Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
When Ezra had finished praying and confessing, crying and throwing himself down in front of God's house, a huge crowd of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people were crying bitterly too.
Ezra's heartbroken prayer and confession before God moved the people so deeply that they gathered around him and wept bitterly alongside him.
📚 Historical Context
Ezra was a priest and scribe who led the Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon, focusing on restoring obedience to God's law. In this verse, he is publicly praying and confessing the sins of the people, especially intermarriages that defied God's commands as outlined in the Torah, which prompts a large assembly of men, women, and children to gather and weep in shared repentance. This event reflects the broader efforts to purify the community and reestablish covenant faithfulness among the returned exiles.
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