The Amorites were one of the ancient Canaanite tribes inhabiting the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. They are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the peoples that the Israelites were commanded to drive out of the Promised Land. The Amorites, along with other Canaanite nations, were known for their idolatrous practices and moral corruption, which were abominations in the sight of the LORD.

After the Babylonian captivity, when the Jews returned to Jerusalem and the surrounding regions, they faced the challenge of re-establishing their identity as God's chosen people. This period was marked by efforts to restore the temple, rebuild the city, and renew the covenant with God. A significant concern during this time was the issue of intermarriage with the surrounding pagan nations, including the Amorites.

The post-exilic leaders, such as Ezra and Nehemiah, were particularly vigilant about maintaining the purity of the Israelite community. They understood that intermarriage with pagan nations could lead to the adoption of idolatrous practices and a departure from the covenantal relationship with God. This concern is evident in the actions and reforms they implemented.

Ezra, a scribe and priest, was particularly distressed upon learning that the Israelites, including the priests and Levites, had not separated themselves from the peoples of the land, including the Amorites. In Ezra 9:1-2 , it is recorded: "After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, 'The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, practicing the abominations of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the peoples of the lands. And the leaders and officials have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.'"

Ezra's response was one of deep mourning and repentance. He tore his garments, pulled hair from his head and beard, and sat appalled. He then led the people in a prayer of confession, acknowledging their sin and seeking God's mercy. The seriousness of the situation was underscored by the communal decision to put away foreign wives and their children, as recorded in Ezra 10.

Nehemiah, who served as governor, also addressed the issue of intermarriage. In Nehemiah 13:23-27 , he recounts his discovery of Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. He contended with them, cursed them, beat some of them, and pulled out their hair, reminding them of Solomon's sin and the consequences of marrying foreign women. Nehemiah's actions highlight the gravity with which intermarriage was viewed and the potential threat it posed to the spiritual integrity of the Jewish community.

The condemnation of intermarriage with the Amorites and other pagan nations was rooted in the desire to preserve the distinctiveness of the Israelites as a people set apart for God. The leaders understood that faithfulness to God's commandments was essential for the community's survival and prosperity in the land. The post-exilic period, therefore, was marked by a renewed commitment to the Law and a rejection of practices that could lead to spiritual compromise.Ezra 9:1,2
Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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