Shecaniah Encourages Reform

1So when Esdras 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. 2And Sechenias the son of Jeel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Esdras, 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. 3Now then let us make a covenant with our God, to put away all the wives, and their offspring, as thou shalt advise: 4arise, 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 thee; and we are with thee: be strong and do.

5Then Esdras arose, and caused the rulers, the priests, and Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word: and they swore.

The People's Confession of Sin

6And Esdras rose up from before the house of God, and went to the treasury of Joanan the son of Elisub; he even went thither: he ate no bread, and drank no water; for he mourned over the unfaithfulness of them of the captivity. 7And they made proclamation throughout Juda and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble at Jerusalem, saying, 8Every one 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.

9So all the men of Juda 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. 10And Esdras the priest arose, and said to them, Ye have broken covenant, and have taken strange wives, to add to the trespass of Israel. 11Now 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. 12Then all the congregation answered and said, This thy word is powerful upon us to do it. 13But the people is 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. 14Let 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 several city, and judges, to turn away the fierce wrath of our God from us concerning this matter. 15Only Jonathan the son of Asael, and Jazias the son of Thecoe were with me concerning this; and Mesollam, and Sabbathai the Levite helped them.

16And the children of the captivity did thus: and Esdras 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. 17And they made an end with all the men who had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

Those Guilty of Intermarriage

18And there were found some of the sons of the priests who had taken strange wives: of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren; Maasia, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gadalia. 19And they pledged themselves to put away their wives, and offered a ram of the flock for a trespass-offering because of their trespass. 20And of the sons of Emmer; Anani, and Zabdia. 21And of the sons of Eram; Masael, and Elia, and Samaia, and Jeel, and Ozia. 22And of the sons of Phasur; Elionai, Maasia, and Ismael, and Nathanael, and Jozabad, and Elasa.

23And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Samu, and Colia (he is Colitas,)and Phetheia, and Judas, and Eliezer.

24And of the singers; Elisab: and of the porters; Solmen, and Telmen, and Oduth.

25Also of Israel: of the sons of Phoros; Ramia, and Azia, and Melchia, and Meamin, and Eleazar, and Asabia, and Banaia. 26And of the sons of Helam; Matthania, and Zacharia, and Jaiel, and Abdia, and Jarimoth, and Elia. 27And of the sons of Zathua; Elionai, Elisub, Matthanai, and Armoth, and Zabad, and Oziza. 28And of the sons of Babei; Joanan, Anania, and Zabu, and Thali. 29And of the sons of Banui; Mosollam, Maluch, Adaias, Jasub, and Saluia, and Remoth. 30And of the sons of Phaath Moab; Edne, and Chalel, and Banaia, Maasia, Matthania, Beseleel, and Banui, and Manasse. 31And of the sons of Eram; Eliezer, Jesia, Melchia, Samaias, Semeon, 32Benjamin, Baluch, Samaria. 33And of the sons of Asem; Metthania, Matthatha, Zadab, Eliphalet, Jerami, Manasse, Semei. 34And of the sons of Bani; Moodia, Amram, Uel, 35Banaia, Badaia, Chelkia, 36Uvania, Marimoth, Eliasiph, 37Matthania, Matthanai: 38and so did the children of Banui, and the children of Semei, 39and Selemia, and Nathan, and Adaia, 40Machadnabu, Sesei, Sariu, 41Ezriel, and Selemia, and Samaria, 42and Sellum, Amaria, Joseph. 43Of the sons of Nabu; Jael, Matthanias, Zabad, Zebennas, Jadai, and Joel, and Banaia. 44All these had taken strange wives, and had begotten sons of them.