10And now you intend to enslave the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the LORD your God?
11Now listen to me! Send back your captives whom you have taken from your relatives, for the LORD’s fierce anger is against you.
12Then some of the leaders of Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Hezekiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood up against those returning from the battle.
13They said to them, "You must not bring the captives here, for we are already guilty before the LORD. Adding these captives will only increase our sins and guilt before God, for our guilt is already great, and His fierce anger is against Israel."
14So the armed men released the captives and the plunder in the presence of the officials and the entire assembly.
15The men who were designated by name took charge of the captives. They clothed all the naked among them using the plunder, giving them clothes and sandals, food and drink, and anointed them. They led all those who were weak on donkeys, brought them to their relatives in Jericho, the city of palm trees, and then returned to Samaria.