10
The whole crowd cried out, "We will do what you have said.
11
But it's a big crowd, and it's winter, and we aren't strong enough to keep standing outside. This isn't something we can do in one or two days, because we have sinned too greatly in these matters.
12
So let the leaders of the crowd remain, and let all those in our settlements who have foreign wives come at a specific time,
13
with the local elders and judges, until we are free from the Lord's wrath that is against us in this affair."
14
Jonathan, Asahel's son, and Jahzeiah, Tikvah's son, accepted these terms, and Meshullam and Levi and Shabbethai supported them as moderators.
15
Those who had returned from exile followed these recommendations in every respect.
16
Ezra the priest chose for himself the leading men of their families, each by name. On the new moon of the tenth month they convened their investigation of this affair.
17
The cases of the men who had married foreign wives were completed by the new moon of the first month.
18
Those who were found to have married foreign wives from the priesthood were:
19
Of the family of Jeshua, Jozadak's son, and his brothers Maaseiah, Eleazar, Jarib, and Jodan.
20
They pledged to divorce their wives and to offer rams as reconciliation for their error in judgment.