Ezra 10:1-8 ▼

1 And at the praying of Ezra, and at his making confession, weeping and bowing down before the face of the house of God, there gathered to him from Israel a very large assembly of men and women and children, for the people wept very bitterly.

2 And Shechaniah son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have caused foreign wives to dwell from the peoples of the land. Yet there is hope in Israel concerning this.

3 And now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the women and those born to them, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. And according to the law let it be done.

4 Arise, for on you is the matter, and we are with you. Be strong and do it.”

5 And Ezra arose, and he made swear an oath the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, that they would do this according to the word. And they swore an oath.

6 And Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and he went into the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And in his going there, he ate no bread, and he drank no water, for he mourned on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

7 And they issued a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the sons of the exile, that they must gather at Jerusalem,

8 and all who would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated and he would be separated from the assembly of the exiles.