Ezra 10:6

“Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.”

Context: The book of Ezra is set during the period of Israel’s return from the Babylonian exile. In Ezra 10, the people of Israel had just confessed their sins and pledged to put away their foreign wives and children as part of their repentance. Ezra, the scribe and priest, was deeply grieved by the people’s disobedience to God’s commandments and decided to take action.

Ezra’s response: In verse 6, we see Ezra’s immediate response to the sin of intermarriage with foreign women. He rose up from before the house of God, indicating that he had been praying or seeking God’s presence in the temple. Ezra’s spiritual devotion and concern for the people’s faithfulness to God prompted him to take action.

Fasting and mourning: After leaving the house of God, Ezra went into the chamber of Johanan, the son of Eliashib, where he fasted and mourned. Fasting is the act of abstaining from food and sometimes drink as an expression of deep spiritual devotion and repentance. By denying himself food and water, Ezra demonstrated his grief and anguish over the people’s transgressions.

Identification with the people: The reason for Ezra’s mourning was the transgression of those who had been carried away. The people of Israel had been exiled to Babylon because of their disobedience, and now, even after returning to their homeland, they were repeating the same sins. Ezra’s fasting and mourning can be seen as a sign of solidarity with the people, sharing in their sin and repentance, even though he himself was not guilty of this particular transgression.

• Overall, Ezra 10:6 reveals Ezra’s deep sorrow and commitment to seeking God’s forgiveness for the people’s transgressions. It serves as a reminder of the importance of repentance, intercessory prayer, and the responsibility of spiritual leaders to guide their communities in fidelity to God’s commandments.