Ezra

10 Now when Ezra had prayed and when he had made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God there gathered unto him out of Israel an exceeding large convocation—men and women and children, for the people wept with a very bitter weeping.

2 Then responded Shecaniah son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam and said unto Ezra, We have been unfaithful with our God and have married foreign women from among the peoples of the land,—yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.

3 Now therefore let us solemnize a covenant unto our God—to put away all the women and such as have been born of them in the counsel of my lord, and them who tremble at the commandment of our God,—and according to the law let it be done.

4 Arise, for upon thee resteth the thing, but we are with thee,—be strong and act.

5 Then arose Ezra and made the rulers of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear to do according to this word—and they sware.

6 Then arose Ezra from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib,—and when he came thither bread did he not eat and water did he not drink, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of them of the Exile.

7 Then made they a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the Sons of the Exile, to gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

8 and whosoever should not come within three days according to the counsel of the rulers and the elders all his goods should be devoted,—and himself be separated from the convocation of them of the Exile.

9 Then were gathered together all the men of Judah and Benjamin unto Jerusalem within three days, the same was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month,—and all the people remained in the broadway of the house of God, trembling concerning the thing and because of the heavy rains.

10 Then arose Ezra the priest and said unto them, Ye have acted unfaithfully, and have married foreign women,—to add unto the guilt of Israel.

11 Now therefore make confession unto Yahweh God of your fathers and do his pleasure,—and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.

12 Then responded all the convocation and said with a loud voice,—Thus according to thy word concerning us must it be done.

13 Nevertheless the people are many and the season is that of the heavy rains, and we are not able to stand outside,—and the business is not one for a single day nor yet for two, for we have abundantly transgressed in this thing.

14 Let, we beseech thee, our rulers take up their station for all the convocation, and all who throughout our cities have married foreign women let them come in at times appointed, and with them the elders of every city and the judges thereof, until the glow of the anger of our God be turned from us, concerning this matter.

15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah made a stand against this,—and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

16 But the Sons of the Exile did thus, and Ezra the priest separated to himself certain men—ancestral heads by their ancestral houses and all of them by name,—and they took their seats on the first day of the tenth month to search into the matter;

17 and they made an end with all the men who had married foreign women,—by the first day of the first month.

18 Now there were found of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women,—of the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brethren Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah;

19 and they gave their hand that they would put away their wives,—and being guilty [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guilt.

20 And of the sons of Immer Hanani and Zebadiah.

21 And of the sons of Harim Maaseiah and Elijah and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

22 And of the sons of Passhur Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasar.

23 And of the Levites Jozabad and Shimei, and Kelaiah, the same is Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 And of the singers Eliashib. And of the doorkeepers Shallum and Telem and Uri.

25 And of Israel of the sons of Parosh Ramiah and Izziah and Malchijah and Mijamin and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.

26 And of the sons of Elam Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.

27 And of the sons of Zattu Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

28 And of the sons of Bebai Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.

29 And of the sons of Bani Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth.

30 And of the sons of Pahath-moab Adna and Chelal,—Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

31 And [of] the sons of Harim Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon;

32 Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.

33 Of the sons of Hashum Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet,—Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.

34 Of the sons of Bani Maadai, Amram, and Uel;

35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhu;

36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib;

37 Mettaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu;

38 and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei;

39 and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah;

40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai;

41 Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah;

42 Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.

43 Of the sons of Nebo Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina,—Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah.

44 All these had taken foreign women,—and had begotten of them children.