The issue of intermarriage, particularly between the Israelites and surrounding nations, is addressed multiple times in the Bible, often accompanied by strong rebukes. This topic is significant in understanding the cultural and religious identity of the Israelites as a people set apart for God.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides several instances where intermarriage is explicitly discouraged or condemned. The primary concern is the potential for such unions to lead the Israelites away from their covenantal relationship with God and towards idolatry.

1. Deuteronomy 7:3-4: The Israelites are commanded, "Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you." This passage highlights the spiritual danger of intermarriage, emphasizing the risk of turning away from God.

2. Ezra 9-10: After the Babylonian exile, Ezra confronts the issue of intermarriage among the returned exiles. Ezra 9:1-2 reports, "The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices... They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them." Ezra's response is one of deep mourning and prayer, leading to a communal confession and the decision to send away foreign wives and their children.

3. Nehemiah 13:23-27: Nehemiah also addresses intermarriage, noting that many Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. He rebukes them, saying, "Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women."

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not address intermarriage in the same ethnic terms as the Old Testament, it continues to emphasize the importance of spiritual unity in marriage.

1. 1 Corinthians 7:39: Paul advises that a widow "is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord." This instruction underscores the importance of shared faith in marriage.

2. 2 Corinthians 6:14: Paul warns, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?" While not explicitly about marriage, this principle is often applied to marital relationships, advocating for spiritual compatibility.

Theological Implications

The rebuke of intermarriage in the Bible is not primarily about ethnic purity but about maintaining the purity of worship and devotion to God. The Israelites were called to be a holy nation, distinct in their worship of Yahweh. Intermarriage with pagan nations posed a threat to this distinctiveness, often leading to syncretism and idolatry.

In the New Testament, the focus shifts to spiritual unity, emphasizing that believers should marry those who share their faith in Christ. This continuity reflects the ongoing concern for maintaining a community devoted to God, free from influences that could lead believers astray.

Historical and Cultural Considerations

The historical context of these rebukes is crucial. In the ancient Near East, marriage was often a means of forming political alliances and securing peace between nations. For Israel, however, such alliances through marriage could compromise their unique identity as God's chosen people. The post-exilic community, in particular, faced the challenge of re-establishing their identity and faithfulness to the covenant, making the issue of intermarriage particularly pressing.

Conclusion

The biblical rebuke of intermarriage serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God and the dangers of compromising that faith through relationships that could lead to spiritual infidelity. The consistent biblical theme is the call to be a people set apart, devoted wholly to the Lord.