|
|
|
|
1. Ezra was praying and confessing. He was crying and bowing down in front of God's Temple. While Ezra was doing that, a large group of the Israelites� men, women, and children�gathered around him. They were crying.
|
1. Now when Ezra H5830 had prayed H6419 , and when he had confessed H3034 , weeping H1058 and casting himself down H5307 before H6440 the house H1004 of God H430 , there assembled H6908 unto H413 him out of Israel H4480 H3478 a very H3966 great H7227 congregation H6951 of men H376 and women H802 and children H3206 : for H3588 the people H5971 wept H1058 very sore H7235 H1059 .
|
|
2. Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, spoke to Ezra and said, "We have not been faithful to our God. We have married the people living around us. But, even though we have done this, there is still hope for Israel.
|
2. And Shechaniah H7935 the son H1121 of Jehiel H3171 , one of the sons H4480 H1121 of Elam H5867 , answered H6030 and said H559 unto Ezra H5830 , We H587 have trespassed H4603 against our God H430 , and have taken H3427 strange H5237 wives H802 of the people H4480 H5971 of the land H776 : yet now H6258 there is H3426 hope H4723 in Israel H3478 concerning H5921 this H2063 thing.
|
|
3. Now let us make an agreement before our God to send away all these women and their children. We will do that to follow the advice of Ezra and the people who respect the laws of our God. We will obey God's law.
|
3. Now H6258 therefore let us make H3772 a covenant H1285 with our God H430 to put away H3318 all H3605 the wives H802 , and such as are born H3205 of H4480 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 according to the law H8451 .
|
|
4. Get up, Ezra. This is your responsibility, but we will support you. So be brave and do it."
|
4. Arise H6965 ; for H3588 this matter H1697 belongeth unto H5921 thee: we H587 also will be with H5973 thee : be of good courage H2388 , and do H6213 it .
|
|
5. So Ezra got up. He made the leading priests, the Levites, and all the Israelites promise to do what he said.
|
5. Then arose H6965 Ezra H5830 , and made H853 the chief H8269 priests H3548 , the Levites H3881 , and all H3605 Israel H3478 , to swear H7650 that they should do H6213 according to this H2088 word H1697 . And they swore H7650 .
|
|
6. Then Ezra went away from the front of God's house. He went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While Ezra was there, he didn't eat food or drink water. He did that because he was still very sad. He was very sad about the Israelites who came back to Jerusalem.
|
6. Then Ezra H5830 rose up H6965 from before H4480 H6440 the house H1004 of God H430 , and went H1980 into H413 the chamber H3957 of Johanan H3076 the son H1121 of Eliashib H475 : and when he came H1980 thither H8033 , he did eat H398 no H3808 bread H3899 , nor H3808 drink H8354 water H4325 : for H3588 he mourned H56 because H5921 of the transgression H4604 of them that had been carried away H1473 .
|
|
7. Then he sent a message to every place in Judah and Jerusalem. The message told all the Jewish people who had come back from captivity to meet together in Jerusalem.
|
7. And they made proclamation H5674 H6963 throughout Judah H3063 and Jerusalem H3389 unto all H3605 the children H1121 of the captivity H1473 , that they should gather themselves together H6908 unto Jerusalem H3389 ;
|
|
8. Those who did not come to Jerusalem in three days like the officials and elders said would lose their property and be removed from the group.
|
8. And that whosoever H3605 H834 would not H3808 come H935 within three H7969 days H3117 , according to the counsel H6098 of the princes H8269 and the elders H2205 , all H3605 his substance H7399 should be forfeited H2763 , and himself H1931 separated H914 from the congregation H4480 H6951 of those that had been carried away H1473 .
|
|
9. So in three days all the men from the families of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people met together in the Temple yard. They were very upset because of the reason for the meeting and because of the heavy rain.
|
9. Then all H3605 the men H376 of Judah H3063 and Benjamin H1144 gathered themselves together H6908 unto Jerusalem H3389 within three H7969 days H3117 . It H1931 was the ninth H8671 month H2320 , on the twentieth H6242 day of the month H2320 ; and all H3605 the people H5971 sat H3427 in the street H7339 of the house H1004 of God H430 , trembling H7460 because H5921 of this matter H1697 , and for the great rain H4480 H1653 .
|
|
10. Then Ezra the priest stood and said to them, "You people have not been faithful to God. You have married foreign women. You have made Israel more guilty by doing that.
|
10. And Ezra H5830 the priest H3548 stood up H6965 , and said H559 unto H413 them, Ye H859 have transgressed H4603 , and have taken H3427 strange H5237 wives H802 , to increase H3254 H5921 the trespass H819 of Israel H3478 .
|
|
11. Now you must confess your sins to the Lord, the God of your ancestors. You must obey his command. Separate yourselves from the people living around you and from your foreign wives."
|
11. Now H6258 therefore make H5414 confession H8426 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of your fathers H1 , and do H6213 his pleasure H7522 : and separate yourselves H914 from the people H4480 H5971 of the land H776 , and from H4480 the strange H5237 wives H802 .
|
|
12. Then the whole group who met together answered Ezra. They shouted, "Ezra, you are right! We must do what you say.
|
12. Then all H3605 the congregation H6951 answered H6030 and said H559 with a loud H1419 voice H6963 , As thou hast said H1697 H5921 , so H3651 must we do H6213 .
|
|
13. But there are many people here. And it is the rainy time of year, so we cannot stay outside. This problem cannot be solved in a day or two because we have sinned in a very bad way.
|
13. But H61 the people H5971 are many H7227 , and it is a time H6256 of much rain H1653 , and we are not H369 able H3581 to stand H5975 without H2351 , neither H3808 is this a work H4399 of one H259 day H3117 or H3808 two H8147 : for H3588 we are many H7235 that have transgressed H6586 in this H2088 thing H1697 .
|
|
14. Let our leaders decide for the whole group meeting here. Then let every man in our towns who married a foreign woman come here to Jerusalem at a planned time. Let them come here with the elders and judges of their towns. Then God will stop being angry with us."
|
14. Let now H4994 our rulers H8269 of all H3605 the congregation H6951 stand H5975 , and let all H3605 them which H834 have taken H3427 strange H5237 wives H802 in our cities H5892 come H935 at appointed H2163 times H6256 , and with H5973 them the elders H2205 of every city H5892 H5892 , and the judges H8199 thereof, until H5704 the fierce H2740 wrath H639 of our God H430 for H5704 this H2088 matter H1697 be turned H7725 from H4480 us.
|
|
15. Only a few men were against this plan. They were Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah. Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite also were against the plan.
|
15. Only H389 Jonathan H3083 the son H1121 of Asahel H6214 and Jahaziah H3167 the son H1121 of Tikvah H8616 were employed H5975 about H5921 this H2063 matter : and Meshullam H4918 and Shabbethai H7678 the Levite H3881 helped H5826 them.
|
|
16. So the Israelites who came back to Jerusalem accepted the plan. Ezra the priest chose men who were family leaders. He chose one man from each tribe. Each man was chosen by name. On the first day of the tenth month, the men who were chosen sat down to study each of the cases.
|
16. And the children H1121 of the captivity H1473 did H6213 so H3651 . And Ezra H5830 the priest H3548 , with certain H376 chief H7218 of the fathers H1 , after the house H1004 of their fathers H1 , and all H3605 of them by their names H8034 , were separated H914 , and sat down H3427 in the first H259 day H3117 of the tenth H6224 month H2320 to examine H1875 the matter H1697 .
|
|
17. And by the first day of the first month, they finished discussing all the men who had married foreign women.
|
17. And they made an end H3615 with all H3605 the men H376 that had taken H3427 strange H5237 wives H802 by H5704 the first H259 day H3117 of the first H7223 month H2320 .
|
|
18. These are the names of the descendants of the priests who married foreign women: From the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and Jeshua's brothers, these men: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
|
18. And among the sons H4480 H1121 of the priests H3548 there were found H4672 that H834 had taken H3427 strange H5237 wives H802 : namely , of the sons H4480 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 .
|
|
19. All of them promised to divorce their wives. And then each one of them offered a ram from the flock for a guilt offering. They did that because of their guilt.
|
19. And they gave H5414 their hands H3027 that they would put away H3318 their wives H802 ; and being guilty H818 , they offered a ram H352 of the flock H6629 for H5921 their trespass H819 .
|
|
20. From the descendants of Immer, these men: Hanani and Zebadiah.
|
20. And of the sons H4480 H1121 of Immer H564 ; Hanani H2607 , and Zebadiah H2069 .
|
|
21. From the descendants of Harim, these men: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
|
21. And of the sons H4480 H1121 of Harim H2766 ; Maaseiah H4641 , and Elijah H452 , and Shemaiah H8098 , and Jehiel H3171 , and Uzziah H5818 .
|
|
22. From the descendants of Pashhur, these men: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
|
22. And of the sons H4480 H1121 of Pashur H6583 ; Elioenai H454 , Maaseiah H4641 , Ishmael H3458 , Nethaneel H5417 , Jozabad H3107 , and Elasah H501 .
|
|
23. Among the Levites, these are the men who married foreign women: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
|
23. Also of H4480 the Levites H3881 ; Jozabad H3107 , and Shimei H8096 , and Kelaiah H7041 , (the same H1931 is Kelita H7042 ,) Pethahiah H6611 , Judah H3063 , and Eliezer H461 .
|
|
24. Among the singers, this is the man who had married a foreign woman: Eliashib. Among the gatekeepers, these are the men who had married foreign women: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
|
24. Of H4480 the singers H7891 also; Eliashib H475 : and of H4480 the porters H7778 ; Shallum H7967 , and Telem H2928 , and Uri H221 .
|
|
25. Among the Israelites, these men married foreign women: From the descendants of Parosh, these men: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
|
25. Moreover of Israel H4480 H3478 : of the sons H4480 H1121 of Parosh H6551 ; Ramiah H7422 , and Jeziah H3150 , and Malchiah H4441 , and Miamin H4326 , and Eleazar H499 , and Malchijah H4441 , and Benaiah H1141 .
|
|
26. From the descendants of Elam, these men: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
|
26. And of the sons H4480 H1121 of Elam H5867 ; Mattaniah H4983 , Zechariah H2148 , and Jehiel H3171 , and Abdi H5660 , and Jeremoth H3406 , and Eliah H452 .
|
|
27. From the descendants of Zattu, these men: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
|
27. And of the sons H4480 H1121 of Zattu H2240 ; Elioenai H454 , Eliashib H475 , Mattaniah H4983 , and Jeremoth H3406 , and Zabad H2066 , and Aziza H5819 .
|
|
28. From the descendants of Bebai, these men: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
|
28. Of the sons H4480 H1121 also of Bebai H893 ; Jehohanan H3076 , Hananiah H2608 , Zabbai H2079 , and Athlai H6270 .
|
|
29. From the descendants of Bani, these men: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
|
29. And of the sons H4480 H1121 of Bani H1137 ; Meshullam H4918 , Malluch H4409 , and Adaiah H5718 , Jashub H3437 , and Sheal H7594 , and Ramoth H3406 .
|
|
30. From the descendants of Pahath Moab, these men: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
|
30. And of the sons H4480 H1121 of Pahath H6355 -moab; Adna H5733 , and Chelal H3636 , Benaiah H1141 , Maaseiah H4641 , Mattaniah H4983 , Bezaleel H1212 , and Binnui H1131 , and Manasseh H4519 .
|
|
31. From the descendants of Harim, these men: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
|
31. And of the sons H1121 of Harim H2766 ; Eliezer H461 , Ishijah H3449 , Malchiah H4441 , Shemaiah H8098 , Shimeon H8095 ,
|
|
32. Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
|
32. Benjamin H1144 , Malluch H4409 , and Shemariah H8114 .
|
|
33. From the descendants of Hashum, these men: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
|
33. Of the sons H4480 H1121 of Hashum H2828 ; Mattenai H4982 , Mattathah H4992 , Zabad H2066 , Eliphelet H467 , Jeremai H3413 , Manasseh H4519 , and Shimei H8096 .
|
|
34. From the descendants of Bani, these men: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
|
34. Of the sons H4480 H1121 of Bani H1137 ; Maadai H4572 , Amram H6019 , and Uel H177 ,
|
|
35. Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi,
|
35. Benaiah H1141 , Bedeiah H912 , Chelluh H3622 ,
|
|
36. Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
|
36. Vaniah H2057 , Meremoth H4822 , Eliashib H475 ,
|
|
37. Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
|
37. Mattaniah H4983 , Mattenai H4982 , and Jaasau H3299 ,
|
|
38. From the descendants of Binnui, these men: Shimei,
|
38. And Bani H1137 , and Binnui H1131 , Shimei H8096 ,
|
|
39. Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
|
39. And Shelemiah H8018 , and Nathan H5416 , and Adaiah H5718 ,
|
|
40. Macnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
|
40. Machnadebai H4367 , Shashai H8343 , Sharai H8298 ,
|
|
41. Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
|
41. Azareel H5832 , and Shelemiah H8018 , Shemariah H8114 ,
|
|
42. Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
|
42. Shallum H7967 , Amariah H568 , and Joseph H3130 .
|
|
43. From the descendants of Nebo, these men: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
|
43. Of the sons H4480 H1121 of Nebo H5015 ; Jeiel H3273 , Mattithiah H4993 , Zabad H2066 , Zebina H2081 , Jadau H3035 , and Joel H3100 , Benaiah H1141 .
|
|
44. All these men had married foreign women, and some of them had children with these wives.
|
44. All H3605 these H428 had taken H5375 strange H5237 wives H802 : and some of H4480 them had H3426 wives H802 by whom they had H7760 children H1121 .
|