13
But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
14
Let our officials stand for the whole assembly. Let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come
1at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every city,
2until the fierce wrath of our God over this matter is turned away from us."
15
Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and
3Meshullam and
4Shabbethai the Levite supported them.
16
Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of fathers' houses, according to their fathers' houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter;
17
and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.
Those Guilty of Intermarriage
18 Now there were found some of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, some of the sons of
5Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers.
19
They
6pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was
7a ram of the flock for their guilt.
20
8Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21
9Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22
Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23
Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.