Ezra 10:7

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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};

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 10:7 marks a crucial administrative step in the post-exilic community's commitment to spiritual reformation. Following Ezra's profound intercession and the people's confession of widespread intermarriage with foreign women, this verse details the public decree issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem. This proclamation summoned all the returned exiles, the "children of the captivity," to assemble in Jerusalem, initiating the corporate process of addressing and rectifying the grave sin that threatened the spiritual purity and covenant identity of the restored nation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 10:7 immediately follows the solemn covenant made by the people, spurred by Ezra's deep grief and prayer over the sin of intermarriage (as detailed in [Ezra 9:5-15](/ezra/9-5 "Ezra's Prayer and Confession")). Having confessed their transgression and committed to putting away their foreign wives and children ([Ezra 10:1-4](/ezra/10-1 "The People's Response and Covenant")), the narrative shifts from the emotional and spiritual outpouring to the practical, organized implementation of this difficult resolution. Verse 7 initiates the public, administrative process to carry out this reformation, setting the stage for the assembly in Jerusalem and the subsequent investigation and resolution of the matter described in the following verses ([Ezra 10:8-17](/ezra/10-8 "The Assembly and Resolution of Intermarriage")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The return from Babylonian captivity was a momentous event, yet the community faced immense challenges in rebuilding not just the temple and walls, but also their spiritual identity. The prohibition against intermarriage with pagan nations was a cornerstone of Israel's covenant with God, designed to prevent idolatry and preserve their distinctiveness as a holy people ([Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition Against Intermarriage")). Despite this, many exiles had assimilated, forming alliances that compromised their spiritual integrity. Ezra, a priest and scribe "devoted to the Law of the Lord" ([Ezra 7:10](/ezra/7-10 "Ezra 7:10 - Ezra's Devotion to the Law")), arrived in Jerusalem specifically to address such spiritual decay. The "proclamation" was a common method of public decree in the ancient Near East, signifying an authoritative command from leadership. Jerusalem, as the religious and political center, was the logical gathering place for such a critical assembly.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully underscores several key themes pervasive in Ezra's narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Communal Action and Accountability**, demonstrating that widespread sin requires a unified, collective response from the entire community, not just individual repentance. The "proclamation" and subsequent gathering emphasize the corporate nature of Israel's covenant relationship with God. Secondly, it showcases **Divine Authority and Leadership**, as Ezra, empowered by God, exercises his role in enforcing God's commands and calling the people to account. This act reinforces the seriousness with which God's law was to be upheld among the returned exiles, mirroring the authority seen in the Mosaic Law ([Exodus 19:5-6](/exodus/19-5 "Exodus 19:5-6 - Israel as God's Treasured Possession")). Lastly, the verse contributes to the overarching theme of **Purity and Separation**, as the call to gather in Jerusalem was a critical step towards cleansing the community from influences that threatened their identity as God's chosen people and ensured their distinctiveness from the surrounding nations, a theme vital for the restoration of the covenant community.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Proclamation (Hebrew, _qara'_):** The KJV phrase "made proclamation" translates the Hebrew verb קָרָא (_qara'_), which means "to call out," "to proclaim," "to summon," or "to read aloud." In this context, it denotes a formal, authoritative, and public announcement, akin to an edict or decree. It implies a command that demands obedience, not merely an invitation. The widespread nature ("throughout Judah and Jerusalem") indicates the seriousness and urgency with which this command was disseminated to ensure compliance from all those concerned.
* **Children of the captivity (Hebrew, _b'nei hagolah'_):** This phrase, בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה (_b'nei hagolah_), literally means "sons of the exile" or "those of the exile." It specifically identifies the returned Jewish exiles who had come back from Babylon. This designation emphasizes their shared experience of divine judgment and subsequent restoration, underscoring their unique identity and responsibility as the remnant chosen by God to rebuild the nation and restore covenant faithfulness. It serves as a reminder of their past disobedience and the necessity of present obedience to avoid a similar fate.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem":** This clause establishes the authoritative and widespread nature of the decree. "They" refers to Ezra and the leaders of the community, acting with the people's consent established in [Ezra 10:4](/ezra/10-4 "Ezra 10:4 - The People's Pledge to Act"). The inclusion of "Judah and Jerusalem" signifies that the message was disseminated across the entire territory inhabited by the returned exiles, ensuring no one could claim ignorance of the command. This highlights the corporate and inclusive nature of the call.
* **"unto all the children of the captivity,":** This specifies the target audience of the proclamation. It was not a general call to all inhabitants but specifically to those who had returned from exile, the very people who had entered into the covenant with God and were now found to be in violation of its terms through intermarriage. This precise targeting underscores the specific nature of the sin being addressed and the particular group responsible for its rectification.
* **"that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;":** This clause states the explicit purpose of the proclamation: a mandatory assembly in the capital city. Jerusalem, as the spiritual and administrative heart of the restored community, was the appropriate place for such a significant gathering. The phrase "gather themselves together" implies a collective, unified action, emphasizing the corporate responsibility to address the sin and participate in the process of purification and restoration. This assembly was not optional but a requirement, as the following verse indicates severe consequences for non-compliance ([Ezra 10:8](/ezra/10-8 "Ezra 10:8 - Consequences for Non-Attendance")).

#### Literary Devices
Ezra 10:7 employs several literary devices to convey its message. The primary device is a **Proclamation** or **Edict**, a formal, authoritative public announcement, which immediately establishes the gravity and official nature of the command. The phrase "throughout Judah and Jerusalem" functions as a form of **Synecdoche** or **Metonymy**, where "Judah and Jerusalem" represents the entire returned community, emphasizing the comprehensive reach of the decree. The verse also utilizes a **Call to Assembly**, a recurring motif in biblical narratives (e.g., for worship, war, or judgment), which here signifies a pivotal moment of corporate decision and action. The urgency and mandatory nature of the gathering are implicitly conveyed through the authoritative tone and the impending consequences mentioned in the subsequent verse, creating a sense of immediate necessity for the community's spiritual well-being.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 10:7 is a powerful testament to the principle of corporate responsibility and the necessity of decisive action in addressing sin within the covenant community. It underscores that spiritual health is not solely an individual matter but profoundly impacts the collective body. The command to gather in Jerusalem for the purpose of purification reflects God's unwavering demand for holiness from His people, a demand rooted in His covenant relationship with Israel. This event serves as a stark reminder that disobedience, particularly regarding foundational covenant stipulations like separation from pagan practices, carries severe consequences and requires radical measures for restoration. The willingness of the leaders to issue such a difficult proclamation, and the expectation of the people to obey, highlights the paramount importance of God's law over personal comfort or social convenience.

* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3 "Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Prohibition Against Intermarriage")
* [Nehemiah 13:23-27](/nehemiah/13-23 "Nehemiah 13:23-27 - Nehemiah's Action Against Intermarriage")
* [Joshua 7:10-13](/joshua/7-10 "Joshua 7:10-13 - Achan's Sin and Corporate Guilt")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezra 10:7 challenges contemporary believers and the church to consider the seriousness with which sin, especially corporate sin, should be addressed. It reminds us that spiritual purity is not a passive state but requires active, sometimes painful, measures to maintain or restore. Just as the "children of the captivity" were called to a specific place for a specific purpose of repentance and cleansing, so too are believers today called to gather in community, to hold one another accountable, and to collectively confront anything that compromises their identity as God's holy people. This verse teaches that true revival often involves difficult choices, a willingness to dismantle practices that contradict God's Word, and a commitment to align fully with divine truth, even when it demands significant personal sacrifice or social discomfort. The pursuit of holiness is a communal endeavor, requiring both courageous leadership and obedient participation from every member.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "foreign influences" or compromises might the church or individual believers need to "gather" to address today?**
* **How does the concept of corporate responsibility in Ezra 10:7 apply to our local church or Christian community?**
* **What difficult "proclamations" or calls to repentance might God be issuing to His people today, and how are we responding?**
* **In what ways might personal comfort or social acceptance hinder our willingness to pursue radical obedience to God's Word?**

### FAQ
**Why was it so important for all the "children of the captivity" to gather in Jerusalem?**

Answer: It was critically important for several reasons. Firstly, the sin of intermarriage was widespread, affecting many families and threatening the spiritual integrity of the entire community. A collective gathering ensured that the issue was addressed corporately, not just individually, emphasizing that the covenant relationship with God was communal. Secondly, Jerusalem was the spiritual and administrative center of the returned exiles, making it the logical and authoritative place for such a significant assembly. The public nature of the gathering underscored the gravity of the situation and the seriousness with which the leaders, under Ezra's guidance, intended to enforce God's law. It also allowed for a unified process of confession, investigation, and resolution, as detailed in [Ezra 10:9-17](/ezra/10-9 "Ezra 10:9-17 - The Assembly and Resolution"). The mandatory nature of the summons, with penalties for non-attendance ([Ezra 10:8](/ezra/10-8 "Ezra 10:8 - Consequences for Non-Attendance")), further highlights the urgency and necessity of this corporate action for the spiritual health and survival of the restored nation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezra 10:7, with its call for a corporate gathering to cleanse the community from sin, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ. While Ezra's proclamation sought to purify a physical nation through the painful act of separation, Jesus Christ, the true and greater Ezra, came to purify a spiritual people, His Church, through His own sacrifice. The gathering in Jerusalem points to the ultimate spiritual assembly of all believers who are "called out" from the world to be united in Christ. Just as the "children of the captivity" were summoned to deal with the sin that defiled them, so too are believers in the New Covenant called to "come out from them and be separate" ([2 Corinthians 6:17](/2_corinthians/6-17 "2 Corinthians 6:17 - Call to Separation")) and to live lives of holiness, reflecting the purity of their Head. Christ's work on the cross is the definitive act of purification, making it possible for a people "zealous for good works" to be cleansed from all lawlessness ([Titus 2:14](/titus/2-14 "Titus 2:14 - Christ's Purpose to Redeem and Purify")). The New Testament Church, the spiritual Israel, is called to maintain its purity not by physical separation from certain people, but by spiritual separation from the world's defilements and by adherence to the teachings of Christ, who is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). The ultimate gathering is not in an earthly Jerusalem, but into the spiritual body of Christ, where believers are continually being conformed to His image ([Romans 8:29](/romans/8-29 "Romans 8:29 - Conformed to the Image of His Son")) and prepared as a "radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" ([Ephesians 5:27](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ's Love for the Church")).

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.

Cross-References

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,