The People Admit They Have Sinned
1Ezra was praying and admitting to God that his people had sinned. He was weeping and throwing himself down in front of the house of God. Then a large crowd of Israelites gathered around him. Men, women and children were there. They too wept bitterly. 2Shekaniah spoke to Ezra. Shekaniah was the son of Jehiel. He belonged to the family line of Elam. Shekaniah said, “We haven’t been faithful to our God. We’ve married women from the nations around us. In spite of that, there is still hope for Israel. 3So let’s make a covenant in front of our God. Let’s promise to send away all these women and their children. That’s what you have advised us to do. Those who respect our God’s commands have given us the same advice. We want to do what the Law says. 4Get up, Ezra. This matter is in your hands. Do what you need to. We will be behind you all the way. Be brave and do it.”
5So Ezra got up. He made the leading priests and Levites and all the Israelites make a promise. He made them promise they would do what Shekaniah had suggested. And they made that promise. 6Then Ezra left the house of God. He went to Jehohanan’s room. Jehohanan was the son of Eliashib. While Ezra was there, he didn’t eat any food. He didn’t drink any water. That’s because he was filled with sadness. He mourned because the people weren’t faithful to the Lord’s commands. Those people were the ones who had returned from the land of Babylon.
7Then an announcement was sent all through Judah and Jerusalem. All the people who had returned were told to gather together in Jerusalem. 8They were supposed to come there before three days had passed. If they didn’t, they would lose all their property. They would also be removed from the community of those who had returned. That’s what the officials and elders had decided.
9Before the three days were over, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered together in Jerusalem. It was the 20th day of the ninth month. They were sitting in the open area in front of the house of God. They were very upset by what they knew would happen. And they were upset because it was raining. 10Then Ezra the priest stood up. He said, “You haven’t been faithful to the Lord. You have married women from other lands. So you have added to Israel’s guilt. 11Now honor the Lord, the God of your people. Then do what he wants you to do. Separate yourselves from the nations around you. Send away your wives from other lands.”
12The whole community answered with a loud voice. They said, “You are right! We must do as you say. 13But there are a lot of people here. And it’s the rainy season. So we can’t stand outside. Besides, this matter can’t be taken care of in just a day or two. That’s because we have sinned terribly by what we’ve done. 14Our officials can act for the whole community. Have everyone in our towns who has married a woman from another land come at a certain time. Tell them to come together with the elders and judges of each town. Then our God will no longer be angry with us concerning this whole matter.” 15Only a few men opposed that. They included Jonathan and Jahzeiah. Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite joined them. Jonathan was the son of Asahel. Jahzeiah was the son of Tikvah.
16So those who had returned did what had been suggested. Ezra the priest chose some family leaders. There was one from each family group. All of them were chosen by name. They sat down to check out each case. They started on the first day of the tenth month. 17By the first day of the first month they were finished. They had handled all the cases of the men who had married women from other lands.
A List of Those Who Had Married Women From Other Lands
18Among the family lines of the priests, here are the men who had married women from other lands.
Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah
came from the family line of Joshua and his brothers. Joshua was the son of Jozadak. 19All of them made a firm promise to send their wives away. Each of these men brought a ram from his flock as a guilt offering.
20Hanani and Zebadiah
came from the family line of Immer.
21Maaseiah and Elijah
came from the family line of Harim. So did Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah.
22Elioenai, Maaseiah and Ishmael
came from the family line of Pashhur. So did Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.
23Among the Levites, here are the men who had married women from other lands.
There were Jozabad, Shimei and Kelaiah. There were also Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer. Kelaiah’s other name was Kelita.
24Eliashib
came from the musicians.
Shallum, Telem and Uri
came from the men who guarded the temple gates.
25Among the other Israelites, here are the men who had married women from other lands.
Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah and Mijamin
came from the family line of Parosh. So did Eleazar, Malkijah and Benaiah.
26Mattaniah, Zechariah and Jehiel
came from the family line of Elam. So did Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah.
27Elioenai, Eliashib and Mattaniah
came from the family line of Zattu. So did Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza.
28Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai
came from the family line of Bebai.
29Meshullam, Malluk and Adaiah
came from the family line of Bani. So did Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth.
30Adna, Kelal, Benaiah and Maaseiah
came from the family line of Pahath-Moab. So did Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh.
31Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah and Shimeon
came from the family line of Harim. 32So did Benjamin, Malluk and Shemariah.
33Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad and Eliphelet
came from the family line of Hashum. So did Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.
34Maadai, Amram and Uel
came from the family line of Bani. 35So did Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37Mattaniah, Mattenai and Jaasu.
38Shimei
came from the family line of Binnui. 39So did Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah and Joseph.
43Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad and Zebina
came from the family line of Nebo. So did Jaddai, Joel and Benaiah.
44All these men had married women from other lands. Some of them had even had children by those wives.
A confissão do pecado
1Enquanto eu estava assim, prostrado no solo, diante do templo, chorando, orando e fazendo estas confissões, foi-se juntando à minha volta uma grande multidão de homens, mulheres e crianças que choravam comigo. 2Disse-me então Secanias, filho de Jeiel da família de Elão: “Reconhecemos o nosso pecado contra o nosso Deus, porque casámos com mulheres pagãs oriundas dos povos nossos vizinhos; mas ainda há esperança para Israel, apesar disto tudo. 3Aceitamos diante do nosso Deus separar-nos das mulheres pagãs e despedi-las com os seus filhos; seguiremos o conselho do Senhor e o dos que temem os mandamentos do nosso Deus; faça-se conforme a Lei do nosso Deus. 4Levanta-te, anima-te e diz-nos o que fazer, para que este assunto fique resolvido; podes contar com toda a nossa obediência.”
5Levantei-me, pois, e pedi aos líderes dos sacerdotes e dos levitas, assim como a todo o povo de Israel que prometesse fazer como Secanias tinha dito, e eles assim fizeram. 6De seguida, dirigi-me às dependências de Jeoanã, filho de Eliasibe, no templo; contudo, fiquei sem beber nem comer, porque estava muito acabrunhado, por causa do pecado dos retornados do exílio.
7Foi então feita uma proclamação em toda Jerusalém e Judá, convocando a população a vir a Jerusalém, 8dentro de três dias, e anunciando que os anciãos e os chefes tinham decidido que se alguém recusasse apresentar-se teria os seus bens confiscados e seria excluído dos exilados que regressaram.
9Nos três dias indicados, no dia 20 do nono mês10.9 Mês de Quisleu. Entre a lua nova do mês de novembro e o mês de dezembro., todos os homens de Judá e de Benjamim se apresentaram e sentaram no espaço livre que havia defronte do templo. Estavam temerosos, por causa da seriedade do assunto, e também preocupados com as grandes chuvas. 10Esdras, o sacerdote, levantou-se e falou-lhes: “Vocês pecaram, porque casaram com mulheres pagãs; estamos agora ainda mais sob a condenação de Deus do que dantes. 11Confessem os vossos pecados ao Senhor, o Deus dos vossos pais, e façam o que ele vos pede: separem-se das gentes pagãs à nossa volta e dessas mulheres.”
12Toda a congregação disse em voz alta: “Faremos como dizes. 13Contudo, isso não é coisa que se faça num dia ou dois; somos muitos os que estamos envolvidos nesta transgressão; além disso, chove de tal maneira que não poderemos ficar aqui muito tempo. 14Que os nossos chefes nomeiem juízes; quem está nessa situação de se ter ligado a uma mulher pagã, venha apresentar-se, na data determinada, acompanhado dos anciãos e dos juízes da sua cidade; cada caso será decidido da melhor maneira e a ira do nosso Deus vai afastar-se de nós.” 15Apenas Jónatas, filho de Asael, Jaseias, filho de Ticvá, Mesulão e Sabetai, o levita, não concordaram com essa forma de agir.
Lista dos prevaricadores
16Foi este o plano seguido: Alguns dos chefes dos clãs, e eu próprio, fomos designados como juízes. 17Começámos a trabalhar no primeiro dia do décimo mês e acabámos no primeiro dia do primeiro mês10.17 O décimo mês é o mês de Tebet. Entre a lua nova do mês de dezembro e o mês de janeiro. O primeiro mês é o mês de Abibe ou Nisan. Entre a lua nova do mês de março e o mês de abril..
18-19Segue-se a lista dos sacerdotes que se tinham casado com mulheres gentias, que se separaram delas e reconheceram a sua culpa, oferecendo carneiros em sacrifício pelo pecado.
Descendentes de Jesua e seus irmãos, filhos de Josadaque:
Maaseias, Eliezer, Jaribe e Gedalias;
20descendentes de Imer:
Hanani e Zebadias;
21descendentes de Harim:
Maaseias, Elias, Semaías, Jeiel e Uzias;
22descendentes de Pasur:
Elioenai, Maaseias, Ismael, Netanel, Jozabade e Elasá.
23Dos levitas, foram culpados Jozabade, Simei, Quelaías (também chamado Quelita), Petaías, Judá e Eliezer;
24dos cantores:
Eliasibe;
dos porteiros:
Salum, Telem e Uri.
25É esta a lista dos cidadãos comuns que se declararam culpados:
descendentes de Parós:
Ramias, Izias, Malquias, Miamim, Eleazar, Malquias e Benaia;
26descendentes de Elão:
Matanias, Zacarias, Jeiel, Abdi, Jeremote e Elias;
27descendentes de Zatu:
Elioenai, Eliasibe, Matanias, Jeremote, Zabade e Aziza;
28descendentes de Bebai:
Jeoanã, Hananias, Zabai e Atlai;
29descendentes de Bani:
Mesulão, Maluque, Adaías, Jasube, Seal e Jeremote;
30descendentes de Paate-Moabe:
Adna, Quelal, Benaia, Maaseias, Matanias, Bezalel, Binuí e Manassés;
31descendentes de Harim:
Eliezer, Issias, Malquias, Semaías, Simeão, 32Benjamim, Maluque e Semarias;
33descendentes de Hasum:
Matenai, Matatá, Zabade, Elifelete, Jeremai, Manassés e Simei;
34descendentes de Bani:
Maadai, Amrão, Uel, 35Benaia, Bedeias, Queluí, 36Vanias, Meremote, Eliasibe, 37Matanias, Matenai, Jaasai,
38descendentes de Binuí:
Simei, 39Selemias, Natã, Adaías, 40Macnadebai, Sasai, Sarai, 41Azarel, Selemias, Semarias, 42Salum, Amarias e José.
43Descendentes de Nebo:
Jeiel, Matitias, Zabade, Zebina, Jadai, Joel e Benaia.
44Todos estes se tinham ligado a mulheres gentias e alguns tinham filhos dessas mulheres.
