1 Now while Ezra was praying and while he was confessing, weeping and falling down before the house of God {ha-Elohim, Divine Presence}, a very large assembly from Israel—men and women and children—gathered to him, for the people wept with a great weeping {bocheh: deep lamentation}.
2 And Shekaniah son of Jehiel, from the sons of Elam, answered Ezra and said, “We have acted unfaithfully against our God {Eloheinu, Covenant Authority} and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope {mikveh: expectation of restoration} for Israel concerning this.”
3 And now let us make a covenant to our God {Eloheinu, Covenant Restorer} to send away all the women and those born from them according to the counsel of my lord {adoni: Respected Leader} and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. And let it be done according to the law.
4 Arise, for this matter {hadavar: the issue at hand} is upon you, and we are with you; be strong {khazak: exhibit steadfast courage} and do it.
5 Then Ezra {Ezra: Covenant Reformer} arose and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear to do according to this word; and they swore {nishba: solemn oath}.
6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God {Elohim, Worship Center} and went to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He went there and did not eat bread, nor did he drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness {maal: breach of covenant} of the exile.
7 And they proclaimed {vayya’aviru: public summons} a message throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants of the exile, to assemble {lehiqabetz: invited gathering} in Jerusalem.
8 And anyone who did not come within three days according to the counsel of the officials and the elders, all his property{rekhush: private possessions} would be forfeited and he would be separated from the assembly{qahal: organized communal body} of the exiles.
9 And all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem within three days; it was the ninth month on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the square before the house of God {Elohim, Sacred Dwelling}, trembling because of the matter {davar: situation of crisis} and because of the rains.
10 Then Ezra the priest arose and said to them, “You have acted unfaithfully {me'altem: covenant violation} and have brought in foreign women to add to the guilt {ashmat: legal liability} of Israel.”
11 And now, give thanks {todah: confession of sin} to the LORD your God {YHWH Elohei-avoteikhem, Covenant Restorer}, and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women.
12 Then all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, “Indeed, as you have spoken {ke-dvarekha: according to your words}, it is for us {aleinu: our duty} to do so.”
13 However, the people are many, and the season is rainy, and there is no strength {koach: capacity to endure} to stand outside; furthermore, the task is not for one day or two, because we have greatly transgressed {lifshoa: repeated sin} in this matter.
14 Let our officials stand now for the assembly, and everyone in our cities who has settled foreign women shall come at appointed times {ittim: legal summons}, with the elders and judges of each city, until the burning anger of our God {Eloheinu: Covenant Judge} is turned away from us concerning this matter.
15 Only {akh: restrictive focus} Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah stood against this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite {Levi: hereditary temple minister} supported them.
16 So the exiles did so, and Ezra the priest separated {vayyibadlu: set apart for review} men who were heads of the fathers of their ancestral houses, all listed by name, and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter {hadavar: judicial case}.
17 And they completed the inquiry concerning all the men who had brought in foreign {nokrīyōt: non-Israelite spouses} wives by the first day of the first month {rishon: initial calendar month}.
18 And it was found among the sons of the priests {kohanim: hereditary temple priests} that they had taken foreign {nokhriyot: non-Israelite} women in marriage—among them, from the sons of Yeshua son of Yotsadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Yariv, and Gedalyah.
19 And they gave their hand {yad: solemn pledge} to send away their wives, and being guilty, offered a ram {eil-tzon: guilt offering} from the flock for their guilt.
20 And from the sons {bnei: direct male descendants} of Immer {Immer: priestly clan}, Chanani and Zebadiah.
21 And from the descendants of Harim were Maaseiah {maaseiah: Yah’s work} and Elijah {elyah: my God Yah}, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 And from the descendants {benei: literal sons} of Pashchur {pashchur: priestly head}, Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 And from the Levites {ha-leviyim: priestly tribe} were Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (he is Kelita {qelita: alternate name}), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 And from the singers {meshorerim: Levitical Choir}, Elyashib; and from the gatekeepers {shaʿarim: Temple Doorkeepers}, Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 And from Israel {yisra'el: Covenant People}: from the sons of Parosh {parosh: Family Group}—Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
26 And from the descendants {descendants: family lineage} of Elam: Mattaniah {mattan-yah: gift of Yahweh}, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 And from the sons {bnei: male descendants} of Zattu {Zattu: clan ancestor}: Elioenai, Elyashiv, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 And from the sons {bnei: lineage designation} of Bebai {bevai: ancestral patriarch} were Yehochanan, Chananyah, Zabbai, and Atlai.
29 And from the sons {bnei: male descendants} of Bani {Bani: clan ancestor} were Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Yashub, Sheal, Yermoth, and Ramoth.
30 And from the sons {bnei: male descendants} of Pahath-Moab {pachat-moav: governor of Moab clan}: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 And the sons {benei: genealogical descendants} of Harim {Charim: priestly family} were Eliezer, Yishiyah, Malkiyah, Shemaiyah, and Shim‘on.
32 Benjamin {binyamin: right-hand son}, Malluk {mallukh: royal counselor}, Shemariah.
33 From the sons {bnei: male lineage} of Hashum {chashum: clan patriarch} were Mattenai, Mattattah, Zavad, Eliphelet, Yeremai, Menashsheh, and Shimei.
34 From the descendants {mibnei: genealogical term} of Bani {bani: post-exilic family head} came Maadai, Amram, and Uel.
35 Benaiah, Bedeiah {bedyah: Yah is unique}, Keluhi, and Keluhu {keluhu: complete lineage}.
36 Vaniah {vanayah: Yahweh establishes}, Meremoth {meremot: heights}, Eliashib.
37 Mattaniah {mattanyah: Yahweh Gives}, Mattenai, Jaasu, and Jaasai {yaasai: alternate name form}.
38 And {vav: connective particle} Bani {bani: personal name} and Binnui and Shimei.
39 And Shelemiah {Shelemiah: Yahweh Restores Peace} and Natan and Adaiah {Adaiah: Yahweh Has Adorned}.
40 Maknadebai, Shashai {shashai: list entry}, Sharai {sharai: listed name}.
41 Azarel {azar'el: God has helped}, and Shelemiah, Shemariah {shemaryah: Yahweh guards}.
42 Shallum {Shallum: recompense}, Amariah {Amaryah: Yah has spoken}, and Joseph.
43 From the sons of Nebo: Jeiel {Jeiel: God Lives}, Mattithiah {Mattithiah: Gift of Yahweh}, Zabad, Zebina, Jedu, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 All of these had taken foreign women {nashim nokhṛiyot: women of other nations}, and some of the women bore sons {banim: male descendants}.