Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
Read it in contextShecaniah’s Encouragement
Start reading at Ezra 10:1 (Ezra 10:1 to Ezra 10:5).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Reports of intermarriage lead to Ezra's confession and communal action, which must be read within this covenant and historical setting.
10:1Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
10:2And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
10:3Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
10:4Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.
10:5Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Ezra the priest and scribe supplies first-person material and is the traditional principal author. The complete book also incorporates earlier documents and third-person narrative. Biblical references: Ezra 7:6; Ezra 7:27; Ezra 8:1. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Ezra 9:1–10:44): Ezra, the returned people, their leaders, and the households implicated in the marriage crisis are involved in confession and the proposed remedy. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? The Jewish community restored from exile, including those rebuilding its worship and ordering its life by the law. Biblical references: Ezra 1:3; Ezra 7:10; Ezra 10:1. book background
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Shecaniah’s Encouragement. Read Ezra 10:1 through Ezra 10:5 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Reports of intermarriage lead to Ezra's confession and communal action, which must be read within this covenant and historical setting. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The account is set after exile under Persian rule and distinguishes the returns and activities associated with different kings. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The narrative moves from Persian-controlled exile to Jerusalem, with the temple and returning community at its center. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Shecaniah’s Encouragement (Ezra 10:1 to Ezra 10:5).
Start reading at Ezra 10:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The restored temple belongs to the history leading into the world of the Gospels. A broader connection to Christ concerns worship and restoration, not an assertion that each returnee or building detail is a direct prediction. See Ezra 6:16, Luke 2:27, John 2:19, John 2:21. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Join renewed worship with attention to conduct and communal responsibility. Apply the account's marriage-related actions with awareness of the particular covenant problem being addressed. interpretation
Cited: Ezra 10:1, Ezra 10:5, Ezra 6:16, Luke 2:27, John 2:19, John 2:21
Who wrote it, and how we know
EzraNamed in Scripture
What Scripture saysLarge sections are written in the first person by Ezra himself. Ezra 7:27Ezra 8:1Ezra 9:1
Early traditionJewish tradition names Ezra.
What is debatedThe book also contains third-person narrative, which suggests compilation.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Ezra 10
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Ezra concerns the return from exile, the rebuilding of the temple, and Ezra's later work. The narrative distinguishes successive Persian reigns; modern calendar dates are historical reconstructions, not dates printed in the verses. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Reports of intermarriage lead to Ezra's confession and communal action, which must be read within this covenant and historical setting.
Connection to the wholeReports of intermarriage lead to Ezra's confession and communal action, which must be read within this covenant and historical setting.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Reports of intermarriage lead to Ezra's confession and communal action, which must be read within this covenant and historical setting.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Ezra
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Ezra concerns the return from exile, the rebuilding of the temple, and Ezra's later work. The narrative distinguishes successive Persian reigns; modern calendar dates are historical reconstructions, not dates printed in the verses.
Connection to the wholeReports of intermarriage lead to Ezra's confession and communal action, which must be read within this covenant and historical setting.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.