Priest who married a foreign woman during Ezra's time
Maaseiah
Named in 1 verse of Ezra, first in Ezra 10:18.
מַעֲשֵׂיָהוּMaaseiah
The name means “the work of the Lord.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Maaseiah Written by AI
Maaseiah was a priest who was found to have married a foreign woman during the time of Ezra (Ezra 10:18). After the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, Ezra, a priest and scribe, led a religious reform to purify the community and restore adherence to the Law of Moses (Ezr.7-10). One of the issues addressed in this reform was the problem of intermarriage with foreign women, which was seen as a violation of God's commandments (Deut 7.3-4). Maaseiah was among the priests who had taken foreign wives, and he is listed along with others who pledged to put away their wives and offer a ram as a guilt offering (Ezra 10:18 to 19). This event highlights the importance of maintaining religious purity and the challenges faced by the Jewish community in the post-exilic period. The inclusion of priests among those who had married foreign women underscores the pervasive nature of the problem and the need for spiritual leadership in the restoration of the community.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Maaseiah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
The work of Jehovah. (1.) One of the Levites whom David appointed as porter for the ark (1 Chr. 15:18, 20).
(2.) One of the “captains of hundreds” associated with Jehoiada in restoring king Jehoash to the throne (2 Chr. 23:1).
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(3.) The “king’s son,” probably one of the sons of king Ahaz, killed by Zichri in the invasion of Judah by Pekah, king of Israel (2 Chr. 28:7).
(4.) One who was sent by king Josiah to repair the temple (2 Chr. 34:8). He was governor (Heb. sar, rendered elsewhere in the Authorized Version “prince,” “chief captain,” chief ruler”) of Jerusalem.
(5.) The father of the priest Zephaniah (Jer. 21:1; 37:3).
(6.) The father of the false prophet Zedekiah (Jer. 29:21).
Maase’iah, refuge is Jehovah, a priest, the father of Neriah (Jer. 32:12; 51:59).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Ezra 10:18
Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.