Ezra 9:12-14

12 Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage 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.’

13 “What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this.

14 Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor?

Ezra 9:12-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 9

Ezra being informed, by some of the princes who complained unto him, of the marriages of many of the Israelites with the people of the land, the Canaanites and others, was greatly grieved and distressed, Ezr 9:1-5, upon which he made a confession of their sins to God, with great shame, sorrow, and contrition, and deprecated the evils which they deserved, Ezr 9:6-15.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 34:15; Deuteronomy 7:3; Deuteronomy 23:6
• 2. Deuteronomy 11:8
• 3. S Genesis 45:18
• 4. Psalms 103:17; Ezekiel 37:25; Joel 3:20
• 5. S Exodus 32:22
• 6. Job 11:6; Job 15:5; Job 22:5; Job 33:27; Psalms 103:10
• 7. Nehemiah 13:27
• 8. S Deuteronomy 9:8
• 9. Deuteronomy 9:14