Shecaniah’s Encouragement 1 Brenton So when Esdras had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and praying before the house of God, a very great assembly of Israel came together to him, men and women and youths; for the people wept, and wept aloud. BSB BSB: While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.
2 Brenton And Sechenias the son of Jeel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Esdras, We have broken covenant with our God, and have taken strange wives of the nations of the land: yet now there is patience of hope to Israel concerning this thing. BSB BSB: Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.
3 Brenton Now then let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and their offspring, as thou shalt advise: BSB BSB: So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.
4 Brenton arise, and alarm them with the commands of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Rise up, for the matter is upon thee; and we are with thee: be strong and do. BSB BSB: Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!”
5 Brenton Then Esdras arose, and caused the rulers, the priests, and Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word: and they swore. BSB BSB: So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.
The People’s Confession of Sin 6 Brenton And Esdras rose up from before the house of God, and went to the treasury of Joanan the son of Elisub; he even went thither: he ate no bread, and drank no water; for he mourned over the unfaithfulness of them of the captivity. BSB BSB: Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
7 Brenton And they made proclamation throughout Juda and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble at Jerusalem, saying , BSB BSB: And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.
8 Brenton Every one who shall not arrive within three days, as is the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his substance shall be forfeited, and he shall be separated from the congregation of the captivity. BSB BSB: Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.
9 Brenton So all the men of Juda and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. This was the ninth month: on the twentieth day of the month all the people sat down in the street of the house of the Lord, because of their alarm concerning the word, and because of the storm. BSB BSB: So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.
10 Brenton And Esdras the priest arose, and said to them, Ye have broken covenant, and have taken strange wives, to add to the trespass of Israel. BSB BSB: Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel.
11 Brenton Now therefore give praise to the Lord God of our fathers, and do that which is pleasing in his sight: and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the strange wives. BSB BSB: Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”
12 Brenton Then all the congregation answered and said, This thy word is powerful upon us to do it. BSB BSB: And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say!
13 Brenton But the people is numerous, and the season is stormy, and there is no power to stand without, and the work is more than enough for one day or for two; for we have greatly sinned in this matter. BSB BSB: But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.
14 Brenton Let now our rulers stand, and for all those in our cities who have taken strange wives, let them come at appointed times, and with them elders from every several city, and judges, to turn away the fierce wrath of our God from us concerning this matter. BSB BSB: Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”
15 Brenton Only Jonathan the son of Asael, and Jazias the son of Thecoe were with me concerning this; and Mesollam, and Sabbathai the Levite helped them. BSB BSB: (Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.)
16 Brenton And the children of the captivity did thus: and Esdras the priest, and heads of families according to their house were separated, and all by their names, for they returned in the first day of the tenth month to search out the matter. BSB BSB: So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation,
17 Brenton And they made an end with all the men who had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month. BSB BSB: and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.
Those Guilty of Intermarriage 18 Brenton And there were found some of the sons of the priests who had taken strange wives: of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren; Maasia, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gadalia. BSB BSB: Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 Brenton And they pledged themselves to put away their wives, and offered a ram of the flock for a trespass-offering because of their trespass. BSB BSB: They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.
20 Brenton And of the sons of Emmer; Anani, and Zabdia. BSB BSB: From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21 Brenton And of the sons of Eram; Masael, and Elia, and Samaia, and Jeel, and Ozia. BSB BSB: From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 Brenton And of the sons of Phasur; Elionai, Maasia, and Ismael, and Nathanael, and Jozabad, and Elasa. BSB BSB: From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 Brenton And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Samu, and Colia (he is Colitas,) and Phetheia, and Judas, and Eliezer. BSB BSB: Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 Brenton And of the singers; Elisab: and of the porters; Solmen, and Telmen, and Oduth. BSB BSB: From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 Brenton Also of Israel: of the sons of Phoros; Ramia, and Azia, and Melchia, and Meamin, and Eleazar, and Asabia, and Banaia. BSB BSB: And among the other Israelites, from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26 Brenton And of the sons of Helam; Matthania, and Zacharia, and Jaïel, and Abdia, and Jarimoth, and Elia. BSB BSB: From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 Brenton And of the sons of Zathua; Elionai, Elisub, Matthanai, and Armoth, and Zabad, and Oziza. BSB BSB: From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 Brenton And of the sons of Babei; Joanan, Anania, and Zabu, and Thali. BSB BSB: From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 Brenton And of the sons of Banui; Mosollam, Maluch, Adaias, Jasub, and Saluia, and Remoth. BSB BSB: From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30 Brenton And of the sons of Phaath Moab; Edne, and Chalel, and Banaia, Maasia, Matthania, Beseleel, and Banui, and Manasse. BSB BSB: From the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 Brenton And of the sons of Eram; Eliezer, Jesia, Melchia, Samaias, Semeon, BSB BSB: From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Brenton Benjamin, Baluch, Samaria. BSB BSB: Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33 Brenton And of the sons of Asem; Metthania, Matthatha, Zadab, Eliphalet, Jerami, Manasse, Semei. BSB BSB: From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34 Brenton And of the sons of Bani; Moodia, Amram, Uel, BSB BSB: From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35 Brenton Banaia, Badaia, Chelkia, BSB BSB: Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
36 Brenton Uvania, Marimoth, Eliasiph, BSB BSB: Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Brenton Matthania, Matthanai: BSB BSB: Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38 Brenton and so did the children of Banui, and the children of Semei, BSB BSB: From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei,
39 Brenton and Selemia, and Nathan, and Adaia, BSB BSB: Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40 Brenton Machadnabu, Sesei, Sariu, BSB BSB: Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Brenton Ezriel, and Selemia, and Samaria, BSB BSB: Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 Brenton and Sellum, Amaria, Joseph. BSB BSB: Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43 Brenton Of the sons of Nabu; Jael, Matthanias, Zabad, Zebennas, Jadai, and Joel, and Banaia. BSB BSB: And from the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 Brenton All these had taken strange wives, and had begotten sons of them. BSB BSB: All these men had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.