11
So now confess your sin to the LORD, the God of your ancestors, and do what he demands. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from these pagan women.”
12
Then the whole assembly raised their voices and answered, “Yes, you are right; we must do as you say!”
13
Then they added, “This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for many of us are involved in this extremely sinful affair. And this is the rainy season, so we cannot stay out here much longer.
14
Let our leaders act on behalf of us all. Let everyone who has a pagan wife come at a scheduled time, accompanied by the leaders and judges of his city, so that the fierce anger of our God concerning this affair may be turned away from us.”
15
Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this course of action, and they were supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite.
16
So this was the plan they followed. Ezra selected leaders to represent their families, designating each of the representatives by name. On December 29, the leaders sat down to investigate the matter.
17
By March 27, the first day of the new year, they had finished dealing with all the men who had married pagan wives.
18
These are the priests who had married pagan wives: From the family of Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19
They vowed to divorce their wives, and they each acknowledged their guilt by offering a ram as a guilt offering.
20
From the family of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21
From the family of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22
From the family of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.