Ezra 10:21
And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
Original Language Analysis
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י
And of the sons
H1121
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י
And of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 7
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וְאֵֽלִיָּה֙
and Elijah
H452
וְאֵֽלִיָּה֙
and Elijah
Strong's:
H452
Word #:
4 of 7
elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other israelites
וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה
and Shemaiah
H8098
וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה
and Shemaiah
Strong's:
H8098
Word #:
5 of 7
shemajah, the name of twenty-five israelites
Cross References
Historical Context
Harim's family represented a major priestly division established in David's reorganization of temple service (1 Chronicles 24). The concentration of five violations in one family suggests intermarriage patterns may have followed kinship networks—one compromise leading to others as family members influenced each other. In ancient Israelite culture, marriage alliances often reinforced family economic and political interests, creating pressure to conform to family marriage patterns even when they violated covenant law.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the concentration of violations in certain families teach about the danger of compromised influence spreading through kinship networks?
- How does the irony of names proclaiming Yahweh while actions deny Him challenge nominal Christianity today?
- What does equal treatment across priestly families teach about impartiality in church discipline?
Analysis & Commentary
And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah—this verse continues the priestly list, naming five members of Harim's family. Harim was a priestly division (2:39, 1 Chronicles 24:8), one of the prominent families returning from exile. The listing of five violators from one family suggests covenant compromise may have spread through kinship networks.
The names themselves carry theological irony: Elijah means 'Yahweh is God,' yet he married a woman who likely worshiped other gods. Shemaiah means 'Yahweh has heard,' yet he violated the covenant Yahweh established. Names that proclaimed faith in Yahweh coexisted with actions that denied Him—demonstrating the gap between religious identity and covenant faithfulness.
The proportional representation (five from Harim versus four from Jeshua's family, v. 18) shows the investigation didn't play favorites based on status. Each family received equal scrutiny, and violators received equal publicity regardless of lineage prominence.