Ezra and Nehemiah
I dont mean to be controversial but Ezra did several things that had serious consequences for Christians and Jews. He started the scholarly rabbinic system. Christ denounced the scribes c
and Pharisees and chiuse common men as his Apostles who generally were not "men of letters" except for Paul. Yes, despite this, Christendom has adopted this same scholarly system.
When Ezra instituted his rabbinical system prophets seemed to cease in Israel until John the Baptist. Malachi was a contemporary of Ezra and Malachi 2 might be directed at him. This might partly be why the OT books are not chronological and not just that Ezra and Nehemiah are considered part of the history and not prophets. (Law, History, Writings, Prophets)
The next consequence that might trace its roots to Ezra is his racial interpretation of scripture in calling the Levitical priests to divorce their wives because they were not pure blood. Yes, Levites were called to marry among their own people, but I think that converts and proselytes were acceptable. I think the resentment of the Jews towards the Samaritans started at this time as well. Christianity and Mormonism has suffered with incorrect racial policies that stem back to these incorrect traditions.
If Jews and Christians wish to be guided by prophets again as is prayed for in the Pesach Seder, we all may need to forsake these traditions.
Malachi 2:12
The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts.
No comments:
Post a Comment