Ezra 10

1 While Ezra [the priest and scribe] prayed [to intercede, to worship] and made this confession [a statement of wrongdoing, an acknowledgement of sin], weeping [with sorrow, in grief] and falling [prostrating, humbling] facedown [in reverence, in submission] before the house [the temple, the dwelling place] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], a very large [exceedingly great, numerous] assembly [a gathering, a congregation] of Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]—men [adult males], women [females], and children [youth, the young]—gathered around him, and the people [the nation, the community] wept [cried out, mourned] bitterly [with intense sorrow, in deep grief] as well. word study 2 Then Shecaniah [a descendant of Elam] son of Jehiel, an Elamite [from the region of Elam], said to Ezra: “We [as a community, collectively] have been unfaithful [acted treacherously, sinned] to our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] by marrying foreign [strange, unfamiliar] women from the people [nations, tribes] of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope [a source of confidence, a collection of possibilities] for Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 3 So now [at this present time] let us make a covenant [a solemn agreement, promise] before our God [Elohim, the supreme Lord] to send away [to divorce, put away] all the foreign wives [women from other nations, pagan wives] and their children [offspring, descendants], according to the counsel [advice, guidance] of my lord [master, ruler] and of those who tremble at [reverently fear, obey] the command of our God [the law, instruction]. Let it be done [accomplished, fulfilled] according to the Law [the instruction, Torah]. word study 4 Get up [arise, take a stand], for this matter [affair, situation] is your responsibility [belongeth unto thee], and we [us, as a community] will support [be with] you. Be [of good] strong [courageous, take heart] and take action [do it, carry it out]!” word study 5 So Ezra [the Israelite priest and scribe] got up [rose to action, stood firm] and made the leading [chief, ruler] priests [the Levitical priests, spiritual leaders], Levites [descendants of Levi, assistants to the priests], and all [every single one, the entire nation] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people] take an oath [to swear, make a promise] to do [to make, carry out, fulfill] what had been said [this word, the agreement, the command]. And they took [solemnly swore, affirmed] the oath [a vow, a promise]. word study 6 Then Ezra [the priest and scribe] withdrew from before the house [dwelling place] of God [Elohim, the supreme God] and walked [to move from one place to another] to the chamber [room or private quarters] of Jehohanan [Jehovah has graced] son of Eliashib [God restores]. And while he stayed there, he ate no food [bread or grain] and drank no water [liquid refreshment], because he was mourning [to lament or grieve] over the unfaithfulness [treachery or sinful act] of the exiles [those carried away into captivity]. word study 7 And a proclamation [public announcement, official declaration] was issued [made to be known, caused to pass] throughout Judah [the southern kingdom, the tribe of Judah] and Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital] that all [every single one, the entire group] the exiles [those in captivity, the children of the captivity] should gather [assemble, come together] at Jerusalem [the holy city, the place of worship]. word study 8 Whoever failed to appear [did not come, was absent] within three [a period of three, thrice] days would forfeit [lose, give up] all [everything, the whole] his property [possessions, goods, substance], according to the counsel [advice, plan, purpose] of the leaders [rulers, princes] and elders [old men, wise ones], and would himself be expelled [separated, cut off] from the assembly [gathering, congregation] of the exiles [those carried away, captives]. word study 9 So within the [three-day period, a short time frame] three days, all the men [individuals, males] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah] and Benjamin [son of the right hand, the youngest son of Jacob] assembled [gathered together, came together in unity] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Palestine], and on the twentieth day [a specific point in time, the 20th] of the ninth month [a period of time, the 9th month], all the people [a nation, a group of individuals] sat [dwelled, remained] in the square [street, public area] at the house [dwelling place, temple] of God [Elohim, the supreme being], trembling [shaking with fear, quivering] regarding this matter [thing, affair, the situation at hand] and because of the heavy [great, abundant] rain [shower, downpour]. word study 10 Then Ezra [the priest and scribe] the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful [transgressed, acted treacherously] by marrying foreign [strange, unfamiliar] women, adding [increasing, doing again] to the guilt [guiltiness, sin] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 11 Now [at this time, in this moment], therefore, make a confession [give praise, acknowledge sin] to the LORD [Yehovah, the God of covenant], the God [Elohim, the supreme deity] of your fathers [ancestors, heritage], and do His will [pleasure, good pleasure]. Separate [set apart, divide] yourselves from the people [nations, Gentiles] of the land [earth, territory] and from your foreign [strange, unfamiliar] wives [women, spouses].” word study 12 And the whole [entire, complete] assembly [congregation, group of people] responded [answered, gave a reply] in a loud [great, strong] voice: “Truly [rightly, certainly] we must do [carry out, fulfill] as you say [have spoken, commanded]! word study 13 But there are many [a large multitude, a great number] people here, and it is the rainy [shower, downpour] season. We are not able [have no strength, no power] to stay out in the open [outside, in the streets]. Nor is this the work [task, labor, employment] of one [a single day] or two days, for we have transgressed [rebelled, revolted, sinned] greatly [exceedingly, to a great degree] in this matter [thing, affair, business]. word study 14 Let our leaders [rulers, princes] represent the whole assembly [congregation, gathering]. Then let everyone in our towns [cities, communities] who has married a foreign woman [strange wives, women from other nations] come at an appointed time [fixed times, scheduled appointments], together with the elders [responsible men, elderly leaders] and judges [those who govern, vindicate] of each town, until the fierce anger [burning wrath, intense displeasure] of our God [Elohim, the supreme God] in this matter [thing, affair] is turned away from us [until His wrath is removed, until He is no longer angry].” word study 15 (Only [certainly, surely] Jonathan [Jehovah has given] son of Asahel [God-made] and Jahzeiah [Jehovah views] son of Tikvah [hope], supported by [aided, assisted] Meshullam and Shabbethai [rest, Sabbath] the Levite [a descendant of Levi], opposed [stood against] this [specific] plan [matter, situation].) word study 16 So the exiles [the children of the captivity] did as proposed. Ezra [the priest and scribe] the priest selected men [leaders, chief fathers] who were family heads, each of them identified by name [with their specific identity], to represent their families [households, clans]. On the first day [the initial, beginning day] of the tenth month [a time of reflection and examination] they launched the investigation [to examine, to seek and inquire about the matter], word study 17 and by the first [primary, initial] day of the first month they had dealt with [finished, completed, made an end with] all [every, the whole] the men [individuals, males] who had married [taken, been given in marriage to] foreign [strange, unfamiliar, non-Israeli] women [wives, female partners]. word study 18 Among the descendants [sons, offspring] of the priests [spiritual leaders, those who serve God] who had married [taken as wives, settled with] foreign [strange, unfamiliar] women [wives, females] were found [discovered, identified] these descendants [sons, family members] of Jeshua [Joshua, God is salvation] son of Jozadak [God is righteous] and his brothers [relatives, kin]: Maaseiah [work of Jehovah, God’s servant], Eliezer [God is help, divine assistance], Jarib [he will contend, God will strive], and Gedaliah [God is great, divine majesty]. word study 19 They pledged [gave their hand, made a vow] to send their wives [women, female partners] away, and for their guilt [being guilty, having sin] they presented [offered, gave] a ram [strong male sheep] from the flock [a group of sheep or goats] as a guilt offering [a sacrifice for their trespass, to atone for their sin]. word study 20 From the descendants [sons, offspring, or posterity] of Immer [a priestly family, the father of a priest named Zadok]: Hanani [gracious, one who has received God’s favor] and Zebadiah [endowment of Jehovah, gift from God]. word study 21 From the descendants [sons, family members, or clan] of Harim [dedicated, a priest or family head]: Maaseiah [work of Jehovah], Elijah [my God is Jehovah, a name signifying devotion], Shemaiah [heard by God, a name implying divine attention], Jehiel [God lives, a name expressing faith], and Uzziah [my strength is Jehovah]. word study 22 From the descendants [sons, offspring, or family line] of Pashhur [a priestly family]: Elioenai [unto Jehovah are my eyes], Maaseiah [work of Jehovah], Ishmael [God will hear], Nethanel [given of God], Jozabad [Jehovah has endowed], and Elasah [God has made]. word study 23 Among the Levites [descendants of Levi, a tribe of Israel]: Jozabad [a name meaning Jehovah has endowed], Shimei [a common name among Israelites], Kelaiah [also known as Kelita, meaning crippled] (that is, Kelita [the same person, with a different name]), Pethahiah [a name meaning freed by Jehovah], Judah [a name referring to the tribe of Judah], and Eliezer [a name meaning God is help]. word study 24 From the singers [music-makers, those who led worship]: Eliashib [God restores]. From the gatekeepers [porters, those responsible for guarding the entrance]: Shallum [peace, completeness], Telem [oppression, burden], and Uri [fiery, full of light]. word study 25 And among the other [remaining, additional] Israelites [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], from the descendants [sons, family line] of Parosh [an Israelite who lived during the time of exile and return]: Ramiah [Jehovah has loosened], Izziah [Jehovah sprinkles], Malchijah [my king is Jehovah], Mijamin [from the right hand], Eleazar [God has helped], Malchijah [my king is Jehovah], and Benaiah [Jehovah has built, strengthened]. word study 26 From the descendants [sons, offspring] of Elam [a son of Shem and his descendants]: Mattaniah [gift of Jehovah], Zechariah [Jehovah remembers], Jehiel [God lives], Abdi [servant, worshiper], Jeremoth [He is Most High], and Elijah [my God is Jehovah]. word study 27 From the descendants [sons, offspring] of Zattu [a returned Israelite]: Elioenai [unto Jehovah are my eyes], Eliashib [God restores], Mattaniah [gift of Jehovah], Jeremoth [He is Most High], Zabad [given, bestowed], and Aziza [strong, mighty]. word study 28 From the descendants [sons, offspring, or family line] of Bebai [an Israelite leader, my cavities]: Jehohanan [Jehovah has graced], Hananiah [God has favored], Zabbai [pure, or purified], and Athlai [whom Jehovah has humbled, or afflicted]. word study 29 From the descendants [sons, offspring, or family line] of Bani [built, a Gadite warrior, or a Levite]: Meshullam [a common name in Israel, meaning ‘paid, or requited’], Malluch [a priest who returned to Jerusalem], Adaiah [Jehovah has adorned Himself], Jashub [he will return, or a Jashubite], Sheal [an Israelite during Exile and Return], and Jeremoth [He is Most High, or a Benjamite]. word study 30 From the descendants [sons, offspring] of Pahath-moab [pit of Moab, an Israelite clan]: Adna [rest, plea], Chelal [completeness, perfection], Benaiah [Jehovah has built], Maaseiah [work of Jehovah], Mattaniah [gift of Jehovah], Bezalel [in the shadow of God], Binnui [built up], and Manasseh [causing to forget]. word study 31 From the descendants [sons, family] of Harim [dedicated, a priest or family head]: Eliezer [God is help, divine assistance], Isshijah [Jehovah will lend, God’s provision], Malchijah [my king is Jehovah, God’s sovereignty], Shemaiah [heard by God, divine listening], Shimeon [heard, God’s fame], word study 32 Benjamin [son of the right hand], Malluch [a priest who returned to Jerusalem], and Shemariah [kept by Jehovah, protected by God]. word study 33 From the descendants [sons, offspring, or clan] of Hashum [a family head]: Mattenai [a priest, one who serves God], Mattattah [a gift of Jehovah, a divine bestowal], Zabad [a name meaning gift or endowment], Eliphelet [God is deliverance, a divine rescue], Jeremai [one who is exalted by God], Manasseh [one who forgets], and Shimei [one who hears, a listener to God’s voice]. word study 34 From the descendants [sons, offspring, or family line] of Bani [a Gadite warrior, a Levite, or a man from Judah]: Maadai [ornament, or gift], Amram [exalted people, or high nation], Uel [descendant, or one who is lifted up], word study 35 Benaiah [a strong warrior, Jehovah has blessed], Bedeiah [an Israelite of the Exile], Cheluhi [also known as Chelluh or Keluhi, an Israelite of the Return], word study 36 Vaniah [son of Bani], Meremoth [the priest], Eliashib [God restores, the high priest], word study 37 Mattaniah [a gift from Jehovah], Mattenai [a gift], and Jaasu [they will do, Jaasau]. word study 38 From the descendants [sons, clan] of Binnui [built up, restored]: Shimei [heard by God, a common Israelite name], word study 39 Shelemiah [repaid by Jehovah], Nathan [the giver], Adaiah [Jehovah has adorned Himself], word study 40 Machnadebai [son of Bani], Shashai [who had a foreign wife], Sharai [an Israelite of the exile and return], word study 41 Azarel [or Azareel], Shelemiah [repaid by Jehovah], Shemariah [kept by Jehovah, protected by the Lord], word study 42 Shallum [a personal name, meaning peace], Amariah [exalted by God, a high priest], and Joseph [Jehovah has added, a blessed name]. word study 43 And from the descendants [sons, offspring, or family line] of Nebo [a Babylonian deity or a mountain in Moab]: Jeiel [a man of God], Mattithiah [gift of Jehovah], Zabad [given, bestowed], Zebina [bought, redeemed], Jaddai [timely, opportune], Joel [Jehovah is God], and Benaiah [Jehovah has built, established]. word study 44 All [every single one] these men had married [taken as wives] foreign [strange, unfamiliar] women, and some of them had children [sons, offspring] by these wives [women who had borne them children]. word study