Shecaniah Encourages Reform

1Now when Esdras was thus praying, and beseeching, and weeping, and lying before the temple of God, there was gathered to him of Israel an exceeding great assembly of men and women and children, and the people wept with much lamentation. 2And Sechenias the son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam answered, and said to Esdras: We have sinned against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: and now if there be repentance in Israel concerning this, 3Let us make a covenant with the Lord our God, to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the will of the Lord, and of them that fear the commandment of the Lord our God: let it be done according to the law. 4Arise, it is thy part to give orders, and we will be with thee: take courage, and do it.

5So Esdras arose, and made the chiefs of the priests and of the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word, and they swore.

The People's Confession of Sin

6And Esdras rose up from before the house of God, and went to the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliasib, and entered in thither: he ate no bread, and drank no water: for he mourned for the transgression of them that were come out of the captivity. 7And proclamation was made in Juda and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble together into Jerusalem. 8And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the ancients, all his substance should be taken away, and he should be cast out of the company of them that were returned from captivity.

9Then all the men of Juda, and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within three days, in the ninth month, the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of the sin, and the rain. 10And Esdras the priest stood up, and said to them: You have transgressed, and taken strange wives, to add to the sins of Israel. 11And now make confession to the Lord the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from your strange wives. 12And all the multitude answered and said with a loud voice: According to thy word unto us, so be it done. 13But as the people are many, and it is time of rain, and we are not able to stand without, and it is not a work of one day or two, (for we have exceedingly sinned in this matter,) 14Let rulers be appointed in all the multitude: and in all our cities, let them that have taken strange wives come at the times appointed, and with them the ancients and the judges of every city, until the wrath of our God be turned away from us for this sin. 15Then Jonathan the son of Azahel, and Jaasia the son of Thecua were appointed over this, and Mesollam and Sebethai, Levites, helped them:

16And the children of the captivity did so. And Esdras the priest, and the men heads of the families in the houses of their fathers, and all by their names, went and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 17And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

Those Guilty of Intermarriage

18And there were found among the sons of the priests that had taken strange wives: Of the sons of Josue the son of Josedec, and his brethren, Maasia, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Godolia. 19And they gave their hands to put away their wives, and to offer for their offence a ram of the flock. 20And of the sons of Emmer, Hanani, and Zebedia. 21And of the sons of Harim, Maasia, and Elia, and Semeia, and Jehiel, and Ozias. 22And of the sons of Pheshur, Elioenai, Maasia, Ismael, Nathanael, Jozabed, and Elasa.

23And of the sons of the Levites, Jozabed, and Semei, and Celaia, the same is Calita, Phataia, Juda, and Eliezer.

24And of the singing men, Elisiab: and of the porters, Sellum, and Telem, and Uri.

25And of Israel, of the sons of Pharos, Remeia, and Jezia, and Melchia, and Miamin, and Eliezer, and Melchia, and Banea. 26And of the sons of Elam, Mathania, Zacharias, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jerimoth, and Elia. 27And of the sons of Zethua, Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathania, Jerimuth, and Zabad, and Aziaza. 28And of the sons of Babai, Johanan, Hanania, Zabbai, Athalai: 29And of the sons of Bani, Mosollam, and Melluch, and Adaia, Jasub, and Saal, and Ramoth. 30And of the sons of Phahath, Moab, Edna, and Chalal, Banaias, and Maasias, Mathanias, Beseleel, Bennui, and Manasse. 31And of the sons of Herem, Eliezer, Josue, Melchias, Semeias, Simeon, 32Benjamin, Maloch, Samarias. 33And of the sons of Hasom, Mathanai, Mathatha, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jermai, Manasse, Semei. 34Of the sons of Bani, Maaddi, Amram, and Uel, 35Baneas, and Badaias, Cheliau, 36Vania, Marimuth, and Eliasib, 37Mathanias, Mathania, and Jasi, 38And Bani, and Bennui, Semei, 39And Salmias, and Nathan, and Adaias, 40And Mechnedebai, Sisai, Sarai, 41Ezrel, and Selemiau, Semeria, 42Sellum, Amaria, Joseph. 43Of the sons of Nebo, Jehiel, Mathathias, Zabad, Zabina, Jeddu, and Joel, and Banaia. 44All these had taken strange wives, and there were among them women that had borne children.