Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
Should we break your commands again and intermarry with people who practice these detestable things? Wouldn't you be angry with us until you completely destroyed us, leaving no survivors or anyone to escape?
Ezra is expressing deep concern that if God's people repeat their past mistakes of disobeying God's commands, God's anger might lead to their complete destruction.
📚 Historical Context
Ezra was a priest and scribe who led Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylon around 458 BC. He discovered that many Jewish men had married foreign women who worshipped other gods, which violated God's law and threatened to corrupt Israel's faith. This prayer comes after Ezra learned of these unlawful marriages and was deeply grieved, knowing that similar disobedience had led to Israel's exile in the first place.
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