Ezr 10 | AB | STEP | So when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and praying before the house of God, a very great assembly of Israel came together to him, men and women and youths; for the people wept, and wept aloud.

Ezra 10

1 So when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and praying before the house of God, a very great assembly of Israel came together to him, men and women and youths; for the people wept, and wept aloud. 2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have broken covenant with our God, and have taken strange wives of the nations of the land. Yet now there is patience of hope to Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now then let us make a covenant with our God, to put away all the wives, and their offspring, as you advise: 4 arise, and alarm them with the commands of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Rise up, for the matter is upon you; and we are with you. Be strong and do. 5 Then Ezra arose, and caused the rulers, the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. And they swore. 6 And Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went to the treasury of Johanan the son of Eliashib. And when he came there, he ate no bread, and drank no water, for he mourned over the unfaithfulness of those of the captivity. 7 And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble at Jerusalem, saying, 8 Everyone who shall not arrive within three days, as is the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his substance shall be forfeited, and he shall be separated from the congregation of the captivity. 9 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. This was the ninth month. On the twentieth day of the month all the people sat down in the street of the house of the Lord, because of their alarm concerning the word, and because of the storm. 10 And Ezrah the priest arose, and said to them, You have broken covenant, and have taken strange wives, to add to the trespass of Israel. 11 Now therefore give praise to the Lord God of our fathers, and do that which is pleasing in His sight, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the strange wives. 12 Then all the congregation answered and said, This your word is powerful upon us to do it. 13 But the people are numerous, and the season is stormy, and there is no power to stand without, and the work is more than enough for one day or for two; for we have greatly sinned in this matter. 14 Let now our rulers stand, and for all those in our cities who have taken strange wives, let them come at appointed times, and with them elders from every city, and judges, to turn away the fierce wrath of our God from us concerning this matter. 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel, and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were with me concerning this; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. 16 And the children of the captivity did thus. And Ezra the priest, and heads of families according to their house were separated, and all by their names, for they returned in the first day of the tenth month to search out the matter. 17 And they made an end with all the men who had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month. 18 And there were found some of the sons of the priests who had taken strange wives: of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadek, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 And they pledged themselves to put away their wives, and offered a ram of the flock for a trespass offering because of their trespass. 20 And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. 21 And of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. 22 And of the sons of Pashur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 23 And of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (he is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24 And of the singers: Eliashib; and of the porters: Shallum, Telem, and Uri. 25 Also of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Mejamin, Eleazar, Asabia, and Benaiah. 26 And of the sons of Elam: Matthaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Eliah. 27 And of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Matthaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza. 28 And of the sons of Babai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29 And of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth. 30 And of the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh. 31 And of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. 33 And of the sons of Hashum: Matthenai, Matthattah, Zadab, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. 34 And of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Banaia, Bedeiah, Cheluh, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Matthaniah, and Matthenai. 38 And so did the children of Binnui, and the children of Shimei, 39 and Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah. 44 All these had taken strange wives, and had begotten sons of them.