Ezra 10:10 - Prayer Tents

The Plan for Ending Mixed Marriages

10While 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.H5830H6419H3034H1058H5307H6440H1004H430H6908H3478H3966H7227H6951H582H802H3206H5971H1058H7235H10592Then 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.H7935H1121H3171H1121H5867H6030H559H5830H4603H430H3427H5237H802H5971H776H3426H4723H34783Now 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.H3772H1285H430H3318H802H3205H6098H136H2730H4687H430H6213H84514It is your responsibility to act. We are behind you, so go ahead and get it done."H6965H1697H2388H62135So 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.H6965H5830H8269H3548H3881H3478H7650H6213H1697H76506Then 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.H5830H6965H6440H1004H430H3212H3957H3076H1121H475H3212H398H3899H8354H4325H56H4604H14737A message was sent throughout Jerusalem and Judah that all those who had returned from exile were to meet in JerusalemH5674H6963H3063H3389H1121H1473H6908H33898by 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.H935H7969H3117H6098H8269H2205H7399H2763H914H6951H14739Within 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.H582H3063H1144H6908H3389H7969H3117H8671H2320H6242H2320H5971H3427H7339H1004H430H7460H1697H165310Ezra the priest stood up and spoke to them. He said, "You have been faithless and have brought guilt on Israel by marrying foreign women.H5830H3548H6965H559H4603H3427H5237H802H3254H819H347811Now 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."H5414H8426H3068H430H1H6213H7522H914H5971H776H5237H80212The people shouted in answer, "We will do whatever you say."H6951H6030H559H1419H6963H1697H621313But 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.H61H5971H7227H6256H1653H3581H5975H2351H4399H259H3117H8147H7235H6586H169714Let 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."H8269H6951H5975H3427H5237H802H5892H935H2163H6256H2205H5892H8199H2740H639H430H1697H772515No 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.H3129H1121H6214H3167H1121H8616H5975H4918H7678H3881H582616The 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,H1121H1473H6213H5830H3548H582H7218H1H1004H1H8034H914H3427H259H3117H6224H2320H1875H169717and within the next three months they investigated all the cases of men with foreign wives.H3615H582H3427H5237H802H259H3117H7223H2320

Priests, listed by clans:

18This is the list of the men who had foreign wives: Priests, listed by clans: Clan of Joshua and his brothers, sons of Jehozadak: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.H1121H3548H4672H3427H5237H802H1121H3442H1121H3136H251H4641H461H3402H143619They promised to divorce their wives, and they offered a ram as a sacrifice for their sins.H5414H3027H3318H802H818H352H6629H81920Clan of Immer: Hanani and ZebadiahH1121H564H2607H206921Clan of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and UzziahH1121H2766H4641H452H8098H3171H581822Clan of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and ElasahH1121H6583H454H4641H3458H5417H3107H501

Levites

23Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and EliezerH3881H3107H8096H7041H7042H6611H3063H461

Temple guards

24Musicians: Eliashib Temple guards: Shallum, Telem, and UriH7891H475H7778H7967H2928H221

Others

25Others: Clan of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and BenaiahH3478H1121H6551H7422H3150H4441H4326H499H4441H114126Clan of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and ElijahH1121H5867H4983H2148H3171H5660H3406H45227Clan of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and AzizaH1121H2240H454H475H4983H3406H2066H581928Clan of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and AthlaiH1121H893H3076H2608H2140H2079H627029Clan of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and JeremothH1121H1137H4918H4409H5718H3437H7594H743330Clan of Pahath Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and ManassehH1121H6355H5733H3636H1141H4641H4983H1212H1131H451931Clan of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin,H1121H2766H461H3449H4441H8098H809532Malluch, and Shemariah.H1144H4409H811433Clan of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and ShimeiH1121H2828H4982H4992H2066H467H3413H4519H809634Clan of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,H1121H1137H4572H6019H17735Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,H1141H912H362236Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,H2057H4822H47537Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.H4983H4982H329938Clan of Binnui: Shimei,H1137H1131H809639Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,H8018H5416H571840Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,H4367H8343H829841Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,H5832H8018H811442Shallum, Amariah, and JosephH7967H568H313043Clan of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and BenaiahH1121H5015H3273H4993H2066H2081H3035H3100H114144All these men had foreign wives. They divorced them and sent them and their children away.H5375H5375H5237H802H3426H802H7760H1121