Isshijah יִשִּׁיָּהוּ
Descendant of Harim; agreed to put away foreign wife.
Who is Isshijah in the Bible?
Isshijah was a descendant of Harim who lived during the time of Ezra's religious reforms in the fifth century BCE. He is mentioned in Ezra 10:31 as one of the men who agreed to divorce his foreign wife in compliance with Ezra's covenant to restore Jewish religious purity after the return from Babylonian exile. The intermarriage of Israelites with surrounding pagan peoples had violated God's commands, and Ezra led a movement calling the people to repentance and separation from these unions. Isshijah's inclusion in the list of those who complied demonstrates the widespread nature of this problem and the resolve of many Jewish leaders to uphold the law during this critical period of restoration and national identity.
Biography
Isshijah is mentioned briefly in Ezr.10.31 as one of the descendants of Harim who had married foreign women. This occurred during the time of Ezra, who led a significant reform movement among the Jews who had returned from Babylonian exile.
Ezra discovered that many of the Israelites, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with the pagan peoples of the land, going against God's commands (Ezr.9.1-2). After Ezra's prayer of confession (Ezr.9.3-15), the people agreed to make a covenant to put away their foreign wives and children (Ezr.10.3).
Isshijah is listed among those who complied with this decision (Ezr.10.31). No other details are provided about his life or family. His inclusion in this list highlights the widespread nature of the intermarriage problem and the importance of the reforms Ezra initiated to restore obedience to God's law.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:31
"From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,"
Study Ezra →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יִשִּׁיָּהוּ |