" (בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה, b'nei hagolah) emphasizes their shared identity as those who had experienced exile and were now called to rebuild their nation on a foundation of faithfulness to God.

Practical Application

Ezra 10:7 offers powerful lessons for believers today. It reminds us of the importance of addressing sin decisively, both individually and communally. When a community faces spiritual compromise, there is a call to gather, confess, and take concrete steps towards repentance and restoration. This verse illustrates that true spiritual revival often involves difficult choices and a commitment to align fully with God's Word, even when it demands significant personal sacrifice. The emphasis on corporate responsibility serves as a model for how the church should maintain its purity and commitment to biblical principles in a challenging world, understanding the consequences of disobedience as outlined in Ezra 10:8.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:5

    So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done [it] of a long [time in such sort] as it was written.

  • Ezra 1:1

    ¶ Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,
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