Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Da svarte hele forsamlingen med høy stemme: «Ja! Vi må gjøre som du har sagt. Men folkemengden er stor, og nå er det regntid. Derfor kan vi ikke stå ute. Dette er da heller ikke noe som vi får ordnet på en dag eller to. For vi har syndet grovt. Nå ber vi om at ansvaret for å ordne opp legges på våre lokale ledere. La alle dem som er i våre byer og som har giftet seg med slike kvinner, møte opp til fastsatte tider sammen med lederne og dommerne i hver by. La oss slik få ordnet opp i dette, så Herrens sinne mot oss kan legge seg.» Bare Jonatan, Asaels sønn, og Jakesja, Tikvas sønn, var imot dette. Mesjullam og levitten Sjabbetai støttet dette forslaget.
What Does This Mean?
This verse is a call to action. Someone is encouraging Ezra to take charge of a situation, promising support and urging him to be brave and do what needs to be done. The speaker is likely the community or leaders supporting Ezra.
Explained for Children
Imagine your friends saying to you, 'Hey, we need you to lead this game. We'll help you, so don't be scared, just do it!' That's what this verse is like. It's all about being brave and doing something important with help from your friends.
Historical Background
Ezra 10:4 is from the Book of Ezra, written after the Babylonian exile, around 450-400 BC. The book tells the story of the Jews returning to Jerusalem and Ezra's efforts to purify the community from foreign marriages. This verse likely represents the community's support for Ezra's mission.
Living It Out Today
Think about a time when you had to lead a project at school. You felt nervous but your friends encouraged you and promised to help. This verse reminds us that when we have a tough task, we should take charge with courage, knowing we have support.
The speaker is likely the community or leaders supporting Ezra, encouraging him to lead the effort to address the issue of foreign marriages.
What is the context of this verse?
The context is post-exilic Jerusalem, where Ezra was leading efforts to purify the community from foreign marriages, a practice that was against God's commandments.
How can this verse be applied in a workplace setting?
In a workplace, this verse can be applied by taking charge of a difficult project with courage and knowing that you have the support of your colleagues.
What does 'be of good courage' mean?
It means to be brave, confident, and not to let fear hold you back from doing what needs to be done, especially when taking on a challenging task.