Ezra 10
Ezra 10:1 While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a vast congregation of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.
Ezra 10:2 Then Shecaniah, son of Jehiel, an Elamite, responded to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the lands, but there is still hope for Israel despite this.
Ezra 10:3 Let us, therefore, cut[1] a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and those they gave birth to,[2] according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the instruction.
Ezra 10:4 Get up; this matter is your responsibility, and we support you. Be strong and take action!”
Ezra 10:5 Then Ezra got up and made the captain priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said; so, they took the oath.
Ezra 10:6 Ezra then went from the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan, son of Eliashib, where he spent the night. He did not consume food or drink water because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
Ezra 10:7 They proclaimed throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather in Jerusalem.
Ezra 10:8 Whoever did not come within three days, all his possessions would be set apart for destruction[3] according to the decision of the captains and elders, and he would be separated from the assembly of the exiles.
Ezra 10:9 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.
Ezra 10:10 Then the priest Ezra stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding[4] to Israel’s need of reparation.
Ezra 10:11 Therefore, confess Yahveh, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the people of the lands and your foreign wives.”
Ezra 10:12 All the assembly answered[5] loudly: “Yes, we will do as you say!
Ezra 10:13 But there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We don’t have the stamina to stay out in the open. This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for we have rebelled terribly in this matter.
Ezra 10:14 Let our captains represent the entire assembly. Then, let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each town, to avert the fierce anger of our God concerning this matter.
Ezra 10:15 Jonathan, son of Asahel, and Jahzeiah, son of Tikvah, certainly[6] opposed this, with Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.
Ezra 10:16 The exiles did what had been proposed. The priest Ezra separated men who were family heads, all identified by name, to represent their ancestral houses. They convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter,
Ezra 10:17, and by the first day of the first month, they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.
Ezra 10:18 The following were found to have married foreign women from the descendants of the priests: from the descendants of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
Ezra 10:19 They pledged to send their wives away, and being guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt;
Ezra 10:20 Hanani and Zebadiah from Immer’s descendants;
Ezra 10:21 Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah from Harim’s descendants;
Ezra 10:22 Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah from Pashhur’s descendants.
Ezra 10:23 The Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
Ezra 10:24 The singers: Eliashib. The gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
Ezra 10:25 The Israelites: Parosh’s descendants: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah;
Ezra 10:26 Elam’s descendants: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah;
Ezra 10:27 Zattu’s descendants: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza;
Ezra 10:28 Bebai’s descendants: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai;
Ezra 10:29 Bani’s descendants: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth;
Ezra 10:30 Pahath-moab’s descendants: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh;
Ezra 10:31 Harim’s descendants: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
Ezra 10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah;
Ezra 10:33 Hashum’s descendants: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei;
Ezra 10:34 Bani’s descendants: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
Ezra 10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
Ezra 10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
Ezra 10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu,
Ezra 10:38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
Ezra 10:39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
Ezra 10:40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
Ezra 10:41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Ezra 10:42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph;
Ezra 10:43 Nebo’s descendants: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
Ezra 10:44 All of these had married foreign women, and some wives had children in place.
[1] כָּרָת = cut, establish, cut down. Ezra 10:3.
[2] יָלַד = give birth to, be born, father. Ezra 10:3.
[3] חָרָם = set apart for destruction. Ezra 10:8.
[4] יָסַף = add to, again. Ezra 10:10.
[5] עָנָה = answer. Ezra 10:12.
[6] אַךְ = certainly. Ezra 10:15.
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