25
I disputed with them and cursed them, and I beat some of them up and pulled out their hair. Then I made them swear by God, "You will not give your daughters as wives for their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves.
26
Wasn't it by doing these things that Shlomo king of Isra'el sinned? There was no king like him among many nations, and his God loved him, and God made him king over all Isra'el; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.
27
Are we to give in to you and let you continue in this very great evil, breaking faith with our God by marrying foreign women?"
28
One of the sons of Yoyada the son of Elyashiv, the cohen hagadol, had become son-in-law to Sanvalat the Horoni; so I drove him out of my presence.
29
My God, remember them; because they have defiled the office of cohen and the covenant of the cohanim and L'vi'im.
30
Thus I cleansed them of everything foreign, and I had the cohanim and L'vi'im resume their duties, each one in his appointed task.
31
I also made provision for the delivery of wood at stated times, and for the firstfruits. My God, remember me favorably.