Shecaniah’s Encouragement

1  וּכְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל (And at the praying) עֶזְרָא֙ (of Ezra), וּכְ֨הִתְוַדֹּת֔וֹ (and at his making confession), בֹּכֶה֙ (weeping), וּמִתְנַפֵּ֔ל (and bowing down) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face of) בֵּ֣ית (the house) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God), נִקְבְּצוּ֩ (gathered) אֵלָ֨יו (to him) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (from Israel) קָהָ֣ל (an assembly) רַב־ (large) מְאֹ֗ד (very) אֲנָשִׁ֤ים (of men) וְנָשִׁים֙ (and women) וִֽילָדִ֔ים (and children), כִּֽי־ (for) בָכ֥וּ (wept) הָעָ֖ם (the people) הַרְבֵּה־ (very) בֶֽכֶה׃ס (bitterly).

2  וַיַּעַן֩ (And answered) שְׁכַנְיָ֨ה (Shechaniah) בֶן־ (son) יְחִיאֵ֜ל (of Jehiel) מִבְּנֵ֤י (of the sons) עוֹלָם (Elam), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) לְעֶזְרָ֔א (to Ezra), אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ (We) מָעַ֣לְנוּ (have trespassed) בֵאלֹהֵ֔ינוּ (against our God), וַנֹּ֛שֶׁב (and have caused to dwell) נָשִׁ֥ים (wives) נָכְרִיּ֖וֹת (foreign) מֵעַמֵּ֣י (from the peoples) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the land). וְעַתָּ֛ה (Yet) יֵשׁ־ (there is) מִקְוֶ֥ה (hope) לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (in Israel) עַל־ (concerning) זֹֽאת׃ (this). 3  וְעַתָּ֣ה (And now) נִֽכְרָת־ (let us make) בְּרִ֣ית (a covenant) לֵ֠אלֹהֵינוּ (with our God) לְהוֹצִ֨יא (to put away) כָל־ (all) נָשִׁ֜ים (the women) וְהַנּוֹלָ֤ד (and those born) מֵהֶם֙ (to them) בַּעֲצַ֣ת (according to the counsel) אֲדֹנָ֔י (of my lord) וְהַחֲרֵדִ֖ים (and of those who tremble) בְּמִצְוַ֣ת (at the commandment) אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ (of our God). וְכַתּוֹרָ֖ה (And according to the law) יֵעָשֶֽׂה׃ (let it be done). 4  ק֛וּם (Arise), כִּֽי־ (for) עָלֶ֥יךָ (on you) הַדָּבָ֖ר (is the matter), וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ (and we are) עִמָּ֑ךְ (with you). חֲזַ֖ק (Be strong) וַעֲשֵֽׂה׃פ (and do it).

5  וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) עֶזְרָ֡א (Ezra), וַיַּשְׁבַּ֣ע (and he made swear an oath) אֶת־ (-) שָׂרֵי֩ (the leaders) הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים (of the priests), הַלְוִיִּ֜ם (the Levites), וְכָל־ (and all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (Israel), לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת (that they would do) כַּדָּבָ֥ר (according to the word) הַזֶּ֖ה (this). וַיִּשָּׁבֵֽעוּ׃ (And they swore an oath).

The People’s Confession of Sin

6  וַיָּ֣קָם (And rose up) עֶזְרָ֗א (Ezra) מִלִּפְנֵי֙ (from before) בֵּ֣ית (the house) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ (and he went) אֶל־ (into) לִשְׁכַּ֖ת (the chamber) יְהוֹחָנָ֣ן (of Jehohanan) בֶּן־ (son) אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב (of Eliashib). וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And in his going) שָׁ֗ם (there), לֶ֤חֶם (bread) לֹֽא־ (not) אָכַל֙ (he ate) וּמַ֣יִם (and water) לֹֽא־ (not) שָׁתָ֔ה (drank), כִּ֥י (for) מִתְאַבֵּ֖ל (he mourned) עַל־ (on account) מַ֥עַל (of the unfaithfulness) הַגּוֹלָֽה׃ס (of the exiles).

7  וַיַּעֲבִ֨ירוּ (And they issued) ק֜וֹל (a proclamation) בִּיהוּדָ֣ה (throughout Judah) וִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם (and Jerusalem) לְכֹל֙ (to all) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) הַגּוֹלָ֔ה (of the exile), לְהִקָּבֵ֖ץ (that they must gather) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (at Jerusalem), 8  וְכֹל֩ (and all) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) יָב֜וֹא (would come) לִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (within three) הַיָּמִ֗ים (days), כַּעֲצַ֤ת (according to the counsel) הַשָּׂרִים֙ (of the leaders) וְהַזְּקֵנִ֔ים (and elders), יָחֳרַ֖ם (would be confiscated) כָּל־ (all) רְכוּשׁ֑וֹ (his property) וְה֥וּא (and he) יִבָּדֵ֖ל (would be separated) מִקְּהַ֥ל (from the assembly) הַגּוֹלָֽה׃ס (of the exiles).

9  וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ (And gathered) כָל־ (all) אַנְשֵֽׁי־ (the men) יְהוּדָה֩ (of Judah) וּבִנְיָמִ֨ן׀ (and Benjamin) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם (at Jerusalem) לִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (within three) הַיָּמִ֗ים (days). ה֛וּא (It was) חֹ֥דֶשׁ (month) הַתְּשִׁיעִ֖י (the ninth), בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים (on the twentieth) בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ (of the month), וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ (and sat) כָל־ (all) הָעָ֗ם (the people) בִּרְחוֹב֙ (in the open square) בֵּ֣ית (of the house) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), מַרְעִידִ֥ים (trembling) עַל־ (because) הַדָּבָ֖ר (of this matter), וּמֵהַגְּשָׁמִֽים׃פ (and because of the rains).

10  וַיָּ֨קָם (And stood up) עֶזְרָ֤א (Ezra) הַכֹּהֵן֙ (the priest) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), אַתֶּ֣ם (You⁺) מְעַלְתֶּ֔ם (You⁺ have acted unfaithfully) וַתֹּשִׁ֖יבוּ (and have caused to dwell) נָשִׁ֣ים (wives) נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת (foreign) לְהוֹסִ֖יף (to add) עַל־ (to) אַשְׁמַ֥ת (the guilt) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 11  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) תְּנ֥וּ (make) תוֹדָ֛ה (confession) לַיהוָ֥ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵֽי־ (God) אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם (of your⁺ fathers), וַעֲשׂ֣וּ (and do) רְצוֹנ֑וֹ (His will), וְהִבָּֽדְלוּ֙ (and separate yourselves) מֵעַמֵּ֣י (from the peoples) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land) וּמִן־ (and from) הַנָּשִׁ֖ים (the women) הַנָּכְרִיּֽוֹת׃ (foreign).

12  וַיַּֽעְנ֧וּ (And answered) כָֽל־ (all) הַקָּהָ֛ל (the assembly) וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (and said) ק֣וֹל (with a voice) גָּד֑וֹל (loud), כֵּ֛ן (Truly) כְּדִבְרֶיךָ (according to your word), עָלֵ֖ינוּ (it is upon us) לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ (to do). 13  אֲבָ֞ל (But) הָעָ֥ם (the people) רָב֙ (are many), וְהָעֵ֣ת (and it is the time) גְּשָׁמִ֔ים (of rains), וְאֵ֥ין (and not) כֹּ֖חַ (we have strength) לַעֲמ֣וֹד (to stand) בַּח֑וּץ (outside), וְהַמְּלָאכָ֗ה (and the work) לֹֽא־ (is not) לְי֤וֹם (of day) אֶחָד֙ (one) וְלֹ֣א (or) לִשְׁנַ֔יִם (two), כִּֽי־ (for) הִרְבִּ֥ינוּ (we have multiplied) לִפְשֹׁ֖עַ (to transgress) בַּדָּבָ֥ר (in the matter) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 14  יַֽעֲמְדוּ־ (Let stand) נָ֣א (please) שָׂ֠רֵינוּ (the leaders) לְֽכָל־ (of all) הַקָּהָ֞ל (the assembly) וְכֹ֣ל׀ (and all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who are) בֶּעָרֵ֗ינוּ (in our cities), הַהֹשִׁ֞יב (who have settled) נָשִׁ֤ים (wives) נָכְרִיּוֹת֙ (foreign), יָבֹא֙ (and come) לְעִתִּ֣ים (at times) מְזֻמָּנִ֔ים (appointed) וְעִמָּהֶ֛ם (and together with) זִקְנֵי־ (the elders) עִ֥יר (of each) וָעִ֖יר (and their cities) וְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יהָ (and judges) עַ֠ד (until) לְהָשִׁ֞יב (the turning back) חֲר֤וֹן (of the fury) אַף־ (of the wrath) אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ (of our God) מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (from us) עַ֖ד (even) לַדָּבָ֥ר (in the matter) הַזֶּֽה׃פ (this).

15  אַ֣ךְ (Only) יוֹנָתָ֧ן (Jonathan) בֶּן־ (son) עֲשָׂהאֵ֛ל (of Asahel) וְיַחְזְיָ֥ה (and Jahaziah) בֶן־ (son) תִּקְוָ֖ה (of Tikvah) עָמְד֣וּ (stood) עַל־ (against) זֹ֑את (this). וּמְשֻׁלָּ֛ם (And Meshullam) וְשַׁבְּתַ֥י (and Shabbethai) הַלֵּוִ֖י (the Levite) עֲזָרֻֽם׃ (supported them).

16  וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ (And did) כֵן֮ (so) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) הַגּוֹלָה֒ (of the exile), וַיִּבָּדְלוּ֩ (and were set apart) עֶזְרָ֨א (Ezra) הַכֹּהֵ֜ן (the priest) אֲנָשִׁ֨ים (and men), רָאשֵׁ֧י (the heads) הָאָב֛וֹת (of the fathers), לְבֵ֥ית (for the house) אֲבֹתָ֖ם (of their fathers), וְכֻלָּ֣ם (and each of them) בְּשֵׁמ֑וֹת (by name), וַיֵּשְׁב֗וּ (and they sat down) בְּי֤וֹם (on the day) אֶחָד֙ (first) לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (of the month) הָעֲשִׂירִ֔י (tenth) לְדַרְי֖וֹשׁ (to examine) הַדָּבָֽר׃ (the matter). 17  וַיְכַלּ֣וּ (And they finished) בַכֹּ֔ל (with all) אֲנָשִׁ֕ים (the men) הַהֹשִׁ֖יבוּ (who had caused to dwell) נָשִׁ֣ים (wives) נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת (foreign) עַ֛ד (by) י֥וֹם (the day) אֶחָ֖ד (first) לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ (of the month) הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃פ (first).

Those Guilty of Intermarriage

18  וַיִּמָּצֵא֙ (And they were found) מִבְּנֵ֣י (among the sons) הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים (of the priests) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) הֹשִׁ֖יבוּ (had taken) נָשִׁ֣ים (wives) נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת (foreign) מִבְּנֵ֨י (of the sons) יֵשׁ֤וּעַ (of Jeshua) בֶּן־ (son) יֽוֹצָדָק֙ (of Jozadak) וְאֶחָ֔יו (and his brothers):

מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ (Maaseiah), וֶֽאֱלִיעֶ֔זֶר (and Eliezer), וְיָרִ֖יב (and Jarib), וּגְדַלְיָֽה׃ (and Gedaliah). 19  וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ (And they gave) יָדָ֖ם (their hand) לְהוֹצִ֣יא (to send out) נְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם (their wives), וַאֲשֵׁמִ֥ים (and being guilty), אֵֽיל־ (a ram) צֹ֖אן (of the flock) עַל־ (for) אַשְׁמָתָֽם׃ס (their guilt).

20  וּמִבְּנֵ֣י (And of the sons) אִמֵּ֔ר (of Immer):

חֲנָ֖נִי (Hanani) וּזְבַדְיָֽה׃ס (and Zebadiah).

21  וּמִבְּנֵ֖י (And of the sons) חָרִ֑ם (of Harim):

מַעֲשֵׂיָ֤ה (Maaseiah), וְאֵֽלִיָּה֙ (and Elijah), וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה (and Shemaiah), וִיחִיאֵ֖ל (and Jehiel), וְעֻזִיָּֽה׃ (and Uzziah).

22  וּמִבְּנֵ֖י (And of the sons) פַּשְׁח֑וּר (of Pashhur):

אֶלְיוֹעֵינַ֤י (Elioenai), מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ (Maaseiah), יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (Ishmael), נְתַנְאֵ֔ל (Nethanel), יוֹזָבָ֖ד (Jozabad), וְאֶלְעָשָֽׂה׃ס (and Eleasah).

23  וּמִֽן־ (And) הַלְוִיִּ֑ם (of the Levites):

יוֹזָבָ֣ד (Jozabad), וְשִׁמְעִ֗י (and Shimei), וְקֵֽלָיָה֙ (and Kelaiah)— ה֣וּא (he is) קְלִיטָ֔א (Kelita)— פְּתַֽחְיָ֥ה (Pethahiah), יְהוּדָ֖ה (Judah), וֶאֱלִיעֶֽזֶר׃ס (and Eliezer).

24  וּמִן־ (And) הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים (of the singers):

אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב (Eliashib).

וּמִן־ (And) הַשֹּׁ֣עֲרִ֔ים (of the gatekeepers):

שַׁלֻּ֥ם (Shallum), וָטֶ֖לֶם (and Telem), וְאוּרִֽי׃ס (and Uri).

25  וּמִֽיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (And of Israel) מִבְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) פַרְעֹ֡שׁ (of Parosh):

רַ֠מְיָה (Ramiah), וְיִזִּיָּ֤ה (and Jeziah), וּמַלְכִּיָּה֙ (and Malchijah), וּמִיָּמִ֣ן (and Mijamin), וְאֶלְעָזָ֔ר (and Eleazar), וּמַלְכִּיָּ֖ה (and Malchijah), וּבְנָיָֽה׃ס (and Benaiah).

26  וּמִבְּנֵ֖י (And of the sons) עֵילָ֑ם (of Elam):

מַתַּנְיָ֤ה (Mattaniah), זְכַרְיָה֙ (Zechariah), וִיחִיאֵ֣ל (and Jehiel), וְעַבְדִּ֔י (and Abdi), וִירֵמ֖וֹת (and Jeremoth), וְאֵלִיָּֽה׃ס (and Elijah).

27  וּמִבְּנֵ֖י (And of the sons) זַתּ֑וּא (of Zattu):

אֶלְיוֹעֵנַ֤י (Elioenai), אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ (Eliashib), מַתַּנְיָ֣ה (Mattaniah), וִֽירֵמ֔וֹת (and Jeremoth), וְזָבָ֖ד (and Zabad), וַעֲזִיזָֽא׃ס (and Aziza).

28  וּמִבְּנֵ֖י (And of the sons) בֵּבָ֑י (of Bebai):

יְהוֹחָנָ֥ן (Jehohanan), חֲנַנְיָ֖ה (Hananiah), זַבַּ֥י (Zabbai), עַתְלָֽי׃ס (Athlai).

29  וּמִבְּנֵ֖י (And of the sons) בָּנִ֑י (of Bani):

מְשֻׁלָּ֤ם (Meshullam), מַלּוּךְ֙ (Malluch), וַעֲדָיָ֔ה (and Adaiah), יָשׁ֖וּב (Jashub), וּשְׁאָ֥ל (and Sheal), יְרֵמוֹת׃ס (and Jeremoth).

30  וּמִבְּנֵ֛י (And of the sons) פַּחַ֥ת (of Pahath-) מוֹאָ֖ב (moab):

עַדְנָ֣א (Adna), וּכְלָ֑ל (and Chelal), בְּנָיָ֤ה (Benaiah), מַעֲשֵׂיָה֙ (Maaseiah), מַתַּנְיָ֣ה (Mattaniah), בְצַלְאֵ֔ל (Bezalel), וּבִנּ֖וּי (and Binnui), וּמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ס (and Manasseh).

31  וּבְנֵ֖י (And of the sons) חָרִ֑ם (of Harim):

אֱלִיעֶ֧זֶר (Eliezer), יִשִּׁיָּ֛ה (Isshiah), מַלְכִּיָּ֖ה (Malchijah), שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה (Shemaiah), שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃ (Shimeon), 32  בְּנְיָמִ֥ן (Benjamin), מַלּ֖וּךְ (Malluch), שְׁמַרְיָֽה׃ס (Shemariah).

33  מִבְּנֵ֖י (Of the sons) חָשֻׁ֑ם (of Hashum):

מַתְּנַ֤י (Mattenai), מַתַּתָּה֙ (Mattattah), זָבָ֣ד (Zabad), אֱלִיפֶ֔לֶט (Eliphelet), יְרֵמַ֥י (Jeremai), מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה (Manasseh), שִׁמְעִֽי׃ס (Shimei).

34  מִבְּנֵ֣י (Of the sons) בָנִ֔י (of Bani):

מַעֲדַ֥י (Maadai), עַמְרָ֖ם (Amram), וְאוּאֵֽל׃ס (and Uel), 35  בְּנָיָ֥ה (Benaiah), בֵדְיָ֖ה (Bedeiah), כְּלָהַי׃ (Cheluh), 36  וַנְיָ֥ה (Vaniah), מְרֵמ֖וֹת (Meremoth), אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב׃ (Eliashib), 37  מַתַּנְיָ֥ה (Mattaniah), מַתְּנַ֖י (Mattenai), וְיַעֲשׂוֹ׃ (and Jaasai), 38  וּבָנִ֥י (and Bani), וּבִנּ֖וּי (and Binnui), שִׁמְעִֽי׃ (Shimei), 39  וְשֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֥ה (and Shelemiah), וְנָתָ֖ן (and Nathan), וַעֲדָיָֽה׃ (and Adaiah), 40  מַכְנַדְבַ֥י (Machnadebai), שָׁשַׁ֖י (Shashai), שָׁרָֽי׃ (Sharai), 41  עֲזַרְאֵ֥ל (Azarel), וְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ (and Shelemiah), שְׁמַרְיָֽה׃ (Shemariah), 42  שַׁלּ֥וּם (Shallum), אֲמַרְיָ֖ה (Amariah), יוֹסֵֽף׃ס (Joseph).

43  מִבְּנֵ֖י (Of the sons) נְב֑וֹ (of Nebo):

יְעִיאֵ֤ל (Jeiel), מַתִּתְיָה֙ (Mattithiah), זָבָ֣ד (Zabad), זְבִינָ֔א (Zebina), יַדּוֹ (Jaddai), וְיוֹאֵ֖ל (and Joel), בְּנָיָֽה׃ (Benaiah).

44  כָּל־ (All) אֵ֕לֶּה (these) נָשְׂא֖י (had taken) נָשִׁ֣ים (wives) נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת (foreign) וְיֵ֣שׁ (and were) מֵהֶ֣ם (from them) נָשִׁ֔ים (women) וַיָּשִׂ֖ימוּ (and they bore) בָּנִֽים׃פ (sons).