23. In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24. And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the language of Judah, but according to the language of each people.
25. And I contended with them, and pronounced them cursed, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.
27. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign wives?
28. And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.