10:1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and falling down before the temple of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women and children alike—were gathered around him. The people wept loudly. 10:2 Then Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam,1 addressed Ezra:
“We have been unfaithful to our God in that we have married2 foreign women from the local peoples.3 Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard.4 10:3 Therefore let us enact5 a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with the counsel of my lord and of those who have regard for6 the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law. 10:4 Rise up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively.”
10:5 So Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath to do according to this plan. And they all swore. 10:6 Then Ezra arose from before the temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. While he stayed7 there, he did not eat food, nor did he drink water, for he was in mourning over the infidelity of the exiles.
10:7 A proclamation8 was disseminated9 throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem. 10:8 Everyone who did not come within three days would thereby forfeit all his property, in keeping with the counsel of the officials and the elders. Furthermore, he himself would be separated from the assembly of the exiles.
10:9 All the men of Judah and Benjamin were gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. It was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of that month. All the people sat in the square at the temple of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the rains.
10:10 Then Ezra the priest arose and said to them, “You have behaved in an unfaithful manner by taking foreign wives. This has contributed to the guilt of Israel. 10:11 Now give praise to the LORD God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the local residents10 and from the foreign wives.”
10:12 All the assembly replied in a loud voice: “We will do just as you have said.11 10:13 However, the people are numerous and it is the rainy season.12 We are unable to stand here outside. Furthermore, this business cannot be resolved in a day or two, for we have greatly sinned in this matter. 10:14 Let our leaders take steps in behalf of all the assembly. Let all those in our cities who have married foreign women come at an appointed time, and with them the elders of each city and its judges, until the hot anger of our God is turned away from us in this matter.”
10:15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood against this, assisted by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite. 10:16 So the exiles proceeded accordingly. Ezra the priest separated out13 by name men who were leaders in their family groups.14 They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month, 10:17 and on the first day of the first month they concluded considering all the men who had married foreign wives.
Those Who Had Taken Foreign Wives10:18 It was determined that from the descendants of the priests, the following had taken foreign wives: from the descendants of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 10:19 (They gave their word15 to send away their wives; their guilt offering was a ram from the flock for their guilt.)
10:20 From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
10:21 From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
10:22 From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
10:23 From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (he is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
10:24 From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
10:25 From the Israelites: from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
10:26 From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
10:27 From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
10:28 From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
10:29 From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
10:30 From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
10:31 From16 the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
10:33 From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
10:34 From the descendants of Bani:17 Maadai, Amram, Uel, 10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
10:38 From18 the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, 10:39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 10:40 Macnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 10:41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 10:42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
10:43 From the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
10:44 All these had taken foreign wives, and some of them also had children by these women.19