Àzrah (Ezra) — 10
Confession of Improper Marriages
1 Now while Azrah was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Yashar'AL; for the people wept very bitterly.
2 And Shachanyahu the son of Yahial, one of the sons of Alam, spoke up and said to Azrah, “We have trespassed against our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Yashar'AL in spite of this.
3 Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH; and let it be done according to the law.
4 Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.”
5 Then Azrah arose, and made the leaders of the Kuhanym, the Lauym, and all Yashar'AL swear an oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore an oath.
6 Then Azrah rose up from before the house of 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, and went into the chamber of Yahuhanan the son of Aliashib; and when he came there, he ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity.
7 And they issued a proclamation throughout Yahudah and Yahushalam to all the descendants of the captivity, that they must gather at Yahushalam,
8 and that whoever would not come within three days, according to the instructions of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity.
9 So all the men of Yahudah and Banyamin gathered at Yahushalam within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain.
10 Then Azrah the chief Kuhan stood up and said to them, “You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Yashar'AL.
11 Now therefore, make confession to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives.”
12 Then all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, “Yes! As you have said, so we must do.
13 But there are many people; it is the season for heavy rain, and we are not able to stand outside. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for there are many of us who have transgressed in this matter.
14 Please, let the leaders of our entire assembly stand; and let all those in our cities who have taken pagan wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of their cities, until the fierce wrath of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH is turned away from us in this matter.”
15 Only Yunathan the son of Asahal and Yahazyahu the son of Tikbah opposed this, and Mashullam and Shabbathai the Lauy gave them support.
16 Then the descendants of the captivity did so. And Azrah the chief Kuhan, with certain heads of the fathers’ households, were set apart by the fathers’ households, each of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
17 By the first day of the first month they finished questioning all the men who had taken pagan wives.
Pagan Wives Put Away
18 And among the sons of the Kuhanym who had taken pagan wives the following were found of the sons of Yashua the son of Yuzadak, and his brothers: Maasayah, Aliazar, Yarib, and Gadalyahu.
19 And they gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering.
20 Also of the sons of Immar: Hanani and Zabadyahu;
21 of the sons of Harim: Maasayahu, Aliyahu, Shamayahu, Yahial, and Uzzyahu;
22 of the sons of Pashhur: Aliuanai, Maasayahu, Ishmaal, Nethanal, Yuzabad, and Alasah.
23 Also of the Lauym: Yuzabad, Shimai, Kalayahu (the same is Kalita), Pathahyahu, Yahudah, and Aliazar.
24 Also of the singers: Aliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Talam, and Uri.
25 And others of Yashar'AL: of the sons of Parush: Ramyahu, Yazyahu, Malchyahu, Miyamin, Alaazar, Malchiyahu, and Banayahu;
26 of the sons of Alam: Mattanyahu, Zacharyahu, Yahial, Abdi, Yaramuth, and Alyah;
27 of the sons of Zattu: Aliuanai, Aliashib, Mattanyahu, Yaramuth, Zabad, and Aziza;
28 of the sons of Babai: Yahuhanan, Hananyah, Zabbai, and Athlai;
29 of the sons of Bani: Mashullam, Malluch, Adayahu, Yashub, Shaal, and Ramuth;
30 of the sons of Pahath-Muab: Adna, Chalal, Banayahu, Maasayahu, Mattanyahu, Bazalal, Binnui, and Manassah;
31 of the sons of Harim: Aliazar, Ishiyahu, Malchiyah, Shemayahu, Shimaun,
32 Banyamin, Malluch, and Shamaryahu;
33 of the sons of Hashum: Mattanai, Mattattah, Zabad, Aliphalat, Yaramai, Manassah, and Shimai;
34 of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Ual,
35 Banayahu, Badayahu, Chaluh,
36 Vanyahu, Maramuth, Aliashib,
37 Mattanyahu, Mattanai, Yaasai,
38 Bani, Binnui, Shimai,
39 Shalamyahu, Nathan, Adayahu,
40 Machnadabai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azaral, Shalamyahu, Shamaryahu,
42 Shallum, Amariahu, and Ya'asaf;
43 of the sons of Nabu: Yayal, Mattithyahu, Zabad, Zabina, Yaddai, Yual, and Banayahu.
44 All these had taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.