Jehiel יְחִיאֵל
Priest who married a foreign woman during the Exile
Who is Jehiel in the Bible?
Jehiel was a priest descended from the family of Harim who is mentioned in Ezra 10:21 as having married a foreign woman during the Babylonian exile. His case is particularly significant because priests were held to a higher standard of ritual purity and were expected to serve as spiritual examples for the Israelite community. When Ezra called the people to repentance and obedience to the Law of Moses, Jehiel joined other men in agreeing to divorce his foreign wife, demonstrating the community's commitment to maintaining their distinct identity and religious observance after exile. Jehiel's story illustrates the tension between integration and separation that faced the Jewish people during their return from Babylon, as well as the lengths to which they went to preserve their covenant obligations.
Biography
Jehiel is mentioned in Ezr.10.21 as one of the priests who had married foreign women during the Babylonian exile. This chapter lists the names of the men who had taken foreign wives, including priests, Levites, and other Israelites. Jehiel is identified as one of the descendants of Harim, a priestly family. The fact that priests had married foreign women was particularly problematic, as they were expected to maintain ritual purity and set an example for the people. In response to Ezra's call for repentance, these men agreed to put away their foreign wives and children, demonstrating their commitment to following the Law of Moses and maintaining the distinct identity of the Israelite community. The text does not provide any additional information about Jehiel's background or his specific role as a priest.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:21
"From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יְחִיאֵל |