Elasah אֶלְעָשָׂה
Priest who married a foreign woman during the Exile
Who is Elasah in the Bible?
Elasah was a priest mentioned in Ezra 10:22 who had married a foreign woman during the Babylonian exile. His marriage violated God's command that the Israelites remain separated from the surrounding nations, placing him among those who had compromised the religious integrity of the community during captivity. When Ezra led religious reforms upon the exiles' return to Jerusalem, Elasah joined other priests in pledging to divorce their foreign wives and separate from their children born of these unions. His inclusion in this account illustrates both the widespread nature of intermarriage among the exiled community and the stringent measures undertaken to restore covenantal faithfulness to God's people.
Biography
Elasah is mentioned in Ezr.10.22 as one of the priests who had married foreign women during the Babylonian exile. This was a violation of God's command for the Israelites to remain separate from the surrounding nations. As part of the religious reforms led by Ezra, Elasah and the other priests pledged to put away their foreign wives and children.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:22
"From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֶלְעָשָׂה |