Ezra 10:33
From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
From the descendants of Hashum:

Hashum’s family had returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:19). Members of that restored household now appear among those confronted by Ezra’s call to covenant faithfulness.

Ezr 2:19 the descendants of Hashum, 223;
Neh 7:22 the descendants of Hashum, 328;

Mattenai,

Mattenai, meaning “gift of Yahweh,” was personally named in the public record, showing that repentance involved identifiable individuals rather than vague national sentiment.

Neh 12:19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
1Ch 24:7-19 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,…

Mattattah,

Mattattah’s (“gift of Yahweh”) inclusion reminds the restored community that family heritage did not excuse disobedience. Those descended from faithful returnees still needed to submit their lives to God’s word.

1Ch 9:31 A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum…
1Ch 25:3 From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah…

Zabad,

Zabad means “endowed” or “given.” Zabad stood with others from his household in acknowledging the seriousness of marriages that threatened Israel’s covenant separation and worship. Names like Zabad are often found in genealogical records, serving as a reminder of God's provision and the importance of each individual's role in the community's restoration efforts.

1Ch 2:36 Attai was the father of Nathan, Nathan was the father…
1Ch 11:41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,

Eliphelet,

Eliphelet’s name, meaning “God is deliverance,” in this list points to the Lord’s work of deliverance not only from exile but also from compromises that could draw His people away from Him.

2Sa 5:16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
1Ch 3:8 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet—nine in all.

Jeremai,

Jeremai (meaning “Yahweh will exalt”) shared in the solemn responsibility of restoring obedience within the community. Renewal in Jerusalem required obedience in private households as well as public worship.

1Ch 2:9 The sons who were born to Hezron: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.
1Ch 2:25-27 The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron:…

Manasseh,

Manasseh, meaning “causing to forget,” recalls the need to leave behind the failures of the past and walk forward in renewed covenant devotion.

Gen 41:51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying…
Jos 17:1-6 Now this was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh…

and Shimei.

Shimei, meaning “heard” or “hearing,” completes the recorded members of Hashum’s family involved in this matter. Their inclusion preserves the historical reality of Israel’s repentance and the costly commitment required to rebuild a holy people in the land.

2Sa 16:5-13 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the house…
1Ki 2:8-9 Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hashum
A family head whose descendants were among those who returned from the Babylonian exile. The family is noted for having intermarried with foreign women, which was against the Law of Moses.

2. Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei
These are the sons of Hashum mentioned in this verse. They are part of the group that had taken foreign wives and were called to repent and separate from these marriages to restore their covenant relationship with God.

3. The Event of Repentance
This chapter describes a significant event where the Israelites, under Ezra's leadership, confess their sin of intermarriage with foreign women and take steps to rectify it by sending away their foreign wives and children.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Obedience to God's Commands
The Israelites' intermarriage with foreign women was a direct violation of God's law. This teaches us the importance of adhering to God's commands and the consequences of disobedience.

Repentance and Restoration
The actions taken by the Israelites to rectify their sin demonstrate the importance of repentance and the steps necessary to restore a right relationship with God.

Community Accountability
Ezra's leadership and the community's collective action highlight the role of community in holding each other accountable to God's standards.

Guarding Against Compromise
The Israelites' situation warns us of the dangers of compromising our faith and values, especially in relationships that can lead us away from God.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the inclusion of specific names in Ezra 10:33 teach us about personal accountability in our spiritual lives?

2. How does the command against intermarriage in Deuteronomy 7:3-4 relate to the situation in Ezra 10, and what can we learn from it about maintaining spiritual purity today?

3. In what ways can we apply the principle of repentance and restoration in our own lives when we recognize sin?

4. How can the church today function as a community that encourages obedience to God's commands and supports one another in repentance?

5. Reflect on a time when you faced a situation that required you to choose between compromising your faith and standing firm. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it inform your future decisions?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 7:3-4
This passage provides the original command against intermarriage with foreign nations, which was intended to prevent the Israelites from being led astray to worship other gods.

Nehemiah 13:23-27
Nehemiah also deals with the issue of intermarriage, showing that this was a recurring problem for the Israelites and emphasizing the importance of maintaining purity in worship and community.

1 Corinthians 7:12-16
While the New Testament context is different, this passage discusses marriage to unbelievers, offering guidance on how to handle such situations in a way that honors God.
The ReformationsJ.A. Macdonald Ezra 10:6-44
Sin and RepentanceW. Clarkson Ezra 10:9-44
Cheap ExpiationsJ. Parker, D. DEzra 10:18-44
The List of OffendersWilliam Jones.Ezra 10:18-44
People
Abdi, Adaiah, Adna, Amariah, Amram, Asahel, Athlai, Azareel, Aziza, Bani, Bebai, Bedeiah, Benaiah, Benjamin, Bezaleel, Binnui, Chelal, Chelluh, Elam, Elasah, Eleazar, Eliah, Eliashib, Eliezer, Elijah, Elioenai, Eliphelet, Ezra, Gedaliah, Hanani, Hananiah, Harim, Hashum, Iddo, Immer, Ishijah, Ishmael, Israelites, Jaasau, Jadau, Jahaziah, Jarib, Jashub, Jehiel, Jehohanan, Jeiel, Jeremai, Jeremoth, Jeshua, Jeziah, Joel, Johanan, Jonathan, Joseph, Jozabad, Jozadak, Kelaiah, Kelita, Levites, Maadai, Maaseiah, Machnadebai, Malchiah, Malchijah, Malluch, Manasseh, Mattaniah, Mattathah, Mattenai, Mattithiah, Meremoth, Meshullam, Miamin, Mijamin, Nathan, Nethaneel, Pahathmoab, Parosh, Pashur, Pethahiah, Ramiah, Shabbethai, Shallum, Sharai, Shashai, Sheal, Shecaniah, Shelemiah, Shemaiah, Shemariah, Shimei, Shimeon, Simeon, Telem, Tikvah, Uel, Uri, Uzziah, Vaniah, Zabad, Zabbai, Zattu, Zebadiah, Zebina, Zechariah
Places
Jerusalem, Nebo
Topics
Eliphelet, Eliph'elet, Hashum, Jeremai, Jer'emai, Manasseh, Manas'seh, Mattathah, Mattattah, Mat'tattah, Mattenai, Matte'nai, Shimei, Shim'e-i, Sons, Zabad
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezra 10:10-44

     5711   marriage, restrictions

Library
Ezra, the Praying Reformer
Before the Great War there were many signs of a new interest in PRAYER and new hope from its exercise. How these signs have multiplied is known to every one. This one thing at least that is good the War has done for us already. Let us not miss our opportunity. Prayer is not an easy exercise. It requires encouragement, exposition, and training. There never was a time when men and women were more sincerely anxious to be told how to pray. Prayer is the mightiest instrument in our armory, and if we are
Edward M. Bounds—Prayer and Praying Men

Some Other Memorable Places of the City.
I. There was a street leading from the Gate of Waters to the mount of the Temple, which seems to be called "the street of the Temple," Ezra 10:9. This way they went from the Temple to mount Olivet. II. The ascent to the mount of the Temple was not so difficult but cattle and oxen might be driven thither; nor so easy, but that it required some pains of those that went up. "A child was free from presenting himself in the Temple at the three feasts, until" (according to the school of Hillel) "he was
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
The first important part of the Old Testament put together as a whole was the Pentateuch, or rather, the five books of Moses and Joshua. This was preceded by smaller documents, which one or more redactors embodied in it. The earliest things committed to writing were probably the ten words proceeding from Moses himself, afterwards enlarged into the ten commandments which exist at present in two recensions (Exod. xx., Deut. v.) It is true that we have the oldest form of the decalogue from the Jehovist
Samuel Davidson—The Canon of the Bible

Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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