Ezra 10 24

Ezra 10:24 kjv

Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.

Ezra 10:24 nkjv

Also of the singers: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

Ezra 10:24 niv

From the musicians: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem and Uri.

Ezra 10:24 esv

Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

Ezra 10:24 nlt

This is the singer who was guilty: Eliashib. These are the gatekeepers who were guilty: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

Ezra 10 verses

Ezra 10 24 Meaning

Ezra 10:24 continues the register of men within the Israelite community who had transgressed the divine covenant by marrying foreign women. This verse specifically identifies individuals serving in sacred temple functions: Eliezer, from among the singers, and Shallum, Telem, and Uri, from among the gatekeepers. Their inclusion in this list underscores the pervasive nature of the sin of intermarriage, indicating that it had infiltrated even those entrusted with direct service in the house of God, highlighting the profound need for the radical purification undertaken by Ezra and the community.

Ezra 10 24 Context

Ezra chapter 10 documents the drastic and decisive action taken by the post-exilic Israelite community to address the widespread sin of marrying foreign women, a direct violation of God's covenant commands intended to preserve Israel's spiritual purity and distinct identity. Following Ezra's profound lamentation and prayer in chapter 9, the people gathered and, acknowledging their sin, pledged to confess and put away their foreign wives and their children born from these unions. A formal assembly was called, during which the men confirmed their commitment to this painful act of repentance. Verses 18-43 then meticulously list the specific men who had transgressed, group by group (priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and other Israelites), by their clan names. Verse 24 is part of this crucial roster, specifically naming four individuals from the Levitical roles of singers and gatekeepers, thereby highlighting that the contamination of foreign influence had unfortunately seeped even into those directly consecrated to temple service. This communal act of repentance and separation was seen as essential for restoring Israel's covenant relationship with God, preventing assimilation into idolatrous practices, and safeguarding the pure lineage through which God's redemptive plan, culminating in the Messiah, would unfold.

Ezra 10 24 Word analysis

• Of the singers: הַמְשֹׁרְרִים (ham'shōr'rīm). This refers to the Levitical men designated for leading worship through vocal music and instruments in the Temple. Their role was critical in the sacred life of Israel, enhancing reverence and focusing hearts on God. The fact that a singer, Eliezer, was found among those who had taken foreign wives highlights how pervasive the spiritual compromise had become, affecting even those closest to the heart of Israel's worship. Their defilement demonstrated the widespread nature of the breach in covenant fidelity.

• Eliezer: אֱלִיעֶזֶר ('Ĕlî‘ezer). A common Hebrew name meaning "My God is help" or "God is my help." The presence of such a name, conveying trust in divine aid, within this list of transgressors underscores the paradox of those who bore names affirming their faith yet fell into significant sin. This Eliezer is specifically identified as one of the "singers."

• and of the gatekeepers: הַשֹּׁעֲרִים (hash'shō'arīm). This refers to the Levitical guardians responsible for the security, order, and access control of the Temple precincts and its treasuries. Their duties involved maintaining the sanctity of God's house by ensuring only authorized individuals and items entered. The inclusion of gatekeepers indicates that the issue of foreign wives was not limited to laypeople but extended to those responsible for the very holiness of the temple boundaries, signifying a deeply entrenched problem within the entire community structure.

• Shallum: שַׁלּוּם (Shallūm). A Hebrew name that can mean "recompense," "retribution," or "peaceful." It was a relatively common name in various biblical contexts. Here, Shallum is named as one of the gatekeepers who had committed the sin of intermarriage.

• and Telem: טֶלֶם (Ṭelem). A less common Hebrew name. Identified here as another gatekeeper who had violated the covenant by marrying a foreign woman.

• and Uri: אוּרִי ('Ûrî). A Hebrew name meaning "my light" or "fire of the LORD." Like "Eliezer," it carries a spiritual connotation, adding a layer of tragic irony to his inclusion on the list of those who compromised God's commands. Uri is the third gatekeeper named in this verse.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Of the singers, Eliezer; and of the gatekeepers, Shallum, and Telem, and Uri": This specific enumeration of individuals from distinct Levitical temple service roles (singers and gatekeepers) serves to highlight the grave extent of the covenant violation. These were not mere laypeople but individuals engaged in vital spiritual and logistical aspects of Temple worship and purity. Their involvement underscores that the sin of intermarriage had deeply permeated the fabric of the returning community, reaching even those with sacred duties. The public listing of their names and functions emphasizes the collective confession and the solemn, communal effort to purify the people of God, starting with those entrusted with religious leadership and service. This act of purification was critical for maintaining the spiritual integrity and unique identity of Israel as a consecrated nation before God.

Ezra 10 24 Bonus section

The severe action of requiring men to send away their foreign wives and children, though deeply difficult for all involved, was understood by the post-exilic community as a radical surgical cut necessary for the nation's spiritual survival. Previous generations' compromises, particularly intermarriage leading to idolatry (Deut 7:3-4), were identified as key factors contributing to the exile itself. Thus, Ezra's reforms aimed to prevent a recurrence of such covenant breaches. The detailed list of names in Ezra 10 (including those in verse 24) is not merely a record but highlights personal accountability within a communal act of repentance. It underscores that purity in service, especially for those in religious leadership, was paramount and that personal sin had significant ripple effects on the entire community's covenant standing before God. The emphasis on purifying the Levitical lineage was particularly critical as their integrity directly bore upon the sanctity and legitimacy of future temple worship.

Ezra 10 24 Commentary

Ezra 10:24 is more than a simple entry in a list; it serves as a stark testament to the pervasive nature of sin and the profound commitment to corporate repentance in the post-exilic community. By explicitly naming Eliezer (a singer) and Shallum, Telem, and Uri (gatekeepers), the verse reveals that the transgression of marrying foreign women was not confined to particular societal groups but had regrettably extended to those holding significant and sacred Levitical positions within the Temple service. The functions of singers and gatekeepers were central to the purity, order, and holiness of worship. The fact that men in these roles were implicated demonstrates a serious spiritual breach at the very heart of Israel's devotion. This public disclosure was a painful but necessary step in the restoration process. It signified the community's acknowledgment of guilt, the cost of true repentance, and their unwavering resolve to re-establish a pure relationship with Yahweh, protecting their distinct identity from further pagan assimilation and safeguarding the divine covenant, a crucial prerequisite for their ongoing mission and future Messianic promises. This painful cleansing illustrated the community's willingness to prioritize divine law and national spiritual health over personal ties.