Ezra 10:23

“Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.”

Historical context

The book of Ezra is set during the time when the Israelites returned from the Babylonian exile to rebuild the temple and restore their worship in Jerusalem. Ezra, a scribe and priest, played a significant role in leading this restoration process.

The context of Ezra 10

23: In Ezra chapter 10, the people of Israel had discovered that many of the returning exiles had married foreign women, which was against God’s law (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Ezra, along with the leaders and people, gathered together to address this issue and repent before God. They committed to putting away their foreign wives and separating themselves from their pagan practices.

The Levites mentioned in Ezra 10

23: This verse specifically mentions several Levites who were found to have married foreign women. The Levites were from the tribe of Levi, set apart by God to serve in various religious duties within the Israelite community.

– Jozabad: While this individual is mentioned here, there is no further information available in the Bible about him.

– Shimei: Again, not much information is available about this specific individual. There are several people named Shimei mentioned throughout the Bible, so it is challenging to identify this particular person.

– Kelaiah (Kelita): This individual is also not extensively mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. The name “Kelita” appears in Nehemiah 10:10 in reference to another individual, but it’s unclear if it refers to the same person.

– Pethahiah: Pethahiah is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible.

– Judah: Judah is a common name in the Bible, and there are multiple individuals with this name. It is difficult to determine if this Judah is the same as any of the others mentioned.

– Eliezer: Eliezer, meaning “God is my help,” is a name shared by various individuals in the Bible, including a servant of Abraham (Genesis 15:2) and a son of Moses (Exodus 18:4). It is unclear if the Eliezer mentioned here is the same as any of the others.

• Overall, Ezra 10:23 highlights the resolve of the Levites to rectify the issue of intermarriage and emphasizes the significance of obedience to God’s laws.