Ezra 10:22
And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
Original Language Analysis
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י
And of the sons
H1121
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י
And of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 8
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אֶלְיֽוֹעֵינַ֤י
Elioenai
H454
אֶלְיֽוֹעֵינַ֤י
Elioenai
Strong's:
H454
Word #:
3 of 8
eljehoenai or eljoenai, the name of seven israelites
יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל
Ishmael
H3458
יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל
Ishmael
Strong's:
H3458
Word #:
5 of 8
jishmael, the name of abraham's oldest son, and of five israelites
Historical Context
Pashur appears in Jeremiah 20:1-6 as a priestly opponent of the prophet who persecuted him. Whether this is the same family line or different branch remains debated, but it establishes Pashur as a significant priestly name. The exile should have taught these families the cost of covenant violation, yet some members still compromised. This shows that historical knowledge doesn't automatically produce faithfulness—each generation must choose covenant commitment.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the presence of six violators in one prominent family demonstrate that religious pedigree doesn't guarantee faithfulness?
- What does the naming of multiple 'Maaseiahs' teach about the gap between religious profession and actual devotion?
- How can churches prevent covenant compromise from spreading through family or social networks?
Analysis & Commentary
And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah—six priests from Pashur's family are named. Pashur was another major priestly division (2:38), second in size after Jedaiah. The progression through priestly families (Jeshua, Harim, Pashur) demonstrates systematic investigation by family lines.
The name Maaseiah appears repeatedly in the list (vv. 18, 21, 22, 30), suggesting this was a common priestly name meaning 'work of Yahweh.' Multiple men named 'work of Yahweh' stood accused of covenant violation—another tragic irony. The repetition emphasizes how widespread the problem was even among those whose names proclaimed devotion.
Six violators from one family represents significant compromise. Pashur's line included over 1,200 members (2:38), so these six represent about 0.5%—yet even this percentage threatened priestly integrity. The naming demonstrates that covenant purity matters more than maintaining family reputation or avoiding embarrassment.