Mattenai מַתְּנַי
Descendant of Bani, who divorced his foreign wife.
Who is Mattenai in the Bible?
Mattenai was a descendant of Bani who lived during the time of Ezra's reforms following the Jewish return from Babylonian exile. According to Ezra 10:37, he had married a foreign woman, which was considered a violation of Jewish law and religious purity. As part of Ezra's effort to restore covenant faithfulness among the returned exiles, Mattenai was required to divorce his foreign wife, joining other Jewish men in this difficult action. His story illustrates the strict measures taken to prevent the community from repeating the religious unfaithfulness that had contributed to their exile, emphasizing the post-exilic community's commitment to maintaining separation and spiritual identity.
Biography
Mattenai was a man from the family of Bani who had married a foreign woman during the time of Ezra. As part of Ezra's reforms to purify the Jewish community after their return from Babylonian exile, Mattenai and others who had married foreign wives were required to divorce them (Ezr.10.37). This action was taken to ensure that the Israelites remained faithful to the Lord and did not fall into the same sins that had led to their exile.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:37
"Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu."
Study Ezra →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מַתְּנַי |