Ezra 9 - Introduction

Chapter Nine
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS

1.

Where in the Bible have Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Amorites been mentioned before?

2.

What marks of a good leader did Ezra show when he was confronted with the people's sins?

3.

What does Ezra's prayer reveal about Israel's economic conditions at this time?

4.

Do you think Ezra was racially biased?

OUTLINE

In this chapter Ezra is made aware of the problem of mixed marriages: marriages of the people of Israel to foreigners.

C.

Ezra hears about some current sins, particularly marriage to foreigners, and he prays.

1.

Ezra is informed of the problem (Ezra 9:1-5).

2.

Ezra prays about it (Ezra 9:6-15).

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1.

What was the particular sin the people were committing, and who were involved?

2.

How did Ezra react to news of their sin?

3.

What can we learn from Ezra's prayer to make our own prayers more meaningful?