O Esdras, we have sinned against the Lord God, we have married strange women of the nations of the land, and now is all Israel aloft.
93 Let us make an oath to the Lord, that we will put away all our wives, which we have taken of the heathen, with their children,
94 Like as thou hast decreed, and as many as do obey the law of the Lord.
95 Arise and put in execution: for to thee doth this matter appertain, and we will be with thee: do valiantly.
96 So Esdras arose, and took an oath of the chief of the priests and Levites of all Israel to do after these things; and so they sware.
CHAP. IX.
1 Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib,
2 And remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.
3 And there was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:
4 And that whosoever met not there within two or three days according as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from them that were of the captivity.
5 And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month.
6 And all the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the temple because of the present foul weather.
7 So Esdras arose up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed the law in marrying strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.
8 And now by confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,
9 And do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.
10 Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast spoken, so will we do.
11 But forasmuch as the people are many, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot stand without, and this is not a work of a day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far:
12 Therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed,
13 And with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.
14 Then Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus accordingly took this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and Sabbatheus helped them.
15 And they that were of the captivity did according to all these things.
16 And Esdras the priest chose unto him the principal men of their families, all by name: and in the first day of the tenth month they sat together to examine the matter.
17 So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end in the first day of the first month.
18 And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found:
19 Of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren; Matthelas and Eleazar, and Joribus and Joadanus.
20 And they gave their hands to put away their wives and to offer rams to make reconcilement for their errors.
21 And of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes, and Sameius, and Hiereel, and Azarias.
22 And of the sons of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Israel, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus and Talsas.
23 And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.
24 Of the holy singers; Eleazurus, Bacchurus.
25 Of the porters; Sallumus, and Tolbanes.
26 Of them of Israel, of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and Eddias, and Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Baanias.
27 Of the sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielus, and Hieremoth, and Aedias.
28 And of the sons of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, and Sabatus, and Sardeus.
29 Of the sons of Babai; Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and Amatheis.
