Ezra 10:5

5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. And they swore.

Ezra 10:5 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 10:5

Then arose Ezra
From the ground where he lay:

and made the chief priests, and the Levites, and all Israel, to swear
that they should do according to this word:
he took an oath of all that were present to do what was proposed, namely, to put away strange wives and their children:

and they sware;
by means of which they were kept to their word of promise, an oath being a solemn, sacred, thing.

Ezra 10:5 In-Context

3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

4 Arise; for [this] matter [belongeth] to thee: we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].

5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. And they swore.

6 Then Ezra arose from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came thither, he ate no bread, nor drank water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble at Jerusalem;