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Then Ezra went from the court of the Temple into the living quarters of Jehohanan son of Eliashib
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and spent the night there grieving over the people's terrible violation of the Law. He did not eat or drink anything.
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A message was sent throughout Jerusalem and Judah, calling all those who had returned from exile to meet in Jerusalem,
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by order of the leaders of the people. If anyone failed to come within two or three days, his cattle would be confiscated, and he would lose his right to be a member of the community.
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Within the three days, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the men of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin came to Jerusalem
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and assembled in the Temple square. Everyone was shivering from the cold because it was wintertime.
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Then Ezra stood up and spoke to them, "You have broken the Law and brought guilt on Israel by marrying foreign women.
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Now then, tell the truth and confess your sins to the Lord, the God of our ancestors,
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and do what he requires. Separate yourselves from the foreigners living in our land and get rid of your foreign wives."