Day 49 – Marriage

Ezra 10:1 Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of Elohiym, a large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept bitterly.

 2 Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our Elohiym, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel despite this. 3 Now, therefore, let us make a covenant with our Elohiym to put away these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our Elohiym; and let it be done according to the law. 4 Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage and do it.”

 5 Then Ezra arose, and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and everyone in Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word. Thus, they swore an oath.

 6 Then Ezra rose from before the house of Elohiym and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib; and when he came there, he ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity.

 7 They issued a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to the descendants of the captivity, that they must gather at Jerusalem, 8 and whoever would not come within three days, according to the instructions of the leaders and elders, his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity.

 9 Then the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and the people sat in the open square of the house of Elohiym, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain.

 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. 11 Now, therefore, make confession to JEHOVAH Elohiym of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives.”

 12 Then the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, “Yes! As you have said, so we must do. 13 However, there are many people; it is the season for heavy rain, and we are not able to stand outside. Nor is this the work of one or two days, because there are many of us who have transgressed in this matter. 14 Please, let the leaders of our entire assembly stand; and let those in our cities who have taken pagan wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of their cities, until the fierce wrath of our Elohiym is turned away from us in this matter.”

 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite gave them support.

 16 Then the descendants of the captivity did so. Then Ezra the priest, with certain heads of the fathers’ households, were set apart by the fathers’ households, each of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

 17 By the first day of the first month they finished questioning the men who had taken pagan wives. 18 Among the sons of the priests who had taken pagan wives the following were found of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 They gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering.

 20 Also of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah; 21 of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah; 22 of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 23 Also of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24 Also of the singers: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri. 25 Others of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah; 26 of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Eliah; 27 of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza; 28 of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai; 29 of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth; 30 of the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh; 31 of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah; 33 of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei; 34 of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluh, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasai, 38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph; 43 of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

 44 These had taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Christos – Anointed One, Messiah

Theos – Supreme Divinity

Kurios, KURIOS – Supreme Authority

Pater – Father

Pantokrator – All-ruling, Omnipotent, Almighty

God’s character:

Sovereign

Divorce happens more often than we like to think. Everyone wants a happily ever after marriage. However, it’s not always the case. Compatibility soon raises its head and people separate.

Elohiym told the people when He gave the law to Moses that they were not to intermingle with the nations of the land they would soon conquer. He didn’t want His people to mingle holy blood with unholy blood, those who didn’t worship Him.

When Ezra finished praying, one of the priests came to him with a suggestion on how to divorce their wives and when. Ezra agreed with the plan to divorce the pagan wives.

As Christians, you are told not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness?

 15 What accord has Christos with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

 16 What agreements have the temple of Theos with idols? For you are the temple of the living Theos. As Theos said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their Theos, and they will be My people.”

 17 Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Kurios. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

 18 “I will be a Pater to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the KURIOS Pantokrator.”

When you have an unequally yoked marriage, you have division when it comes to raising godly children. Your children will see how your spouse wants nothing to do with Yeshuwa and will do as your spouse does even though you do your best to teach them about Yeshuwa.

Paul also told the Corinthians about divorcing an unbelieving spouse.

1 Corinthians 7:10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Kurios: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 However, even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. A husband is not to divorce his wife.

 12 However, to the rest I, not the Kurios, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 Also, a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

 15 However, if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. Theos called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

When you date, you know whether your date honors Elohiym or not. Therefore, do not set yourself up for a failed marriage by marrying an unbeliever. It’s a rocky road you travel when your spouse doesn’t know or honor Yeshuwa.

The priests readily agreed to give up their wives to receive JEHOVAH’S favor. They didn’t want to fall back into the pattern that led them into exile.

When you are determined to live your life in obedience to Yeshuwa, you will find a spouse who also honors Him.

Let’s pray: Father, help me to honor You in everything I do, especially in my marriage. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 8 March 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux