Ezra 10:2

2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, responded to Ezra: "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples, but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this.

Ezra 10:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 10:2

And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam,
answered and said unto Ezra
This man seems to be one of those that now came with Ezra from Babylon, see ( Ezra 8:3 Ezra 8:5 ) ,

we have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the
people of the land;
not that he had taken any himself, being but just come into the land, nor is his name in the list of those that had; but inasmuch as many of the nation, of which he was a part, and his own father, and several of his uncles had, ( Ezra 10:26 ) , he expresses himself in this manner:

yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing;
of a reformation of this evil, and of pardon for it.

Ezra 10:2 In-Context

1 While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.

2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, responded to Ezra: "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples, but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this.

3 Let us therefore make a covenant before our God to send away all the [foreign] wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the law.

4 Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we support you. Be strong and take action!"

5 Then Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said; so they took the oath.