8
And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited , and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
9
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
10
And Ezra the priest stood up , and said unto them, Ye have transgressed , and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
11
Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
12
Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do .