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All these had married foreign women, and they divorced them, along with their children.
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The priests, the Levites, and the Israelites lived in Jerusalem and in the countryside. On the new moon of the seventh month, after the people of Israel were settled in their homes,
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the whole crowd gathered together in the courtyard near the east gate of the temple.
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They told Ezra the chief priest and reader to bring the Law from Moses that had been given by the Lord God of Israel.
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On the new moon of the seventh month, Ezra the chief priest brought the Law before the whole crowd, both men and women, as well as the priests, to hear the Law.
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He read from dawn until noon in the courtyard near the temple gate, before men and women. The whole crowd gave full attention to the Law.
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Ezra the priest and reader of the Law stood on the wooden podium that had been prepared.
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Next to him stood Mattathiah, Shema, Ananias, Azariah, Uriah, Hezekiah, and Baalsamus at his right;
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and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Lothasubus, Nabariah, and Zechariah.
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Ezra took up the Law scroll in front of the large crowd (for he was in charge in the place of honor before everyone).
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When he opened the Law, everyone stood up. Ezra blessed the Lord God Most High, the God of heavenly forces, the almighty,