Mattenai is a name mentioned several times in the Old Testament, most notably as one of the priests and Levites who had taken foreign wives during Ezra's time. In connection with Ezra's reforms, Mattenai committed to sending away his foreign wife to restore covenant faithfulness to God.
Hechos clave
Mattenai among the priests with foreign wives
Mattenai is mentioned among the sons of Jeshua who were among the priests that had taken foreign wives and committed to sending them away.
18Among the descendants of the priests, these were found to have married foreign women: from the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers—Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
Ezra led a major reform in which the Israelites were required to send away their foreign wives to preserve covenant faithfulness. Mattenai was among those who followed this command.
1While Ezra was praying and making this confession, weeping and lying prostrate before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israel gathered around him—men, women, and children—for the people were weeping bitterly.
2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra: "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land. Yet even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.
3So let us now make a covenant with our God to send away all these women along with their children, according to the counsel of the Lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.