the book of ezra

In Ezra 10v18 it says,'And among the sons of the priests...'

It refers to the priests, who were not only not to take pagan wives, but not to take wives who were harlots, defiled or divorced, Lev 21v7.

That's all I have for now. Otheres will no doubt add to this.

God bless.

Ezr 10:10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel.

Ezr 10:11 Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives."

...............................................

At this time in history the Law of Moses seperated the adopted nation of Israel from the gentiles.

Paul speaks of this in the book of Ephesians...

.................................................

Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--

Eph 2:12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

............................................

In this section of Scripture Paul teaches that the gentiles had no hope and were strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope...

Then Paul writes of these gentiles...
...............................................

Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

Eph 2:15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, [that is], the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man [from] the two, [thus] making peace,

Eph 2:16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

..............................................

Here Paul teaches that the middle wall of seperation, the wall described by the Law of Moses has been abolished. Prior to God allowing Peter and Paul to preach the gospel to the gentiles, enmity existed between the children of God defined by the nation of Israel and the children of satan, the sons of disobedience.

This is why Ezra called Israel to put away the pagan wives...the holy cannot be joined with the unholy....

In Christ
Jeff