Ezra 10:13

But the people are many, and it is a time of much raine, and we are not able to stand without; neither is this a worke of one day or two: for wee are many that haue transgressed in this thing. Ezra 10:13 (KJV)

But the people

are many, and

it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither

is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. Ezra 10:13 (KJV)

The book of Ezra is set during the period of the Israelites’ return from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. After the return, Ezra, a priest and scribe, is tasked with leading the people in spiritual revival and restoring their commitment to God’s law. In Ezra 10 the community confronts the sin of marrying foreign wives, a practice that violated God’s commandments. Shechaniah the son of Jehiel addresses Ezra, acknowledging, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.”

The gathering of the people took place amid heavy rain, as noted in Ezra 10:9, when “all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.” This setting underscores the collective nature of the transgression and the urgency of corporate repentance.

The people openly confess that many among them have transgressed, recognizing that the task of correcting this sin is not a work of one day or two. Their acknowledgment that “we are many that have transgressed in this thing” highlights the widespread nature of the problem and the need for a united response. The confession reflects both an awareness of the enormity of the challenge and a commitment to address it together.

True repentance, the drafts explain, requires sustained effort, patience, and careful action. It is not a quick fix; rather, it involves a thorough process of turning away from the sinful practice and taking practical steps to rectify the wrongs. The people’s agreement to follow Ezra’s guidance demonstrates their willingness to engage in this prolonged work.

From this passage we learn three key lessons. First, the importance of recognizing and openly acknowledging sin rather than hiding it. Second, the significance of corporate repentance, showing that sin affects the whole community and must be addressed collectively. Third, the commitment required for genuine repentance—a dedication that extends beyond remorse to persistent, faithful action in alignment with God’s commands.