Maaseiah
Maaseiah, a priest, was among those who had married foreign women during the time of Ezra (Ezr.10.22).
Biography
Maaseiah was a priest from the sons of Pashhur who was listed among those who had married foreign wives during the post-exilic period (Ezra 10:22). The sons of Pashhur constituted one of the major priestly families that returned from Babylon, and their involvement in the intermarriage crisis revealed how deeply the problem had penetrated Israel's religious leadership. When Ezra convened the assembly in Jerusalem and called for confession and separation, Maaseiah was among the priests who acknowledged their violation of the covenant prohibition against intermarriage with the surrounding nations. The priestly families were held to an especially high standard, and their public repentance was essential to restoring the moral credibility of the temple service and the integrity of the worshipping community.
Significance
Maaseiah's appearance in Ezra's priestly list of those with foreign wives reinforces the biblical teaching that those entrusted with sacred duties bear heightened accountability. The priests of Pashhur's line were guardians of Israel's worship, and their compromise threatened to undermine the very foundations of the restored community's spiritual life. Maaseiah's willingness to submit to Ezra's reform demonstrates that repentance, even when painful, is the path to restoration. His story contributes to the broader Ezra-Nehemiah theme that rebuilding the temple and city walls was insufficient without the concurrent rebuilding of the people's covenantal faithfulness.
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]