Maaseiah
Maaseiah, a priest, was among those who had married foreign women during the time of Ezra (Ezr.10.18).
Biography
Maaseiah was a priest from the sons of Jeshua who was identified among those who had taken foreign wives during the period of Israel's return from Babylonian exile (Ezra 10:18). When Ezra led the investigation into intermarriage with surrounding pagan peoples, Maaseiah's name appeared at the head of the priestly list, underscoring the gravity of the situation: even those closest to the altar had violated the covenant. The priestly families were expected to model holiness and separation for the entire community. Maaseiah and his fellow priests pledged to put away their foreign wives and offered a guilt offering of a ram for their trespass. His willingness to submit to communal discipline demonstrated that repentance must begin with spiritual leadership.
Significance
Maaseiah's inclusion in the list of priests who married foreign women illustrates a sobering biblical theme: spiritual office does not immunize one from sin. The fact that Ezra's reform begins with priestly families (Ezra 10:18) underscores the principle that judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). Yet Maaseiah's story is also one of restoration through repentance. By publicly acknowledging his transgression and offering sacrifice, he participated in the renewal of the covenant community. His example teaches that genuine repentance requires concrete action, not merely verbal confession.
Verse Appearances (1)
Ezra
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]