Now when Ezra{H5830} had prayed{H6419}{(H8692)}, and when he had confessed{H3034}{(H8692)}, weeping{H1058}{(H8802)} and casting himself down{H5307}{(H8693)} before{H6440} the house{H1004} of God{H430}, there assembled{H6908}{(H8738)} unto him out of Israel{H3478} a very{H3966} great{H7227} congregation{H6951} of men{H582} and women{H802} and children{H3206}: for the people{H5971} wept{H1058}{(H8804)} very{H7235}{(H8687)} sore{H1059}.

And Shechaniah{H7935} the son{H1121} of Jehiel{H3171}, one of the sons{H1121} of Elam{H5867}, answered{H6030}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Ezra{H5830}, We have trespassed{H4603}{(H8804)} against our God{H430}, and have taken{H3427}{(H8686)} strange{H5237} wives{H802} of the people{H5971} of the land{H776}: yet now there is{H3426} hope{H4723} in Israel{H3478} concerning this thing.

Now therefore let us make{H3772}{(H8799)} a covenant{H1285} with our God{H430} to put away{H3318}{(H8687)} all the wives{H802}, and such as are born{H3205}{(H8737)} of them, according to the counsel{H6098} of my lord{H136}, and of those that tremble{H2730} at the commandment{H4687} of our God{H430}; and let it be done{H6213}{(H8735)} according to the law{H8451}.

Arise{H6965}{(H8798)}; for this matter{H1697} belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage{H2388}{(H8798)}, and do{H6213}{(H8798)} it.

Then arose{H6965}{(H8799)} Ezra{H5830}, and made the chief{H8269} priests{H3548}, the Levites{H3881}, and all Israel{H3478}, to swear{H7650}{(H8686)} that they should do{H6213}{(H8800)} according to this word{H1697}. And they sware{H7650}{(H8735)}.

Then Ezra{H5830} rose up{H6965}{(H8799)} from before{H6440} the house{H1004} of God{H430}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} into the chamber{H3957} of Johanan{H3076} the son{H1121} of Eliashib{H475}: and when he came{H3212}{(H8799)} thither, he did eat{H398}{(H8804)} no bread{H3899}, nor drink{H8354}{(H8804)} water{H4325}: for he mourned{H56}{(H8693)} because of the transgression{H4604} of them that had been carried away{H1473}.

And they made proclamation{H5674}{(H8686)}{H6963} throughout Judah{H3063} and Jerusalem{H3389} unto all the children{H1121} of the captivity{H1473}, that they should gather themselves together{H6908}{(H8736)} unto Jerusalem{H3389};

And that whosoever would not come{H935}{(H8799)} within three{H7969} days{H3117}, according to the counsel{H6098} of the princes{H8269} and the elders{H2205}, all his substance{H7399} should be forfeited{H2763}{(H8714)}, and himself separated{H914}{(H8735)} from the congregation{H6951} of those that had been carried away{H1473}.

Then all the men{H582} of Judah{H3063} and Benjamin{H1144} gathered themselves together{H6908}{(H8735)} unto Jerusalem{H3389} within three{H7969} days{H3117}. It was the ninth{H8671} month{H2320}, on the twentieth{H6242} day of the month{H2320}; and all the people{H5971} sat{H3427}{(H8799)} in the street{H7339} of the house{H1004} of God{H430}, trembling{H7460}{(H8688)} because of this matter{H1697}, and for the great rain{H1653}.

And Ezra{H5830} the priest{H3548} stood up{H6965}{(H8799)}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Ye have transgressed{H4603}{(H8804)}, and have taken{H3427}{(H8686)} strange{H5237} wives{H802}, to increase{H3254}{(H8687)} the trespass{H819} of Israel{H3478}.

Now therefore make{H5414}{(H8798)} confession{H8426} unto the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of your fathers{H1}, and do{H6213}{(H8798)} his pleasure{H7522}: and separate{H914}{(H8734)} yourselves from the people{H5971} of the land{H776}, and from the strange{H5237} wives{H802}.

Then all the congregation{H6951} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)} with a loud{H1419} voice{H6963}, As thou hast said{H1697}, so must we do{H6213}{(H8800)}.

But{H61} the people{H5971} are many{H7227}, and it is a time{H6256} of much rain{H1653}, and we are not able{H3581} to stand{H5975}{(H8800)} without{H2351}, neither is this a work{H4399} of one{H259} day{H3117} or two{H8147}: for we are many{H7235}{(H8689)} that have transgressed{H6586}{(H8800)} in this thing{H1697}.

Let now our rulers{H8269} of all the congregation{H6951} stand{H5975}{(H8799)}, and let all them which have taken{H3427}{(H8689)} strange{H5237} wives{H802} in our cities{H5892} come{H935}{(H8799)} at appointed{H2163}{(H8794)} times{H6256}, and with them the elders{H2205} of every city{H5892}, and the judges{H8199}{(H8802)} thereof, until the fierce{H2740} wrath{H639} of our God{H430} for this matter{H1697} be turned{H7725}{(H8687)} from us.

Only Jonathan{H3129} the son{H1121} of Asahel{H6214} and Jahaziah{H3167} the son{H1121} of Tikvah{H8616} were employed{H5975}{(H8804)} about this matter: and Meshullam{H4918} and Shabbethai{H7678} the Levite{H3881} helped{H5826}{(H8804)} them.

And the children{H1121} of the captivity{H1473} did so{H6213}{(H8799)}. And Ezra{H5830} the priest{H3548}, with certain{H582} chief{H7218} of the fathers{H1}, after the house{H1004} of their fathers{H1}, and all of them by their names{H8034}, were separated{H914}{(H8735)}, and sat down{H3427}{(H8799)} in the first{H259} day{H3117} of the tenth{H6224} month{H2320} to examine{H1875}{(H8800)} the matter{H1697}.

And they made an end{H3615}{(H8762)} with all the men{H582} that had taken{H3427}{(H8689)} strange{H5237} wives{H802} by the first{H259} day{H3117} of the first{H7223} month{H2320}.

And among the sons{H1121} of the priests{H3548} there were found{H4672}{(H8735)} that had taken{H3427}{(H8689)} strange{H5237} wives{H802}: namely, of the sons{H1121} of Jeshua{H3442} the son{H1121} of Jozadak{H3136}, and his brethren{H251}; Maaseiah{H4641}, and Eliezer{H461}, and Jarib{H3402}, and Gedaliah{H1436}.

And they gave{H5414}{(H8799)} their hands{H3027} that they would put away{H3318}{(H8687)} their wives{H802}; and being guilty{H818}, they offered a ram{H352} of the flock{H6629} for their trespass{H819}.

And of the sons{H1121} of Immer{H564}; Hanani{H2607}, and Zebadiah{H2069}.

And of the sons{H1121} of Harim{H2766}; Maaseiah{H4641}, and Elijah{H452}, and Shemaiah{H8098}, and Jehiel{H3171}, and Uzziah{H5818}.

And of the sons{H1121} of Pashur{H6583}; Elioenai{H454}, Maaseiah{H4641}, Ishmael{H3458}, Nethaneel{H5417}, Jozabad{H3107}, and Elasah{H501}.

Also of the Levites{H3881}; Jozabad{H3107}, and Shimei{H8096}, and Kelaiah{H7041},(the same is Kelita{H7042},) Pethahiah{H6611}, Judah{H3063}, and Eliezer{H461}.

Of the singers{H7891}{(H8789)} also; Eliashib{H475}: and of the porters{H7778}; Shallum{H7967}, and Telem{H2928}, and Uri{H221}.

Moreover of Israel{H3478}: of the sons{H1121} of Parosh{H6551}; Ramiah{H7422}, and Jeziah{H3150}, and Malchiah{H4441}, and Miamin{H4326}, and Eleazar{H499}, and Malchijah{H4441}, and Benaiah{H1141}.

And of the sons{H1121} of Elam{H5867}; Mattaniah{H4983}, Zechariah{H2148}, and Jehiel{H3171}, and Abdi{H5660}, and Jeremoth{H3406}, and Eliah{H452}.

And of the sons{H1121} of Zattu{H2240}; Elioenai{H454}, Eliashib{H475}, Mattaniah{H4983}, and Jeremoth{H3406}, and Zabad{H2066}, and Aziza{H5819}.

Of the sons{H1121} also of Bebai{H893}; Jehohanan{H3076}, Hananiah{H2608}, Zabbai{H2140}{(H8675)}{H2079}, and Athlai{H6270}.

And of the sons{H1121} of Bani{H1137}; Meshullam{H4918}, Malluch{H4409}, and Adaiah{H5718}, Jashub{H3437}, and Sheal{H7594}, and Ramoth{H7433}.

And of the sons{H1121} of Pahathmoab{H6355}; Adna{H5733}, and Chelal{H3636}, Benaiah{H1141}, Maaseiah{H4641}, Mattaniah{H4983}, Bezaleel{H1212}, and Binnui{H1131}, and Manasseh{H4519}.

And of the sons{H1121} of Harim{H2766}; Eliezer{H461}, Ishijah{H3449}, Malchiah{H4441}, Shemaiah{H8098}, Shimeon{H8095},

Benjamin{H1144}, Malluch{H4409}, and Shemariah{H8114}.

Of the sons{H1121} of Hashum{H2828}; Mattenai{H4982}, Mattathah{H4992}, Zabad{H2066}, Eliphelet{H467}, Jeremai{H3413}, Manasseh{H4519}, and Shimei{H8096}.

Of the sons{H1121} of Bani{H1137}; Maadai{H4572}, Amram{H6019}, and Uel{H177},

Benaiah{H1141}, Bedeiah{H912}, Chelluh{H3622},

Vaniah{H2057}, Meremoth{H4822}, Eliashib{H475},

Mattaniah{H4983}, Mattenai{H4982}, and Jaasau{H3299},

And Bani{H1137}, and Binnui{H1131}, Shimei{H8096},

And Shelemiah{H8018}, and Nathan{H5416}, and Adaiah{H5718},

Machnadebai{H4367}, Shashai{H8343}, Sharai{H8298},

Azareel{H5832}, and Shelemiah{H8018}, Shemariah{H8114},

Shallum{H7967}, Amariah{H568}, and Joseph{H3130}.

Of the sons{H1121} of Nebo{H5015}; Jeiel{H3273}, Mattithiah{H4993}, Zabad{H2066}, Zebina{H2081}, Jadau{H3035}, and Joel{H3100}, Benaiah{H1141}.

All these had taken{H5375}{(H8804)}{(H8675)}{H5375}{(H8802)} strange{H5237} wives{H802}: and some of them had{H3426} wives{H802} by whom they had{H7760}{(H8799)} children{H1121}.