Ezra 10:9

Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It [was] the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of [this] matter, and for the great rain.

Then all the men {H582} of Judah {H3063} and Benjamin {H1144} gathered themselves together {H6908} unto Jerusalem {H3389} within three {H7969} days {H3117}. It was the ninth {H8671} month {H2320}, on the twentieth {H6242} day of the month {H2320}; and all the people {H5971} sat {H3427} in the street {H7339} of the house {H1004} of God {H430}, trembling {H7460} because of this matter {H1697}, and for the great rain {H1653}.

All the men of Y'hudah and Binyamin assembled in Yerushalayim within the three days. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month. All the people sat in the open place in front of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.

So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.

Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within the three days (it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month); and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

Commentary

Ezra 10:9 records a significant gathering of the Israelite community in Jerusalem during the post-exilic period, emphasizing their profound distress and conviction over the sin of intermarriage. This verse sets the stage for the drastic measures taken to purify the nation, highlighting the urgency and emotional weight of the situation.

Context

This verse immediately follows Ezra's fervent prayer of confession and lament in Ezra chapter 9, where he expressed profound grief over the people's disobedience, particularly their intermarriage with foreign women. This practice was strictly forbidden by God (as seen in Deuteronomy 7:3-4) as it threatened the spiritual purity and distinct identity of Israel, potentially leading them to idolatry. The scene described in Ezra 10:9 takes place in Jerusalem, specifically "in the street of the house of God," likely referring to the wide plaza or courtyard in front of the Temple, a public and sacred space. The timing, the "ninth month" (Kislev, roughly November-December), indicates it was the rainy season, and the mention of "great rain" adds to the physical discomfort and perhaps amplifies the sense of divine displeasure or the weight of their spiritual burden.

Key Themes

  • Urgency and Obedience: The swift gathering "within three days" demonstrates the community's immediate and serious response to Ezra's call and their recognition of the gravity of the "matter" of intermarriage.
  • Profound Conviction and Repentance: The people's "trembling" signifies deep fear, awe, and conviction over their sin. This emotional response, combined with the discomfort of the "great rain," underscores the intensity of their spiritual distress and their readiness for repentance.
  • Community Accountability: The gathering of "all the men of Judah and Benjamin" highlights the collective nature of the sin and the communal effort required for spiritual cleansing and restoration. This was not an individual issue but a national crisis.
  • Divine Presence and Discomfort: The setting at the "house of God" emphasizes the spiritual nature of the gathering. The "great rain" could be interpreted as a natural reflection of the spiritual turmoil, or even a divine sign, creating an atmosphere conducive to humility and confession.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "trembling" is charad (Χ—ΦΈΧ¨Φ·Χ“), which conveys a sense of shaking, fear, or anxiety, often in the presence of God or a significant, awe-inspiring event. It suggests not just physical shivering from the cold rain, but a deep spiritual apprehension and conviction regarding their sin. The phrase "house of God" (Beth Elohim) specifically refers to the Temple, reinforcing the sacred and solemn nature of this assembly convened to address a grave spiritual breach.

Practical Application

Ezra 10:9 offers powerful lessons for believers today. It underscores the importance of a swift and serious response to spiritual conviction and sin, both individually and corporately. Just as the Israelites were called to address sin that compromised their identity and relationship with God, so too are believers called to maintain spiritual purity and avoid compromises that could lead away from God's commands. The verse also highlights the role of godly leadership (like Ezra) in confronting sin, and the necessity of godly sorrow that leads to repentance. The discomfort of the "great rain" can serve as a reminder that God sometimes uses challenging circumstances to bring us to a place of humility and genuine change.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 12:17 (4 votes)

    [Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness [is] great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

  • 1 Samuel 12:18 (4 votes)

    So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

  • Esther 2:16 (2 votes)

    So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

  • Jeremiah 10:13 (2 votes)

    When he uttereth his voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

  • Jeremiah 10:10 (2 votes)

    But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

  • Ezra 7:8 (2 votes)

    And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which [was] in the seventh year of the king.

  • Ezra 7:9 (2 votes)

    For upon the first [day] of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first [day] of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.