Ezra 10:28

Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

Ezra 10:28 (KJV)

Context

The Book of Ezra records the return of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem. After their return, the people realised they had intermarried with foreign women, which was against God’s commandments. Ezra, a priest and scribe, led the people in confessing their sin and making a covenant to separate from these marriages.

Bebai was one of the heads of a family that had taken foreign wives. In Ezra 10:28, four of Bebai’s sons are listed: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. These were individuals from Bebai’s family who were involved in the process of putting away their foreign wives.

Meaning

The verse is part of a larger list of names that details those who had taken foreign wives and were divorcing them as an act of repentance. The people acknowledged their sin, and under Ezra’s guidance, they separated themselves from these marriages in order to be faithful to God’s commandments.

The listing of names underscores the personal and communal nature of repentance. Each person is accountable, and their actions are recorded. The names, though unfamiliar, represent real individuals whose choices mattered to God and to the community.

Biblical connections

Intermarriage with foreign women was explicitly forbidden in the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). The reason for this commandment was to prevent the Israelites from being led astray into idolatry and the worship of false gods. The Israelites’ intermarriage with foreign women posed a significant spiritual danger to the community.

The family of Bebai is also mentioned in Ezra 8:11, where Zechariah son of Bebai is listed among those returning with Ezra, with 28 men. This connection highlights the family’s presence in the return and their involvement in the community’s restoration.

Application

This passage calls readers to consider the importance of obedience to God’s commands and the necessity of personal responsibility in the life of faith. Repentance involves specific, costly actions, not merely sorrow. The people took concrete steps to rectify their disobedience, and their example encourages believers to take seriously the need to turn from sin and follow God wholeheartedly.

Reflection

God values the faithfulness of each individual. The record of these names shows that no one is hidden from God’s sight, and every act of obedience matters. As the Israelites separated themselves from what led them away from God, believers today are invited to examine their own lives and remove anything that hinders their devotion to Him.