Benaiah בְּנָיָ֫הוּ
An Israelite who married a foreign woman during the Exile.
Who is Benaiah in the Bible?
Benaiah was an Israelite from the descendants of Parosh who married a foreign woman during the Babylonian Exile (Ezra 10:25). He is mentioned in the context of Ezra's religious reform, which sought to address the widespread practice of intermarriage between the returned exiles and surrounding nations. The inclusion of Benaiah's name in this list indicates that he was among those who had taken a foreign wife, a practice that the Jewish leadership viewed as a violation of God's law and a spiritual compromise for the community. His mention in Scripture serves as a historical record of the challenges faced by the returned exiles in maintaining religious and cultural identity after their return from captivity.
Biography
Benaiah is mentioned in Ezr.10.25 as one of the men from the descendants of Parosh who had married foreign women during the Babylonian Exile. The context of the passage is Ezra's reform, which addressed the issue of intermarriage between the returned exiles and the surrounding nations. This practice was seen as a violation of God's law and a threat to the spiritual purity of the community. Ezra called for the people to confess their sin and separate themselves from their foreign wives and children. Benaiah is listed among those who had taken foreign wives, indicating his involvement in this practice.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:25
"And among the other Israelites, from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah."
Study Ezra →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בְּנָיָ֫הוּ |