6
and assembled in the Temple square. Everyone was shivering from the cold because it was wintertime.
7
Then Ezra stood up and spoke to them, "You have broken the Law and brought guilt on Israel by marrying foreign women.
8
Now then, tell the truth and confess your sins to the Lord, the God of our ancestors,
9
and do what he requires. Separate yourselves from the foreigners living in our land and get rid of your foreign wives."
10
The people shouted in reply, "We will do whatever you say."
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But they added, "The crowd is too big, and it's wintertime. We can't stand here in the open like this. This isn't something that can be settled in one or two days, since so many of us are involved in this sin.
12
Let our officials stay in Jerusalem and take charge of the matter. Then let anyone who has a foreign wife come at an appointed time,
13
together with the leaders and the judges of his city. In this way God's anger over this situation will be turned away."
14
Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah assumed responsibility for the plan; and Meshullam, Levi, and Shabbethai served with them as judges.
15
The returned exiles carried out the investigation in full.
16
Ezra the priest appointed men from among the heads of the clans and recorded their names. On the first day of the tenth month they began their investigation.