5Then Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said; so they took the oath.10:5 Neh 10:29–30; 13:25

6Ezra then went from the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night.10:6 1 Esdras 9:2, Syr; MT, Vg read he went He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.10:6 Dt 9:18–19

7They circulated a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.

8Whoever did not come within three days would forfeit all his possessions,10:8 Lit would set apart all his possessions for destruction according to the decision of the leaders and elders, and would be excluded10:7–8 Ezr 7:26 from the assembly of the exiles.

9So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God,10:9 Neh 8:1 trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.

10Then the priest Ezra stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt.10:10 Ezr 9:1–2; Neh 13:23–27

11Therefore, make a confession to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the surrounding peoples and your foreign wives.”

12Then all the assembly responded loudly, “Yes, we will do as you say!

13But there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We don’t have the stamina to stay out in the open. This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for we have rebelled terribly in this matter.

14Let our leaders represent the entire assembly. Then let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each town, in order to avert the fierce anger of our God10:14 2Ch 29:10; 30:8 concerning10:14 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg; other Hb mss read until this matter.”

15Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, with Meshullam10:15 Ezr 8:16 and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.

16The exiles did what had been proposed. The priest Ezra selected men10:16 1 Esdras 9:16, Syr; MT, Vg read priest and men were selected who were family heads, all identified by name, to represent10:16 Lit name, for their ancestral families.10:16 Lit the house of their fathers They convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter,

17and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.