Ezra 10:4-6

4 "Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; ¹be courageous and act."

5 Then Ezra rose and ²made the leading priests, the Levites and all Israel, take oath that they would do according to this proposal; so they took the oath.

6 Then Ezra ³rose from before * the house of God and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. Although he went there, ⁴he did not eat bread nor drink water, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

Ezra 10:4-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 10

Upon Ezra's prayer and confession, it was proposed by Shechaniah, that those who had married strange wives should put them away with their children, which they swore to do, Ezr 10:1-5, and proclamation was made throughout the land for all to meet at Jerusalem in three days' time, and accordingly they did, Ezr 10:6-9 when, at the exhortation of Ezra, all agreed to it, and persons were appointed to see it done, and the work was finished in the space of three months, Ezr 10:10-17 and a list of the names of those is given who had married such wives, and now put them away; of the priests, Ezr 10:18-22, of the Levites, Ezr 10:23,24, of the other Israelites, Ezr 10:24-44.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Chronicles 28:10
• 2. Nehemiah 5:12; Nehemiah 13:25
• 3. Ezra 10:1
• 4. Deuteronomy 9:18

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "upon you"
• [b]. Lit "word, thing"