Ezra 10

1 While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.

2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.

3 So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, 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 Law.

4 Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!”

5 So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.

6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

7 And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.

8 Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

9 So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.

10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel.

11 Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”

12 And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say!

13 But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.

14 Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”

15 (Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.)

16 So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation,

17 and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.

18 Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.

19 They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.

20 From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.

21 From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

22 From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23 Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

25 And among the other Israelites, from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.

26 From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

27 From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

28 From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

29 From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.

30 From the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

31 From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

33 From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

34 From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,

35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,

36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.

38 From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei,

39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,

40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

43 And from the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

44 All these men had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.

1 ¶ Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.

2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, [one] of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

4 Arise; for [this] matter [belongeth] unto thee: we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].

5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.

6 ¶ Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It [was] the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of [this] matter, and for the great rain.

10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.

13 But the people [are] many, and [it is] a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither [is this] a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.

15 ¶ Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this [matter]: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, [with] certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by [their] names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: [namely], of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.

19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and [being] guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their trespass.

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 Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23 Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same [is] Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.

25 Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.

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

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

28 Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, [and] Athlai.

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

30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

31 And [of] the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

32 Benjamin, Malluch, [and] Shemariah.

33 Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, [and] Shimei.

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

35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,

36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,

38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,

39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

42 Shallum, Amariah, [and] Joseph.

43 Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.

44 All these had taken strange wives: and [some] of them had wives by whom they had children.

1 And it came to pass, as Ezra prayed, and wept confessedly, and lay before the house of God, that there gathered unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men, and women, and children: for the people wept greatly.

2 And Zechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the children of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, Well, we have transgressed against our God, in that we have taken strange wives of the people of the land. Now there is hope in Israel above this.

3 Let us therefore make a covenant with our God, that we may put away all women, and them that are born of them, according to the counsel of the LORD, and them that fear the commandments of our God, to do according to the law.

4 Arise therefore, for it is thy due: we will be with thee. Be of good cheer, and do it.

5 Then arose Ezra, and took an oath of the chief priests, and of the Levites, and of all Israel, that they should do according to this word. And they sware.

6 And Ezra arose before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliasib. And when he was come thither, he did neither eat bread, nor drink water: for he mourned for the transgression of them that were taken captives.

7 And they sent a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children that were captives, that they should assemble themselves at Jerusalem.

8 And whosoever came not within three days after the counsel of the princes and elders, all his substance should be utterly destroyed, and he should be separated from the congregation of the captives.

9 And all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem in three days, that is, in the twentieth day of the ninth month. And all the people sat in the street before the house of God, trembling for the cause, and for the rain.

10 And Ezra the priest arose, and said unto them: Ye have transgressed in taking strange wives, to add to the iniquity of Israel:

11 Confess ye therefore unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure. And ye shall separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from strange wives.

12 And all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said unto us, so be it done.

13 But the people are many, and the weather is rainy, and they cannot stand without: neither is it the work of one day, or of two days: for we have done much of this transgression.

14 Let us appoint our rulers throughout the whole congregation, that all who have taken strange wives in our cities may come at appointed times, and the elders of every city and their judges with them, until the wrath of our God be turned from us for this cause.

15 And Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jehaziah the son of Tikvah were appointed over these things: and Meshullam and Habthai the Levites helped them.

16 And the children of the prison did so. And Ezra the priest, and the chief fathers of the house of their fathers, and all that were now called, separated them, and sat down on the first day of the tenth month to search out these things,

17 And they executed it upon all the men that had strange wives in the first day of the first month.

18 And they were found among the sons of the priests that had taken strange wives, even among the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren: Maesaiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.

19 And they gave their hand to cast out the women, and to offer for their trespass offering one ram for their trespass.

20 Among the children of Immer, Hanani and Zebadiah.

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

22 Among the sons of Pashur: Elioenai, Maeseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel Jozabad, and Eleasa.

23 Among the Levites: Jehozabad, Shimei, and Delaiah (he is the climate), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 among the singers: Eliasib. Among the goalkeepers: Sallum, Telem and Uri.

25 Of Israel among the children of Pareos: Ramah, Jesiah, Malchiah, Mejamin, Eleazar, Malchiah, and Benaiah.

26 Among the children of Elam: Mathan yea, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

27 Among the sons of Sathu; Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

28 And of the sons of Bebai; Johanan, and Hananiah, and Zabai, and Athlai.

29 Among the children of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Seal, and Jeramoth.

30 Among the children of Pahath-moab: Adnah, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mathaniah, Bezaleel, Benuis, and Manasseh.

31 Among the children of Harim; Eliezer, Jesiah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Simeon, 32nd Benjamin, Malluch and Semarya.

33 Of the sons of Hazum; Mathnai, Mathatha, Shabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

34 Among the children of Bani; Maedai, Amram, Huel,

35 Benaja, Bedja, Chelui,

36 Well, Meremoth, Eliasib,

37 Mathanja, Mathnai, Jaesan,

38 Bani, Benui, Simei,

39 Selemja, Nathan, Adaja,.

40 Machnadbai, Sasai, Sarai,

41 Asareel, Selemja, Samarja,

42 sallum, amariah and joseph.

43 Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, and Mathithiah, and Zabad, and Zebina, and Jaddai, and Joel, and Benaiah.

44 All these had taken strange wives; and there were some of these wives that had borne children.