Ezra 10

1 Now while Ezra was praying and confessing in tears, having prostrated himself to the ground before the Temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelis—men, women, and children—gathered around him. Indeed, the people were crying bitterly.ISV — Ezra 10:1

2 Jehiel’s son Shecaniah, one of Elam’s descendants, responded to Ezra: “We have sinned against our God by marrying foreign wives from the people of the land, but even now there is hope in Israel, despite this.ISV — Ezra 10:2

3 So let’s make a promise to our God by which we divorce ^{a10:3 Or expel} all of these foreign ^{b10:3 The Heb. lacks of these foreign} wives—as well as those born to them—in accordance with the counsel of our Lord and of those who tremble at our God’s command. Furthermore, let it be done according to the Law.ISV — Ezra 10:3

4 So get up—it’s your responsibility! We’re with you. Be strong, and get to work.” ^{c10:4 Or and do it}ISV — Ezra 10:4

5 So Ezra got up and made the chief priests, the descendants of Levi, and all of Israel vow to carry out everything they promised. And so they agreed. ^{d10:5 Lit. swore}ISV — Ezra 10:5

6 Ezra arose in front of the Temple of God to visit the apartment of Eliashib’s son Jehohanan. While there, he neither ate nor drank because he was in mourning over the sins of those who had returned from exile.ISV — Ezra 10:6

7 Then they sent word throughout Judah and Jerusalem to everyone who had returned from the exile, to gather together in Jerusalem.ISV — Ezra 10:7

8 Whoever would not come within three days would forfeit his assets and be separated from the community of the returning exiles, just as the high officials and elders had advised.ISV — Ezra 10:8

9 Less than three days later, all of the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered together on the twentieth day ^{e10:9 The Heb. lacks day} of the ninth month. Everyone sat in the plaza of the Temple of God, trembling because of everything that was happening, and also because it was raining heavily.ISV — Ezra 10:9

10 Ezra the priest stood up and spoke to them, “You have sinned by marrying foreign wives, thereby increasing the transgressions of Israel.ISV — Ezra 10:10

11 Now confess this to the LORD God of your ancestors, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from foreign wives.”ISV — Ezra 10:11

12 At this, the entire community responded with a loud cry, “We will do just as you’ve spoken!ISV — Ezra 10:12

13 However, many people are involved, and it’s raining heavily. Furthermore, this is not just a matter of a day or two of work, because many of us have sinned in this.ISV — Ezra 10:13

14 So let’s have our officials remain on behalf of the whole community. Then all who have married foreign wives are to come appear at specific times before ^{f10:14 Lit. with} the elders and judges of each city until the fierce anger of our God has been turned away from us in this matter.”ISV — Ezra 10:14

15 Only Asahel’s son Jonathan and Tikvah’s son Jahzeiah opposed this, and they were supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the descendant of Levi.ISV — Ezra 10:15

16 So those who had returned from exile did this. Ezra the priest and leaders of certain ancestral groups listed by name devoted themselves to examine the situation on the first day of the tenth month.ISV — Ezra 10:16

17 By the first day of the first month they concluded their investigation of all of the men who had married foreign wives.ISV — Ezra 10:17

18 Here is a list of priestly descendants who were found to have married foreign women. From Jeshua’s descendants: ^{g10:18 Lit. Children of; and so through v. 43} Jozadak’s son and his brothers Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.ISV — Ezra 10:18

19 Pleading guilty, they promised to divorce their wives. Then they offered a ram from their flocks for their offense.ISV — Ezra 10:19

20 From Immer’s descendants: Hanani and Zebadiah.ISV — Ezra 10:20

21 From Harim’s descendants: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.ISV — Ezra 10:21

22 From Pashhur’s descendants: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.ISV — Ezra 10:22

23 From the descendants of Levi: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.ISV — Ezra 10:23

24 From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.ISV — Ezra 10:24

25 From the Israelis: Parosh’s descendants: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.ISV — Ezra 10:25

26 From Elam’s descendants: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.ISV — Ezra 10:26

27 From Zattu’s descendants: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.ISV — Ezra 10:27

28 From Bebai’s descendants: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.ISV — Ezra 10:28

29 From Bani’s descendants: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.ISV — Ezra 10:29

30 From Pahath-moab’s descendants: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.ISV — Ezra 10:30

31 From Harim’s descendants: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,ISV — Ezra 10:31

32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.ISV — Ezra 10:32

33 From Hashum’s descendants: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.ISV — Ezra 10:33

34 From Bani’s descendants: Maadai, Amram, Uel,ISV — Ezra 10:34

35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,ISV — Ezra 10:35

36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,ISV — Ezra 10:36

37 Matanza, Maternai, Jas,ISV — Ezra 10:37

38 Baní, Binai, Shihezi,ISV — Ezra 10:38

39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,ISV — Ezra 10:39

40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,ISV — Ezra 10:40

41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,ISV — Ezra 10:41

42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.ISV — Ezra 10:42

43 From Nebo’s descendants: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.ISV — Ezra 10:43

44 All of these had married foreign wives, and some of them had children by them.ISV — Ezra 10:44