The community discovers that it has not kept the feast of booths as prescribed by Moses. The time of mourning that follows in chapter 9 is probably for Ezra 9-10 and refers to their concern over mixed marriages. In sorrow and suffering the people renew their covenant relationship with God and set their seal to the pledge they make. The covenant obligation of the community, assumed under a curse and oath formula to walk in God’s law, includes avoidance of mixed marriages, observance of the Sabbath, the sabbatical year and support of the temple and its personnel. The emphasis is on understanding the law and the evil consequence of not following it, suffering. We still have a long wait for Paul and the doctrine of grace!
The community discovers that it has not kept the feast of booths as prescribed by Moses. The time of mourning that follows in chapter 9 is probably for Ezra 9-10 and refers to their concern over mixed marriages. In sorrow and suffering the people renew their covenant relationship with God and set their seal to the pledge they make. The covenant obligation of the community, assumed under a curse and oath formula to walk in God’s law, includes avoidance of mixed marriages, observance of the Sabbath, the sabbatical year and support of the temple and its personnel. The emphasis is on understanding the law and the evil consequence of not following it, suffering. We still have a long wait for Paul and the doctrine of grace!
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