1. Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Jonas the son of Eliasib,
2. and lodged there, and did eat no bread nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.
3. And there was made proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:
4. and that whoever met not there within two or three days, according as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from the multitude of them that were of the captivity.
5. And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem: this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.
6. And all the multitude sat together trembling in the broad place before the temple because of the present foul weather.
7. So Esdras arose up and said to them, you⌃ have transgressed the law and married strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.
8. And now make confession and give glory to the Lord, the God of our fathers,
9. and do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.
10. Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as you have spoken, so will we do.
11. But forasmuch as the multitude is great, and it is foul weather, so that we can’t stand without, and this is not a work of one day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far:
12. therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed,
13. and with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.
14. Then Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezekias the son of Thocanus accordingly took the matter upon them: and Mosollamus and Levis and Sabbateus were assessors to them.
15. And they that were of the captivity did according to all these things.
16. And Esdras the priest chose to him principal men of their families, all by name: and on the new moon of the tenth month they were shut in together to examine the matter.
17. So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end by the new moon of the first month.
18. And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found;