El exilio
Ezra and the Dealing with Foreign Wives
While Ezra prays and confesses before the house of God, a large assembly gathers in bitter weeping. Shecaniah proposes making a covenant to send away the foreign wives and their children. Ezra makes the leaders swear an oath, and it is announced that all who have been in exile must gather in Jerusalem within three days. The people confess their sins, and an investigation is carried out over three months. Finally, the names of the priests, Levites, and other men who had taken foreign wives are recorded.
Esdras 10,1-44
1While Ezra was praying and making this confession, weeping and lying prostrate before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israel gathered around him—men, women, and children—for the people were weeping bitterly.
וּכְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל עֶזְרָא֙ וּכְ֨הִתְוַדֹּת֔וֹ בֹּכֶה֙ וּמִתְנַפֵּ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים נִקְבְּצוּ֩ אֵלָ֨יו מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֜ל קָהָ֣ל רַב־מְאֹ֗ד אֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְנָשִׁים֙ וִֽילָדִ֔ים כִּֽי־בָכ֥וּ הָעָ֖ם הַרְבֵּה־בֶֽכֶה׃ ס
2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra: "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land. Yet even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.
וַיַּעַן֩ שְׁכַנְיָ֨ה בֶן־יְחִיאֵ֜ל מִבְּנֵ֤י *עולם **עֵילָם֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעֶזְרָ֔א אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ מָעַ֣לְנוּ בֵאלֹהֵ֔ינוּ וַנֹּ֛שֶׁב נָשִׁ֥ים נָכְרִיּ֖וֹת מֵעַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעַתָּ֛ה יֵשׁ־מִקְוֶ֥ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַל־זֹֽאת׃
3So let us now make a covenant with our God to send away all these women along with their children, according to the counsel of the Lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.
וְעַתָּ֣ה נִֽכְרָת־בְּרִ֣ית לֵ֠אלֹהֵינוּ לְהוֹצִ֨יא כָל־נָשִׁ֜ים וְהַנּוֹלָ֤ד מֵהֶם֙ בַּעֲצַ֣ת אֲדֹנָ֔י וְהַחֲרֵדִ֖ים בְּמִצְוַ֣ת אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וְכַתּוֹרָ֖ה יֵעָשֶֽׂה׃
4Rise up, for this matter rests on you, and we stand with you. Take courage and act."
ק֛וּם כִּֽי־עָלֶ֥יךָ הַדָּבָ֖ר וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ עִמָּ֑ךְ חֲזַ֖ק וַעֲשֵֽׂה׃ פ
5So Ezra rose and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear to do as had been said—and they took the oath.
וַיָּ֣קָם עֶזְרָ֡א וַיַּשְׁבַּ֣ע אֶת־שָׂרֵי֩ הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַלְוִיִּ֜ם וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה וַיִּשָּׁבֵֽעוּ׃
6Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. There he spent the night, eating no bread and drinking no water, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of those who had returned from exile.[^1]
[^1]: The Hebrew text reads "and he went there"; "spent the night" follows an ancient reading supported by early versions.
וַיָּ֣קָם עֶזְרָ֗א מִלִּפְנֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ אֶל־לִשְׁכַּ֖ת יְהוֹחָנָ֣ן בֶּן־אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שָׁ֗ם לֶ֤חֶם לֹֽא־אָכַל֙ וּמַ֣יִם לֹֽא־שָׁתָ֔ה כִּ֥י מִתְאַבֵּ֖ל עַל־מַ֥עַל הַגּוֹלָֽה׃ ס
7A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem, calling all the returned exiles to assemble in Jerusalem.
וַיַּעֲבִ֨ירוּ ק֜וֹל בִּיהוּדָ֣ה וִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם לְכֹל֙ בְּנֵ֣י הַגּוֹלָ֔ה לְהִקָּבֵ֖ץ יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
8Anyone who failed to appear within three days would, by decision of the leaders and the elders, forfeit all his property and be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.
וְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יָב֜וֹא לִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֗ים כַּעֲצַ֤ת הַשָּׂרִים֙ וְהַזְּקֵנִ֔ים יָחֳרַ֖ם כָּל־רְכוּשׁ֑וֹ וְה֥וּא יִבָּדֵ֖ל מִקְּהַ֥ל הַגּוֹלָֽה׃ ס
9So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month. All the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.
וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ כָל־אַנְשֵֽׁי־יְהוּדָה֩ וּבִנְיָמִ֨ן ׀ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֗ים ה֛וּא חֹ֥דֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁיעִ֖י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ כָל־הָעָ֗ם בִּרְחוֹב֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים מַרְעִידִ֥ים עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר וּמֵהַגְּשָׁמִֽים׃ פ
10Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful. You have married foreign women and so added to the guilt of Israel.
וַיָּ֨קָם עֶזְרָ֤א הַכֹּהֵן֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַתֶּ֣ם מְעַלְתֶּ֔ם וַתֹּשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת לְהוֹסִ֖יף עַל־אַשְׁמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
11Now then, make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do his will: separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from your foreign wives."
וְעַתָּ֗ה תְּנ֥וּ תוֹדָ֛ה לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם וַעֲשׂ֣וּ רְצוֹנ֑וֹ וְהִבָּֽדְלוּ֙ מֵעַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וּמִן־הַנָּשִׁ֖ים הַנָּכְרִיּֽוֹת׃
12The whole assembly answered with a loud voice: "Yes! It is our duty to do as you say.
וַיַּֽעְנ֧וּ כָֽל־הַקָּהָ֛ל וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ ק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל כֵּ֛ן *כדבריך **כִּדְבָרְךָ֥ עָלֵ֖ינוּ לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
13But the people are many, and it is the rainy season; we cannot stand out in the open. Besides, this is not the work of one day or two, for we have sinned greatly in this matter.
אֲבָ֞ל הָעָ֥ם רָב֙ וְהָעֵ֣ת גְּשָׁמִ֔ים וְאֵ֥ין כֹּ֖חַ לַעֲמ֣וֹד בַּח֑וּץ וְהַמְּלָאכָ֗ה לֹֽא־לְי֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ וְלֹ֣א לִשְׁנַ֔יִם כִּֽי־הִרְבִּ֥ינוּ לִפְשֹׁ֖עַ בַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃
14Let our leaders act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God over this matter is turned away from us."
יַֽעֲמְדוּ־נָ֣א שָׂ֠רֵינוּ לְֽכָל־הַקָּהָ֞ל וְכֹ֣ל ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בֶּעָרֵ֗ינוּ הַהֹשִׁ֞יב נָשִׁ֤ים נָכְרִיּוֹת֙ יָבֹא֙ לְעִתִּ֣ים מְזֻמָּנִ֔ים וְעִמָּהֶ֛ם זִקְנֵי־עִ֥יר וָעִ֖יר וְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יהָ עַ֠ד לְהָשִׁ֞יב חֲר֤וֹן אַף־אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ עַ֖ד לַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃ פ
15Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.
אַ֣ךְ יוֹנָתָ֧ן בֶּן־עֲשָׂהאֵ֛ל וְיַחְזְיָ֥ה בֶן־תִּקְוָ֖ה עָמְד֣וּ עַל־זֹ֑את וּמְשֻׁלָּ֛ם וְשַׁבְּתַ֥י הַלֵּוִ֖י עֲזָרֻֽם׃
16So the returned exiles did as had been proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were heads of families, each designated by name according to his father's house. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter,
וַיּֽ͏ַעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֮ בְּנֵ֣י הַגּוֹלָה֒ וַיִּבָּדְלוּ֩ עֶזְרָ֨א הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֲנָשִׁ֨ים רָאשֵׁ֧י הָאָב֛וֹת לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם וְכֻלָּ֣ם בְּשֵׁמ֑וֹת וַיֵּשְׁב֗וּ בְּי֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִ֔י לְדַרְי֖וֹשׁ הַדָּבָֽר׃
17and by the first day of the first month they had finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.
וַיְכַלּ֣וּ בַכֹּ֔ל אֲנָשִׁ֕ים הַהֹשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת עַ֛ד י֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ פ
18Among the descendants of the priests, these were found to have married foreign women: from the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers—Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
וַיִּמָּצֵא֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת מִבְּנֵ֨י יֵשׁ֤וּעַ בֶּן־יֽוֹצָדָק֙ וְאֶחָ֔יו מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ וֽ͏ֶאֱלִיעֶ֔זֶר וְיָרִ֖יב וּגְדַלְיָֽה׃
19They pledged themselves to send away their wives, and being guilty, they presented a ram from the flock as their guilt offering.
וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ יָדָ֖ם לְהוֹצִ֣יא נְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם וַאֲשֵׁמִ֥ים אֵֽיל־צֹ֖אן עַל־אַשְׁמָתָֽם׃ ס
20From the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
וּמִבְּנֵ֣י אִמֵּ֔ר חֲנָ֖נִי וּזְבַדְיָֽה׃ ס
21From the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י חָרִ֑ם מַעֲשֵׂיָ֤ה וְאֵֽלִיָּה֙ וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה וִיחִיאֵ֖ל וְעֻזִיָּֽה׃
22From the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י פַּשְׁח֑וּר אֶלְיוֹעֵינַ֤י מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל נְתַנְאֵ֔ל יוֹזָבָ֖ד וְאֶלְעָשָֽׂה׃ ס
23Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
וּמִֽן־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם יוֹזָבָ֣ד וְשִׁמְעִ֗י וְקֵֽלָיָה֙ ה֣וּא קְלִיטָ֔א פְּתַֽחְיָ֥ה יְהוּדָ֖ה וֶאֱלִיעֶֽזֶר׃ ס
24Among the singers: Eliashib. Among the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
וּמִן־הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב וּמִן־הַשֹּׁ֣עֲרִ֔ים שַׁלֻּ֥ם וָטֶ֖לֶם וְאוּרִֽי׃ ס
25And among the rest of Israel: from the sons of Parosh—Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.
וּמִֽיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִבְּנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֡שׁ רַ֠מְיָה וְיִזִּיָּ֤ה וּמַלְכִּיָּה֙ וּמִיָּמִ֣ן וְאֶלְעָזָ֔ר וּמַלְכִּיָּ֖ה וּבְנָיָֽה׃ ס
26From the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י עֵילָ֑ם מַתַּנְיָ֤ה זְכַרְיָה֙ וִיחִיאֵ֣ל וְעַבְדִּ֔י וִירֵמ֖וֹת וְאֵלִיָּֽה׃ ס
27From the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י זַתּ֑וּא אֶלְיוֹעֵנַ֤י אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ מַתַּנְיָ֣ה וִֽירֵמ֔וֹת וְזָבָ֖ד וַעֲזִיזָֽא׃ ס
28From the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י בֵּבָ֑י יְהוֹחָנָ֥ן חֲנַנְיָ֖ה זַבַּ֥י עַתְלָֽי׃ ס
29From the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth.
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י בָּנִ֑י מְשֻׁלָּ֤ם מַלּוּךְ֙ וַעֲדָיָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב וּשְׁאָ֥ל *ירמות **וְרָמֽוֹת׃ ס
30From the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
וּמִבְּנֵ֛י פַּחַ֥ת מוֹאָ֖ב עַדְנָ֣א וּכְלָ֑ל בְּנָיָ֤ה מַעֲשֵׂיָה֙ מַתַּנְיָ֣ה בְצַלְאֵ֔ל וּבִנּ֖וּי וּמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ ס
31From the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
וּבְנֵ֖י חָרִ֑ם אֱלִיעֶ֧זֶר יִשִּׁיָּ֛ה מַלְכִּיָּ֖ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃
32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
בְּנְיָמִ֥ן מַלּ֖וּךְ שְׁמַרְיָֽה׃ ס
33From the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
מִבְּנֵ֖י חָשֻׁ֑ם מַתְּנַ֤י מַתַּתָּה֙ זָבָ֣ד אֱלִיפֶ֔לֶט יְרֵמַ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה שִׁמְעִֽי׃ ס
34From the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
מִבְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔י מַעֲדַ֥י עַמְרָ֖ם וְאוּאֵֽל׃ ס
35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
בְּנָיָ֥ה בֵדְיָ֖ה *כלהי **כְּלֽוּהוּ׃
36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
וַנְיָ֥ה מְרֵמ֖וֹת אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב׃
37Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu,
מַתַּנְיָ֥ה מַתְּנַ֖י *ויעשו **וְיַעֲשָֽׂי׃
38Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
וּבָנִ֥י וּבִנּ֖וּי שִׁמְעִֽי׃
39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
וְשֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֥ה וְנָתָ֖ן וַעֲדָיָֽה׃
40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
מַכְנַדְבַ֥י שָׁשַׁ֖י שָׁרָֽי׃
41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
עֲזַרְאֵ֥ל וְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ שְׁמַרְיָֽה׃
42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
שַׁלּ֥וּם אֲמַרְיָ֖ה יוֹסֵֽף׃ ס
43From the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
מִבְּנֵ֖י נְב֑וֹ יְעִיאֵ֤ל מַתִּתְיָה֙ זָבָ֣ד זְבִינָ֔א *ידו **יַדַּ֥י וְיוֹאֵ֖ל בְּנָיָֽה׃
44All of these had married foreign women, and some of these wives had borne children.
כָּל־אֵ֕לֶּה *נשאי **נָשְׂא֖וּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת וְיֵ֣שׁ מֵהֶ֣ם נָשִׁ֔ים וַיָּשִׂ֖ימוּ בָּנִֽים׃ פ