Benaiah בְּנָיָ֫הוּ
An Israelite who married a foreign woman during the Exile.
Who is Benaiah in the Bible?
Benaiah was an Israelite descendant of Bani who married a foreign woman during the Babylonian Exile, as recorded in Ezra 10:35. He is mentioned in the context of Ezra's religious reform, which sought to address intermarriage between the returned exiles and surrounding nations. The practice of marrying foreign women was considered a violation of God's law and a threat to the spiritual purity of the Jewish community. Ezra called the people to confess their sin and separate from their foreign wives and children, and Benaiah was among those identified as having participated in this practice. His inclusion in this account illustrates the struggle the returning exiles faced in maintaining religious and ethnic boundaries after their captivity.
Biography
Benaiah is mentioned in Ezr.10.35 as one of the men from the descendants of Bani 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 10:35
"Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בְּנָיָ֫הוּ |