These individuals resolved to realign with God’s law.
In this verse, Ezra lists the individuals who had taken foreign wives and were willing to repent to align their lives with God’s covenant. He writes that “And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.” (v.28) Here, we see four men named from the family of Bebai. Bebai was one of the families that returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon. According to earlier passages in Ezra, the return from exile took place around 538 BC under the decree of King Cyrus, though further groups came later, including the group led by Ezra around 458 BC. This was a time of reestablishing worship in Jerusalem after decades of displacement. By explicitly naming these individuals, Ezra underscores that personal accountability to God’s law was a critical part of communal restoration.
Each name included—Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai—represents both a family connection and an individual choice. As “And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.” (v.28) demonstrates, these are real people living in a specific historical context, joining corporate Israel in a difficult act of repentance. By turning away from unlawful marriages, they signaled renewed dedication to the precepts God had originally established for His people (see Deuteronomy 7 for background on prohibitions against intermarriage). While it may seem like a mere genealogical detail, this verse is a miniature portrait of the tension between cultural assimilation and obedience to God’s commands.
Geographically, these men were part of the post-exilic community in Jerusalem, situated in the ancient territory of Judah, just west of the Dead Sea region and north of the Negev desert. Historically, this region had been a focal point for God’s people since the time of King David (c. 1010-970 BC) and King Solomon (c. 970-930 BC). By the time we reach the book of Ezra, Jerusalem had gone through captivity and the destruction of the temple, and was in the process of rebuilding its walls and restoring proper worship. The mention of these specific men in “And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.” (v.28) highlights that genuine revival is fostered in both personal and communal spheres.
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Ezra 10:28 meaning
In this verse, Ezra lists the individuals who had taken foreign wives and were willing to repent to align their lives with God’s covenant. He writes that “And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.” (v.28) Here, we see four men named from the family of Bebai. Bebai was one of the families that returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon. According to earlier passages in Ezra, the return from exile took place around 538 BC under the decree of King Cyrus, though further groups came later, including the group led by Ezra around 458 BC. This was a time of reestablishing worship in Jerusalem after decades of displacement. By explicitly naming these individuals, Ezra underscores that personal accountability to God’s law was a critical part of communal restoration.
Each name included—Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai—represents both a family connection and an individual choice. As “And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.” (v.28) demonstrates, these are real people living in a specific historical context, joining corporate Israel in a difficult act of repentance. By turning away from unlawful marriages, they signaled renewed dedication to the precepts God had originally established for His people (see Deuteronomy 7 for background on prohibitions against intermarriage). While it may seem like a mere genealogical detail, this verse is a miniature portrait of the tension between cultural assimilation and obedience to God’s commands.
Geographically, these men were part of the post-exilic community in Jerusalem, situated in the ancient territory of Judah, just west of the Dead Sea region and north of the Negev desert. Historically, this region had been a focal point for God’s people since the time of King David (c. 1010-970 BC) and King Solomon (c. 970-930 BC). By the time we reach the book of Ezra, Jerusalem had gone through captivity and the destruction of the temple, and was in the process of rebuilding its walls and restoring proper worship. The mention of these specific men in “And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.” (v.28) highlights that genuine revival is fostered in both personal and communal spheres.