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Ezra 10

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 10 of 10

1 ¶ And while Ezra was praying and making his confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great congregation of men and women and children gathered to him out of Israel. For the people wept with a very great weeping.

2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have sinned against our God, and have dwelt with foreign women from the peoples of the land. Even now there is hope in Israel concerning this matter.

3 And now let us cut a covenant with our God to cause to go out all the women, and those born of them, according to the counsel of the Lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. And let it be done according to the Law.

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Chapter Summary

1 Shechaniah encourages Ezra to reform the illicit co-habitation with foreign women. 9 The people repent, and promise amendment..

Key Hebrew Words

מָעַל act unfaithfully H4603 · TWOT 1230
נׇכְרִי foreign (women) H5237 · TWOT 1368c
בְּרִית covenant H1285 · TWOT 282a
יָדָה make confession H3034 · TWOT 847
בָּדַל separate oneself H914 · TWOT 203
קָהָל congregation H6951 · TWOT 1991a

People & Context

Ezra

The priest who wept and made confession before the house of God and led the people to put away foreign wives

Shechaniah

Son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, who urged Ezra to make a covenant to send away the foreign women

Jonathan

Son of Asahel who, with Jahaziah, made a stand against the proposal

Jahaziah

Son of Tikvah who opposed the measure alongside Jonathan

Meshullam

One who supported Jonathan and Jahaziah in opposing the matter

Shabbethai

The Levite who, with Meshullam, backed the opposition to the proposal

Timeline

The Congregation Gathers and Weeps

While Ezra prays and weeps before the house of God, a very large congregation of men, women, and children gathers around him and weeps bitterly.

Ezra 10:1
Shechaniah Proposes a Covenant

Shechaniah acknowledges the sin of marrying foreign women but expresses hope, proposing they cut a covenant with God to send away the foreign wives and their children according to the Law.

Ezra 10:2-4
Leaders Swear an Oath to Reform

Ezra rises and makes the chief priests, Levites, and all Israel swear an oath to execute the covenant proposed by Shechaniah. They swear to do so.

Ezra 10:5

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