Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Esra ba og bekjente folkets skyld mens han gråt og bøyde seg ned foran Guds hus. Da samlet en meget stor forsamling av menn, kvinner og barn fra hele Israel seg hos ham, og de gråt høylytt. Sjekanja, sønn av Jehiel, en av sønnene til Elam, tok da til orde og sa til Esra: «Vi har ikke vært trofaste mot vår Gud, og vi har levd sammen med koner fra de andre folkene som ikke kjenner Herren. Men ennå er det håp for Israel i denne saken. La oss derfor inngå en avtale med vår Gud om at vi sender fra oss alle disse konene og de barn de har fått. La oss følge rådet fra Herren og fra dem som er skjelvende opptatt av å være lydig mot vår Guds bud. La oss følge loven! Stå nå fram med dette budskapet. Denne saken hviler på deg. Men vi skal stå sammen med deg. Så vær bare sterk og sett i gang!»
What Does This Mean?
This verse describes a powerful scene where Ezra prays and confesses his sins, weeping and prostrating himself before God. As a result, a large crowd of people, including men, women, and children, gathered to join him in weeping and confession. The key message is about the impact of sincere repentance and prayer.
Explained for Children
Imagine you did something wrong and felt really sad about it. You go to your room and cry, asking for forgiveness. Then, your whole family comes to hug you and say sorry too. That's like what happened here, but with lots of people who came to join Ezra in saying sorry to God.
Historical Background
Ezra 10:1 is part of the book of Ezra, written around 450-430 BCE. The text was written by Ezra, a Jewish priest and scribe, who led a group of Jews back to Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon. The audience was primarily the returned Jewish exiles, and the cultural setting was one of rebuilding and repentance.
Living It Out Today
Imagine a community where members have been neglecting their spiritual duties. A leader prays and confesses publicly, and this inspires the whole community to gather and do the same, showing the power of leadership and communal repentance.
What is the significance of Ezra's actions in this verse?
Ezra's actions show the importance of sincere repentance and confession before God, which can lead to communal healing and renewal.
Why did people gather around Ezra?
People were moved by Ezra's sincere prayer and confession, which inspired them to join him in expressing their own remorse and seeking forgiveness.
How does this verse relate to communal repentance?
The verse highlights how a leader's act of repentance can inspire an entire community to join in, emphasizing the collective power of sincere confession and prayer.
What can we learn from this verse about the impact of prayer?
This verse teaches that genuine prayer and confession can deeply affect not only the individual but also those around them, leading to communal spiritual renewal.