THEOSISBeda Venerabilis
Ezra declared, "You, O Lord, are the one God; You have made the heavens and the expanses of the heavens along with all their host, as well as the earth and everything within it, the seas and all that inhabit them; You sustain all these, and the heavenly beings offer You worship” (Nehemiah 9:6). The text indicates that they acknowledged their sins and those of their ancestors; yet, Ezra's prayer reveals a more comprehensive account of this act. When he concludes by stating, "Upon all this we make a firm pledge, and sign, and upon the signature the seal of our princes, of our Levites, and of our priests," it becomes increasingly evident how reverently and piously a diverse group of individuals assembled after the Feast of Tabernacles.
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They gathered to enter into and affirm their covenant with God, both verbally and in written form, having purified themselves from all negative influences. By detaching themselves from those unworthy, they could confidently continue the task they had long initiated—selecting from among the faithful citizens those capable of rebuilding the city.