Taking Daughters for Themselves and Their Sons - Ezra 9:2

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites”, and in chapter nine and verse two of Ezra, Ezra shared how he princes said “they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons” where we read,

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.

The verse reads, “For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons:” Ezra began with the words, “for they have taken of their daughters” which means “because, since and on account that they, the people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites have borne, exalted and made away with their, the foreign nations', female offspring and progeny” “for themselves” or “on behalf of their own selves”, “and for their sons” which means “and on behalf of their, the people of Israel's, male progeny and offspring”. Ezra shared how the “princes” told him that the people of Israel were intermarrying with the foreign pagan people, and they were allowing their children to be involved as well.

The verse goes on to say, “so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.” Ezra continued with the words, “so that the holy seed” which means “with the result being that the set apart, sacred and consecrated offspring, descendants, posterity and children”“have mingled themselves” which means “have pledged, engaged and become surety their own selves” “with the people of those lands” or “alongside and accompanying the human beings belonging to the foreign pagan countries, territories, regions and districts”. “Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers” which means “even so and indeed the power, might and authority of the leaders, chieftains and officials and prefects, governors or superintendents” “has been chief” or “has come about or become primary and foremost” “in this trespass” which means “within this falsehood and treacherous act”. Ezra shared how the people of Israel including their leaders and prefects were “trespassing” against God's ways by intermarrying with the foreign pagans. 

When we meditate the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how the people of Israel intermarried among the pagan and foreign people groups even so much that their leaders and prefects were the foremost in this grievous act. This behavior was against the ways of God, and whenever they went against His design, their children would be the fruit of their “trespass”. God knew what was best for the people of “Israel”, and he knows what is best for us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us the value of following His ways and not intermingling with the world. 

Next time Ezra shared what he did, “when I heard this thing”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".