[:en]SCRIPTURE: EZRA 9
“Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriages to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance” (Ezra 9:12)
The people of Israel had not kept themselves separated from the neighboring people with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. They had intermarriages with each other with the leaders and officials leading the way in this unfaithfulness.
When Ezra discovered that the Jews had mingled with their heathen neighbors and married heathen wives, he tore his garment in sorrow until the evening sacrifice. Upon knowing God’s Word, the people began to tremble. Ezra led a prayer of confession. He admitted that the nation deserved captivity because of their sins. But by God’s grace, they had been delivered and restored. Ezra pleaded for forgiveness of the national sin and asked the people to repent. For no one who was guilty could stand in God’s presence.
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