Ezra 10

The people weep with Ezra, vers.1, etc. Sechanja comforteth Ezra, and giveth him good counsel, 2. Which he followeth, enganging the chief of the Priests, the Levites, and all the people, by oath, to do according to the law of God, 5. All the people by a strict proclamation are assembled unto Jerusalem, where Ezra convinceth them, and redresseth all things into good order according to the law of God, 7. The names of Priests and Levites that had also married stranger wives, and were parted from them, 18.

1. When Ezra prayed thus, and when he made (this) confession, [Of the sins of all the people in general, and of this gross sin of marriages made and contracted with the idolatrous heathens in particular] weeping, and casting himself down before the house of God; there assembled unto him out Israel a very great congregation, of men, and women, and children; for the people wept with a great weeping.

2. Then Sechanja the son of Jehiel, (one) of the sons of Elam, answered, [That is, he uttered himself, began to speak. See Judges 18.on vers.3.] and said unto Ezra; We have transgressed against our God, and we have caused strange wives of the nations of the land to dwell (with us:) [that is, have married them, or taken them into matrimonial society and cohabitation. So vers.10, 14,17,18. And Nehem.13.23,27.] but now there is hope for Israel, concerning this. [To wit, this hope; that we endeavour by true repentance to escape Gods judgment: whereof in the sequel.]

3. Now then, let us make a covenant with our God, to cause all (those) wives, and what so ever is born of them to departed away, according to the counsel of the Lord, and of those that tremble before the commandment of our God: [as above chap.9.4.] and let there be done according to the law.

4. Arise, for this matter belongeth unto thee, [Or, (lieth) upon thee: that is, it concerneth thee, it is thy office, thy duty; as being Priest, and having charge and commission from the king of Persia] and we will be with thee; be strong, and do it.

5. Then Ezra arose, and made the chief of the Priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear, that they should do according to this word: and they sware.

6. And Ezra rose up from before the house of God [To wit, out of the peoples court] and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eljazib: [there to advise and deliberate concerning a sure way and order for the execution of that which is mentioned in the sequel] when he came thither, he did neither eat bread, nor drink water; [that is, he took no sustenance at all, neither meat, nor drink] for be mourned for the transgression of them that had been carried away. [See above chap.9.4. so in sequel.]

7. And they caused a voice to pass [That is, a precept to be published, a proclamation to be made, as above chap.1.1.] throughout Juda and Jerusalem, unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem.

8. And (that) who so ever should not come within three days, according to the counsel of the Princes, and he himself should all his substance should be banned: and he himself should be separated from the congregation of them that had been carried away. [Hebr. carrying away. The meaning is, he should be held as an excommunicated person, cut off, and banished from the congregation.]

9. Then all the men of Juda and Benjamin gathered themselves together at Jerusalem, within three days; it was the ninth month, [Called Chisleu, answering to part of November, and part of December] on the twentieth (day) of the month: and all the people sate in the street of the house of God [see Nehem.2.8. whence some do gather, that there is meant the place of the court of the Temple, which at this time lay yet open and unwalled] trembling [through consciousness of their sin, and for fear of Gods punishment] for this thing, and because of the great showers of rain.

10. Then Ezra the Priests stood up, and said unto them; Ye have transgressed, and caused strange wives to dwell (with you:) to increase the guilt of Israel. [Hebr. to add unto the guilt of Israel.]

11. Now then make [Hebr. give] confession unto the LORD God of your Fathers, and do his pleasure, and separated yourselves from the nations of this land, and from the strange wives.

12. And all the congregation answered, and said with a loud [Hebr. great] voice: according to thy words, so it behoveth us [compare above vers.4.] to do.

13. But the people are many, and it is a time of great rain, (so) that we are not able to stand [Hebr. no power is (in) us to stand] there without: neither is it a work of one day or two: for many of us have transgressed [Hebr. we have multiplied to transgress] in this thing.

14. Let, we pray, our Princes of all the Congregation stand (over this) (matter,) [This is thus supplied from the following verse] and (let) all that are in our cities, that have caused strange wives to dwell (with them,) come at appointed times, and with them the eldest [as having particular knowledge of the inhabitants of their places, and being able to inform the great council at Jerusalem of all that happened] every city, [Hebr. of city and city] and the judges thereof; until we turn away from us the heat of the wrath of our God, for this matter. [Others, as long as this thing lasteth: or, until the thing (be ended.) Item, concerning this thing.]

15. Onely Jonathan the son of Asahel, and Jehaziel the son of Tikva stood over this (matter:) [It seemeth that these alone among the Priest, were not guilty of this offence. Compare herewith that which followeth] and Mesullam, and Sabbethai the Levite helped them.

16. And the children of the captivity did so; and Ezra the Priest (with) the men, the heads of the Fathers, according to the house of their Fathers, and they all (called) by (their) names, separated themselves; and they sate on the first day of the tenth month, [Called Tebet, answering partly to December, and partly to January] to examine the matter.

17. And they made an end with all the men, that had caused strange wives to dwell (with them:) by the first day of the first month. [Called Abib, or, Nisan, answering to a part of March, and to a part of April.]

18. And there were found of the sons of the Priests, that had caused strange wives to dwell (with them:) of the son of Jesua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseja, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedalja.

19. And they gave their hand, [That is, they promised by giving the hand. Compare 2 Kings 10:14.] that they would cause their wives to depart: and being guilty (they offered) a Ram of the flock for their guilt. [See Lev.4.3. etc. Where the Priests as well as the common people are enjoined, besides the confession of their sin, to bring their offering also.]

20. And of the children of Immer, Hanani, and Zebadja.

21. And of the children of Harim: Maaseja, and Elja, and Semaja, and Jehiel, and Uzia.

22. And of the children of Pashur: Elioenai, Maaseja, Ismael, Nethaneel, Josabad, and Elasa.

23. And of the Levites: Jozabad, and Simei, and Kelaja, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahja, Juda, and Eliezer.

24. And of the singers, Eljasib: and of the porters, Sallum, and Telem, and Uri.

25. And of Israel: [Hitherto have been related the guilty ones in the Ecclesiastical state, that were Churchmen, that pertaining to the ministery and service of the Temple: now follow those that were without among the people] of the children of Paros, Ramja, and Jezia, and Malchia, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchia and Benaja.

26. And of the children of Elam: Nathaja, Zacharja, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elja.

27. And of the children of Zartu: Eljoenai, Eljasib, Nathanja, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

28. And of the children of Bebai: Johanan, Hananja, Sabbai, Athlai.

29. And of the children of Bani: Mesullam, Malluch, and Adaja, Jasub, and Seal, Jeramoth.

30. And of the children of Pahat-Moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaja, Maaseja, Mathanja, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

31. And of the children of Harim: Eliezer, Josia, Malchia, Semaja, Simeon,

32. Benjamin, Malluch, Semarja.

33. Of the children of Hasum: Mathnai, Mathatha, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Simei.

34. Of the children of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,

35. Benaja, Bedeja, Cheluhu, [Or, Cheluhi.]

36. Vanja, Meremoth, Eljasib,

37. Matthanja, Mathnai, and Jaasai,

38. And Bani, and Binnui, Simei,

39. And Selemja, and Nathan, and Adaja.

40. Machunadbai, [Or, Mabnadbai] Sasai, Sarai.

41. Azareel, and Selemja, and Semarja.

42. Sallum, Amaria, Joseph.

43. Of the children of Nebo: Jeiel, Matthitja, Zabad, Zebina, Jadda, [Or, Jaddan] and Joel, Benaja.

44. All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives, by whom they had gotten children. [Hebr. and they had set sons, or, children: intimating that they left their heathenish wives, as well those that had children, as those that had none, as is affirmed above vers.3. Others, and among them were wives that had brought forth children.]