Ezra 10
The Israelites Repent and Put Away Their Hittite Wives
1 Now when Ezra had prayed thus, and made this confession, weeping, and bowing himself before the house of God, a very great congregation of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept sorely.
2 Then Shecaniah the son of Jeiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, "We have transgressed against our God, and have married strange women of the people of the land; but in this matter there is hope for Israel.
3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God, that we will put away all the women, and all that are born of them, according to the counsel of the Lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law."
4 Now therefore arise, for the matter is yours, and we will be with you; be strong and do it.
5 Then Ezra arose, and took an oath to the chief of the priests and the Levites, and to all Israel, that they would do according to this word: and they did so.
6 And 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 ate no bread, and drank no water; for he was disgusted with the transgression of the captives.
7 And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the captives, that they should assemble themselves at Jerusalem.
8 And that whosoever did not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and he should be cut off from the assembly of the captives.
9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem for three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.
10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have transgressed and married strange women, increasing the sin of Israel.
11 Now therefore confess to the Lord, the God of your fathers, and do his will; separate yourselves from the people of the lands and from the strange women."
12 And the whole assembly answered and said with a loud voice, "So be it; it is fitting for us to do as you have said.
13 But the people are many, and it is also the time of heavy rain, so that we cannot remain outside; it is not the work of one day or two, for we are many who have transgressed in this matter.
14 Now let our leaders throughout the congregation be appointed over this matter; and let all who have married foreign women in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of each city and their judges, until the fierce anger of our God for this matter has turned away from us.
15 But only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah were appointed over this matter; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
16 And those who had returned from the captivity did so. Then Ezra the priest and the men, heads of the fathers' houses, all by their names, separated themselves and sat down on the first day of the tenth month to inquire into this matter.
17 So they destroyed all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.
18 And some of the sons of the priests were found who had married foreign women: of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers, Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 And they pledged their will to put away their wives; and when they found themselves guilty, they offered a ram from 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 Jeiel, and Uzziah.
22 And of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, and Maaseiah, and Ishmael, and Nethanel, and Josabad, and Elasah.
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 gatekeepers: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
25 And of Israel, of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Jezziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26 And of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jeiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 And of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, and Eliashib, and Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
28 And of the sons of Bebai: Johanan, and Hananiah, and Zibai, and Atlai.
29 And of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, and Malluch, and Adaiah, and Jashub, and Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30 And of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adnah, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 And of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Jesiah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattnai, Mattatha, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
35 Benaiah, Bediah, Cheluhi,
36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattnai, and Jaasai,
38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, 3
9 And Shemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
40 Machnadbai, Shasai, Sarai,
41 Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.