10Ezra 10

The Plan for Ending Mixed Marriages

1While Ezra was bowing in prayer in front of the Temple, weeping and confessing these sins, a large group of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, weeping bitterly.Select Ezra 10:1

2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the clan of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have broken faith with God by marrying foreign women, but even so there is still hope for Israel.Select Ezra 10:2

3Now we must make a solemn promise to our God that we will send these women and their children away. We will do what you and the others who honor God's commands advise us to do. We will do what God's Law demands.Select Ezra 10:3

4It is your responsibility to act. We are behind you, so go ahead and get it done.”Select Ezra 10:4

5So Ezra began by making the leaders of the priests, of the Levites, and of the rest of the people take an oath that they would do what Shecaniah had proposed.Select Ezra 10:5

6Then he went from in front of the Temple into the living quarters of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, and spent the night there grieving over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. He did not eat or drink anything.Select Ezra 10:6

7A message was sent throughout Jerusalem and Judah that all those who had returned from exile were to meet in JerusalemSelect Ezra 10:7

8by order of the leaders of the people. If any failed to come within three days, all their property would be confiscated, and they would lose their right to be members of the community.Select Ezra 10:8

9Within the three days, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the men living in the territory of Judah and Benjamin came to Jerusalem and assembled in the Temple square. It was raining hard, and because of the weather and the importance of the meeting everyone was trembling.Select Ezra 10:9

10Ezra the priest stood up and spoke to them. He said, “You have been faithless and have brought guilt on Israel by marrying foreign women.Select Ezra 10:10

11Now then, confess your sins to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do what pleases him. Separate yourselves from the foreigners living in our land and get rid of your foreign wives.”Select Ezra 10:11

12The people shouted in answer, “We will do whatever you say.”Select Ezra 10:12

13But they added, “The crowd is too big, and it's raining hard. We can't stand here in the open like this. This isn't something that can be done in one or two days, because so many of us are involved in this sin.Select Ezra 10:13

14Let our officials stay in Jerusalem and take charge of the matter. Then let anyone who has a foreign wife come at a set time, together with the leaders and the judges of his city. In this way God's anger over this situation will be turned away.”Select Ezra 10:14

15No one was opposed to the plan except Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, who had the support of Meshullam and of Shabbethai, a Levite.Select Ezra 10:15

16The returned exiles accepted the plan, so Ezra the priest appointed men from among the heads of the clans and recorded their names. On the first day of the tenth month they began their investigation,Select Ezra 10:16

17and within the next three months they investigated all the cases of men with foreign wives.Select Ezra 10:17

The Men Who Had Foreign Wives

18This is the list of the men who had foreign wives: Clan of Joshua and his brothers, sons of Jehozadak: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.Select Ezra 10:18

Priests,

19They promised to divorce their wives, and they offered a ram as a sacrifice for their sins.Select Ezra 10:19

20Clan of Immer: Hanani and ZebadiahSelect Ezra 10:20

21Clan of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and UzziahSelect Ezra 10:21

22Clan of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and ElasahSelect Ezra 10:22

23Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and EliezerSelect Ezra 10:23

24EliashibShallum, Telem, and UriSelect Ezra 10:24

25Clan of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and BenaiahSelect Ezra 10:25

Levites: / Musicians: / Temple guards: / Others:

26Clan of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and ElijahSelect Ezra 10:26

27Clan of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and AzizaSelect Ezra 10:27

28Clan of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and AthlaiSelect Ezra 10:28

29Clan of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and JeremothSelect Ezra 10:29

30Clan of Pahath Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and ManassehSelect Ezra 10:30

32Clan of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, and ShemariahSelect Ezra 10:32

33Clan of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and ShimeiSelect Ezra 10:33

37Clan of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, and JaasuSelect Ezra 10:37

42Clan of Binnui: Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and JosephSelect Ezra 10:42

43Clan of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and BenaiahSelect Ezra 10:43

44All these men had foreign wives. They divorced them and sent them and their children away.Select Ezra 10:44