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Brinny,
King Darius of Persia seems to be a stronger supporter of the LORD God of Israel than many of the kings of Judah and Israel. Clearly it was the power of God that was guiding Darius to do these things to help Jews to build the temple in Jerusalem.
Artaxerxes sends Ezra to beautify the temple in Jerusalem and no expense is to be spared.
Ezra Chapter 7
Artaxerxes King of Persia greatly supported Ezra. Ezra was a priest and scribe.
Artaxerxes wrote a decree giving Ezra money and power to support the temple in Israel.
And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the kings treasury (Verse 20).
Artaxerxes gives Ezra the power to put to death anyone that does not obey this decree (Verse26).
I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me (Verse 28).
Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the kings heart to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem (Verse 27).
Poor Ezra. He was a precious scribe and priest. He truly loved the God of Israel and it grieved him that they tossed aside God's grace and did abominably and evil in spite of all God had done for them.
Tragic.
Nehemiah another of the greats of the Old Testament.
The strange wives are sent away by Ezra
Ezra Chapter 10
Ezra believed that the only way to save the Jewish religion was to send the strange wives away with their children.
Ezra ordered all those who had returned from captivity to come to Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem Ezra explained the seriousness of the problem to the Jews and they agreed to send their strange wives away.
This was a very harsh decision but the strange wives had watered down the Jewish by bringing in their own strange customs and beliefs.
It seems that the strange wives had introduced some dreadful beliefs and customs into Judaism although we are not told what they were.
All we are told is that God found these strange beliefs and customs an abomination.
My guess is that the strange wives probably worshiped a variety of other Gods.
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