What is the context?
As Ezra prays and weeps before God’s house, a large gathering of men, women and children joins him in bitter weeping. Shecaniah son of Jehiel acknowledges the unfaithfulness but also says there is still hope for Israel.
He proposes a covenant to send away the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of those who tremble at God’s command, and calls Ezra to lead. Ezra then requires the leading priests, Levites and people to take an oath to act on the proposal.
The proposal involves an actual separation of families, not simply an expression of regret. The following verses describe the assembly and investigation through which the matter is addressed.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Henry, Wesley and Gill see the response as moving from sorrow to action under the covenant requirements. They understand the marriages in question as unlawful in that setting.
Henry also distinguishes that setting from marriage after the gospel’s removal of the separation between Jews and Gentiles. The New Testament directly addresses a Christian married to an unbeliever: if the unbelieving spouse is willing to remain, the believer must not divorce that spouse (1 Corinthians 7:10–16). Ezra’s account therefore needs to be read alongside those instructions when considering Christian marriage.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.