1st Book of Àzrah — 9
The Expulsion of Foreign Wives
1 Then Àzrah rose and went from the court of the temple to the chamber of Yahuhanan the son of Aliashib,
2 and spent the night there; and he did not eat bread or drink water, for he was mourning over the great iniquities of the multitude.
3 And a proclamation was made throughout Yahudah and Yahushalam to all who had returned from the captivity that they should assemble at Yahushalam,
4 and that if anyone did not meet there within two or three days, in accordance with the decision of the ruling elders, their cattle should be seized for sacrifice and the men themselves expelled from the multitude of those who had returned from the captivity.
5 Then the men of the tribe of Yahudah and Banyamin assembled at Yahushalam within three days; this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.
6 And all the multitude sat in the open square before the temple, shivering because of the bad weather that prevailed.
7 Then Àzrah rose and said to them, “You have broken the law and married foreign women, and so have increased the sin of Yashar'AL.
8 Now then make confession and give Kabad to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of our fathers,
9 and do 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH's will; separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”
10 Then all the multitude shouted and said with a loud voice, “We will do as you have said.
11 But the multitude is great and it is winter, and we are not able to stand in the open air. This is not a work we can do in one day or two, for we have sinned too much in these things.
12 so let the leaders of the multitude stay, and let all those in our settlements who have foreign wives come at the time appointed,
13 with the elders and judges of each place, until we are freed from the wrath of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH over this matter.”
14 Yunathan the son of Asahal and Yahzayah the son of Tikbah undertook the matter on these terms, and Mashullam and Lauy and Shabbathai served with them as judges.
15 And those who had returned from the captivity acted in accordance with all this.
16 Àzrah the Kuhan chose for himself the leading men of their fathers’ houses, all of them by name; and on the new moon of the tenth month they began their sessions to investigate the matter.
17 And the cases of the men who had foreign wives were brought to an end by the new moon of the first month.
18 Of the Kuhanym those who were brought in and found to have foreign wives were:
19 of the sons of Yashua the son of Yuzadak and his brethren, Maasayahu, Aliazar, Yarib, and Yudan.
20 They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and to give rams in expiation of their error.
21 Of the sons of Immar: Hanani and Zabadyahu and Maasayahu and Shemayahu and Yahial and Azaryahu.
22 Of the sons of Pashhur: Aliuanai, Maasayahu, Ishmaal, and Nathanaal, and Gadalyahu, and Alasah.
23 And of the Lauym: Yuzabad and Shimei and Kalayahu, who was Kalita, and Pathahyahu and Yahudah and Yunah.
24 Of the temple singers: Ali′ashib and Zac′cur.
25 Of the gatekeepers: Shallum and Talam.
26 Of Yashar'AL: of the sons of Parush: Ramyahu, Izzyahu, Malchiyahu, Miyamin, and Alaazar, and Asibias, and Benayahu.
27 Of the sons of Elam: Mattanyahu and Zacharyahu, Yahyal and Abdi, and Yaramuth and Aliyahu.
28 Of the sons of Zattu: Áliuanai, Aliashib, Uthonyahu, Yaramuth, and Zabad and Zardayahu.
29 Of the sons of Babai: Yahuhanan and Hananyahu and Zabbai and Amathis.
30 Of the sons of Bani: Mashul′lam, Malluch, Adayahu, Yashub, and Shaal and Yaramuth.
31 Of the sons of Addi: Naathus and Muussias, Laccunus and Naidus, and Bascaspasmys and Sasthal, and Balnuus and Manassaas.
32 Of the sons of Annan, Aliunas and Asaias and Malchias and Sabbaias and Simun Chusamaus.
33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattanai and Mattattah and Zabad and Aliphalat and Manassah and Shimai.
34 Of the sons of Bani: Yaramai, Maadai, Amram, Yual, Mamdai and Badayahu and Vanyah, Carabasion and Aliashib and Machnadabai, Aliasis, Binnui, Alialis, Shimai, Shalamyahu, Nathanyahu. Of the sons of Azura: Shashai, Az′aral, Azaal, Shemayahu, Amaryahu, Ya'asaf.
35 Of the sons of Nabu: Mattithyahu, Zabad, Iddu, Yual, Banayahu.
36 All these had married foreign women, and they put them away with their children.
Àzrah Reads the Law to the People
37 The Kuhanym and the Lauym and the men of Yashar'AL settled in Yahushalam and in the country. On the new moon of the seventh month, when the sons of Yashar'AL were in their settlements,
38 the whole multitude gathered with one accord into the open square before the east gate of the temple;
39 and they told Àzrah the chief Kuhan and reader to bring the Turah (law) of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL.
40 So Àzrah the chief Kuhan brought the law, for all the multitude, men and women, and all the Kuhanym to hear the law, on the new moon of the seventh month.
41 And he read aloud in the open square before the gate of the temple from early morning until midday, in the presence of both men and women; and all the multitude gave attention to the law.
42 Àzrah the Kuhan and reader of the law stood on the wooden platform which had been prepared;
43 and beside him stood Mattithyahu, Shama, Anayahu, Azaryahu, Uryahu, Hazakyahu, and Baalsamus on his right hand,
44 and on his left Padayahu, Mishaal, Malchiyahu, Luthasubus, Nabaryahu, and Zacharyahu.
45 Then Àzrah took up the book of the law in the sight of the multitude, for he had the place of honor in the presence of all.
46 And when he opened the law, they all stood erect. And Àzrah baraked 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of all Life;
47 and all the multitude answered, “it is So.” And they lifted up their hands, and fell to the ground and worshiped 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
48 Yashua and Anniuth and Sharabyahu, Yamin, Akkub, Shabbathai, Hudyahu, Maasayahu and Kali′ta, Azaryahu and Yuzabad, Hanan, Palayahu, the Lauym, taught the law of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, at the same time explaining what was read.
49 Then Attharates said to Àzrah the chief Kuhan and reader, and to the Lauym who were teaching the multitude, and to all,
50 “This day is Qadash to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH” now they were all weeping as they heard the law
51 “so go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions to those who have none;
52 for the day is Qadash to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH; and do not be sorrowful, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will exalt you.”
53 And the Lauym commanded all the people, saying, “This day is Qadash; do not be sorrowful.”
54 Then they all went their way, to eat and drink and enjoy themselves, and to give portions to those who had none, and to make great rejoicing;
55 because they were inspired by the words which they had been taught. And they came together.