Ezra 10
10
The community responds
1While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and bowing down before God’s house, a very large crowd of men, women, and children of Israel gathered around him. The people also wept in distress. 2Then Shecaniah, Jehiel’s son, from the family of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We’ve been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the neighboring peoples.#10.2 Or peoples of the lands But even now, there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3Let’s now make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives and their children, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the Instruction. 4Get up, for it is your duty to deal with this matter; we will support you. Be strong and act.” 5So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel take a solemn pledge that they would do as had been said. So they took a solemn pledge.
The assembly decides
6Then Ezra got up from the area in front of God’s house and went to the room of Jehohanan, Eliashib’s son, where he spent#10.6 LXX, 1 Esdr 9:2; Heb where he went the night. He didn’t eat food or drink water, for he was mourning because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
7An order was then circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the returned exiles should gather in Jerusalem. 8All those who failed to appear within three days, as mandated by the officials and elders, would have all their property taken away. They would be separated from the congregation of the exiles. 9So within three days, all the people of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month.#10.9 November–December, Kislev All of the people sat in the area in front of God’s house, trembling because of this order and because of the heavy rain.
10Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women and adding to Israel’s guilt. 11But now, make a confession to the LORD God of your ancestors and do his will. Separate yourselves from the neighboring peoples#10.11 Or peoples of the lands and from the foreign wives.”
12The whole assembly shouted in reply, “Yes. We must do as you have said. 13But there are many people, and it’s the rainy season; we can’t continue to stand outside. Nor can this task be completed in a day or two because many of us have sinned in this matter. 14Let our leaders represent the entire assembly. Let all in our towns who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, along with the elders and judges of every town, until God’s great anger at us on account of this matter be averted.” 15Only Jonathan, Asahel’s son, and Jahzeiah, Tikvah’s son, opposed this; Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levites supported them.
Resolving the issue
16Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest chose#10.16 1 Esdr 9:16; Syr; Heb And there were separated certain men, heads of families, each representing their family houses. Each of them was designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month#10.16 December–January, Tevet they sat down to examine the matter. 17By the first day of the first month,#10.17 March–April, Nisan they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.
18Of the family of priests, there were found the following who had married foreign women—of the family of Jeshua, Jozadak’s son and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19They promised to send their wives away, and their compensation offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt.
20Of the family of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21Of the family of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22Of the family of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25Of Israel: of the family of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah,#10.25 1 Esdr 9:26; LXX, Heb Malchijah and Benaiah.
26Of the family of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27Of the family of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28Of the family of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29Of the family of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30Of the family of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31Of the family of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33Of the family of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34Of the family of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38Of the family of Binnui:#10.38 LXX; Heb Bani, Binnui Shimei, 39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43Of the family of Nebu: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44All these men#10.44 Heb lacks men. had married foreign women, some of whom had borne children.#10.44 Heb uncertain; 1 Esdr 9:36 they sent them away with their children.
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Ezra 10: CEB
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