Athlai עַתְלַי
One of those who agreed to put away foreign wives
Who is Athlai in the Bible?
Athlai was one of the Israelite men who agreed to divorce his foreign wife during Ezra's religious reforms in the post-exilic period (Ezra 10:28). After the return from Babylonian captivity, Ezra discovered that many Israelites, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with neighboring peoples in violation of God's commands. In response, Ezra convened an assembly and called the people to confess their sin and separate from their foreign wives. Athlai's agreement to put away his foreign wife demonstrated his willingness to submit to God's law and support the restoration of religious purity in the community, even at great personal cost.
Biography
Athlai is mentioned in Ezra 10 as one of the men who had married foreign women during the time of Ezra. After the return from Babylonian captivity, Ezra discovered that many Israelites, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with the neighboring peoples, going against God's commands. Ezra called for a assembly and urged the people to confess their sin and separate themselves from their foreign wives. Athlai was among those who agreed to put away their foreign wives and children, demonstrating his commitment to obey God's laws and maintain the purity of the Israelite community.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:28
"From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עַתְלַי |