וכ הִתְפַּלֵּל עֶזְרָא וּכְהִתְוַדֹּתוֹ בֹּכֶה וּמִתְנַפֵּל לִפְנֵי בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים נִקְבְּצוּ אֵלָיו מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל קָהָל רַב־מְאֹד אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים וִילָדִים כִּי־בָכוּ הָעָם הַרְבֵּה בֶכֶה

Ezra did not simply recite a prayer to God; he also sought to rouse Israel to repent from the sin of assimilation: While Ezra was praying and while he was confessing, weeping, and prostrating himself before the House of God, a very great assembly, men, women, and children from Israel, gathered to him, for the people were weeping a great weeping. He arranged a great display of mourning, and he was joined by many of the people.

וַיַּעַן שְׁכַנְיָה בֶן־יְחִיאֵל מִבְּנֵי עֵילָם וַיֹּאמֶר לְעֶזְרָא אֲנַחְנוּ מָעַלְנוּ בֵאלֹהֵינוּ וַנֹּשֶׁב נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת מֵעַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ וְעַתָּה יֵשׁ־מִקְוֶה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַל־זֹאת

Shekhanya son of Yehiel, one of the children of Elam, which was one of the families of immigrants, responded on behalf of the people and said to Ezra: We have trespassed against our God and have settled down with foreign women from the peoples of the land, but now, there is still hope for this matter for Israel. Some read this as a question: Is there still hope left for us?

וְעַתָּה נִכְרָת־בְּרִית לֵאלֹהֵינוּ לְהוֹצִיא כָל נָשִׁים וְהַנּוֹלָד מֵהֶם בַּעֲצַת אֲדֹנָי והַחֲרֵדִים בְּמִצְוַת אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְכַתּוֹרָה יֵעָשֶׂה

Now, let us establish a covenant with our God to send away all the foreign wives, and those born from them, all their children, according to the counsel of the Lord and through the religious awakening of those fervent for the commandment of our God, and let it be done in accordance with the command of the Torah.

קוּם כִּי־עָלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר וַאֲנַחְנוּ עִמָּךְ חֲזַק וַעֲשֵׂה

Rise, for, as the leader, the task is yours and we are with you, we will cooperate; be strong and take action.

וַיָּקָם עֶזְרָא וַיַּשְׁבַּע אֶת־שָׂרֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיִּשָּׁבֵעוּ

Ezra rose and administered an oath to the princes of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel that they would act in accordance with this matter, to obey him and do all it would take to remedy the situation; and they took the oath.

וַיָּקָם עֶזְרָא מִלִּפְנֵי בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־לִשְׁכַּת יְהוֹחָנָן בֶּן־אֶלְיָשִׁיב וַיֵּלֶךְ שָׁם לֶחֶם לֹא־אָכַל וּמַיִם לֹא־שָׁתָה כִּי מִתְאַבֵּל עַל־מַעַל הַגּוֹלָה

Ezra rose from before the site of the House of God, and went to the chamber of Yehohanan son of Elyashiv. He went there; he did not eat bread, and he did not drink water, for he was mourning over the trespass of the earlier immigrants from exile.

וַיַּעֲבִירוּ קוֹל בִּיהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִַם לְכֹל בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה לְהִקָּבֵץ ירוּשָׁלִָם

They circulated a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem:

וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָבוֹא לִשְׁלֹשֶׁת הַיָּמִים כַּעֲצַת הַשָּׂרִים וְהַזְּקֵנִים יָחֳרַם כָּל־רְכוּשׁוֹ והוּא יִבָּדֵל מִקְּהַל הַגּוֹלָה

Whoever does not come in three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his property shall be confiscated. Here Ezra utilized the authority the king had granted him in his letter, which gave him the right to confiscate the property of anyone who failed to obey him. And furthermore, the proclamation added, he shall be banished, excommunicated, from the congregation of the exile.

וַיִּקָּבְצוּ כָל־אַנְשֵׁי־יְהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִן ירוּשָׁלִַם לִשְׁלֹשֶׁת הַיָּמִים הוּא חֹדֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁיעִי בְּעֶשְׂרִים בַּחֹדֶשׁ וַיֵּשְׁבוּ כָל־הָעָם בִּרְחוֹב בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים מַרְעִידִים עַל־הַדָּבָר וּמֵהַגְּשָׁמִים

All the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem within the three days; it, the date, was the ninth month, Kislev, on the twentieth of the month. All the people sat in the plaza of the House of God, trembling both over this matter itself, and due to the rains, as they were sitting in the open streets during the cold, rainy season.

וַיָּקָם עֶזְרָא הַכֹּהֵן וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם אַתֶּם מְעַלְתֶּם וַתֹּשִׁיבוּ נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת לְהוֹסִיף עַל־אַשְׁמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל

Ezra the priest arose and said to them: You, who sinned through intermarriage, have trespassed and have settled down with foreign women, to exacerbate the guilt of Israel.

וְעַתָּה תְּנוּ תוֹדָה לַה' אֱלֹהֵי־אֲבֹתֵיכֶם וַעֲשׂוּ רְצוֹנוֹ וְהִבָּדְלוּ מֵעַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ וּמִן־הַנָּשִׁים הַנָּכְרִיּוֹת

Now, make confession to the Lord, God of your fathers, and perform His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.

וַיַּעֲנוּ כָל־הַקָּהָל וַיֹּאמְרוּ קוֹל גָּדוֹל כֵּן כִּדְבָרְךָ עָלֵינוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת

The entire congregation responded and said in a great voice: In accordance with your words, it is incumbent upon us to act.

אֲבָל הָעָם רָב וְהָעֵת גְּשָׁמִים וְאֵין כֹּחַ לַעֲמוֹד בַּחוּץ וְהַמְּלָאכָה לֹא־לְיוֹם אֶחָד וְלֹא לִשְׁנַיִם כִּי־הִרְבִּינוּ לִפְשֹׁעַ בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה

But the people are many and it is the rainy season; there is no strength to stay outside, and the labor, the matter of clarifying the marital status of each person, is not for one day and not for two, as we have transgressed exceedingly in this matter. We require substantial time in order to perform a thorough inspection.

יַעַמְדוּ־נָא שָׂרֵינוּ לְכָל־הַקָּהָל וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר בֶּעָרֵינוּ הַהֹשִׁיב נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת יָבֹא לְעִתִּים מְזֻמָּנִים וְעִמָּהֶם זִקְנֵי־עִיר וָעִיר וְשֹׁפְטֶיהָ עַד לְהָשִׁיב חֲרוֹן אַף אֱלֹהֵינוּ מִמֶּנּוּ עַד לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה

Let our princes, the representatives, stay on behalf of the entire congregation, and let everyone who is in our cities who settled down in their houses with foreign women come at scheduled times, and with them the elders of each and every city and its judges, until they change their behavior so that the enflamed wrath of our God will be averted from us due to this matter. There is no need for the entire people to participate in this campaign.

אַךְ יוֹנָתָן בֶּן־עֲשָׂהאֵל וְיַחְזְיָה בֶן־תִּקְוָה עָמְדוּ עַל־זֹאת וּמְשֻׁלָּם וְשַׁבְּתַי הַלֵּוִי עֲזָרֻם

Only Yonatan son of Asael, and Yahzeya son of Tikva, insisted on this, put forth great effort to ensure that the matter would be taken care of; and Meshulam and Shabetai the Levite assisted them.

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵן בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה וַיִּבָּדְלוּ עֶזְרָא הַכֹּהֵן אֲנָשִׁים רָאשֵׁי הָאָבוֹת לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם וְכֻלָּם בְּשֵׁמוֹת וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בְּיוֹם אֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִי לְדַרְיוֹשׁ הַדָּבָר

The exiles did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of patrilineal families, according to their patrilineal houses, all specified by their names, sequestered themselves for this task, as a list was compiled of those appointed to deal with the problem; they convened on the first day of the tenth month, Tevet, to examine and find a remedy for the matter.

וַיְכַלּוּ בַכֹּל אֲנָשִׁים הַהֹשִׁיבוּ נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת עַד יוֹם אֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן

They finished evaluating and dealing with all the men who had settled down with foreign women by the first day of the first month, Nisan.

וַיִּמָּצֵא מִבְּנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים אֲשֶׁר הֹשִׁיבוּ נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת מִבְּנֵי יֵשׁוּעַ בֶּן־יוֹצָדָק וְאֶחָיו מַעֲשֵׂיָה וֶאֱלִיעֶזֶר וְיָרִיב וּגְדַלְיָה

Men from the sons of the priests were found to have settled down with foreign women: From the sons of Yeshua son of Yotzadak, the High Priest, and from his, Yeshua’s, brothers, Maaseya, and Eliezer, and Yariv, and Gedalya.

וַיִּתְּנוּ יָדָם לְהוֹצִיא נְשֵׁיהֶם ואֲשֵׁמִים אֵיל־צֹאן עַל־אַשְׁמָתָם

They committed, in the form of an obligation, to sending away their wives and also to bring guilt offerings, a ram of the flock for their guilt, for their atonement.

וּמִבְּנֵי אִמֵּר חֲנָנִי וּזְבַדְיָה

From the children of Imer, who were also priests: Hanani and Zevadya;

וּמִבְּנֵי חָרִם מַעֲשֵׂיָה וְאֵלִיָּה וּשְׁמַעְיָה וִיחִיאֵל וְעֻזִּיָּה

from the children of Harim: Maaseya, and Eliya, and Shemaya, and Yehiel, and Uziya.

וּמִבְּנֵי פַּשְׁחוּר אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי מַעֲשֵׂיָה יִשְׁמָעֵאל נְתַנְאֵל יוֹזָבָד וְאֶלְעָשָׂה

From the children of Pashhur: Elyo’einai, Maaseya, Yishmael, Netanel, Yozavad, and Elasa.

וּמִן־הַלְוִיִּם יוֹזָבָד וְשִׁמְעִי וְקֵלָיָה הוּא קְלִיטָא פְּתַחְיָה יְהוּדָה וֶאֱלִיעֶזֶר

From the Levites: Yozavad, and Shimi, and Kelaya, he is Kelita, probably his name in Aramaic, Petahya, Yehuda, and Eliezer.

וּמִן־הַמְשֹׁרְרִים אֶלְיָשִׁיב וּמִן־הַשֹּׁעֲרִים שַׁלֻּם וָטֶלֶם וְאוּרִי

From the Levites who were singers: Elyashiv, and from the Levites who were gatekeepers: Shalum, and Telem, and Uri.

וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל מִבְּנֵי פַרְעֹשׁ רַמְיָה וְיִזִּיָּה וּמַלְכִּיָּה וּמִיָּמִן וְאֶלְעָזָר וּמַלְכִּיָּה וּבְנָיָה

From Israel: From the children of Parosh: Ramya, and Yiziya, and Malkiya, and Miyamin, and Elazar, and Malkiya, and Benaya.

וּמִבְּנֵי עֵילָם מַתַּנְיָה זְכַרְיָה וִיחִיאֵל וְעַבְדִּי וִירֵמוֹת וְאֵלִיָּה

From the children of Elam: Matanya, Zekharya, and Yehiel, and Avdi, and Yeremot, and Eliya.

וּמִבְּנֵי זַתּוּא אֶלְיוֹעֵנַי אֶלְיָשִׁיב מַתַּנְיָה וִירֵמוֹת וְזָבָד וַעֲזִיזָא

From the children of Zatu: Elyo’einai, Elyashiv, Matanya, and Yeremot, and Zavad, and Aziza.

וּמִבְּנֵי בֵּבָי יְהוֹחָנָן חֲנַנְיָה זַבַּי עַתְלָי

From the children of Bevai: Yehohanan, Hananya, Zabai, Atlai.

וּמִבְּנֵי בָּנִי מְשֻׁלָּם מַלּוּךְ וַעֲדָיָה יָשׁוּב וּשְׁאָל וְרָמוֹת

From the children of Bani: Meshulam, Malukh, and Adaya, Yashuv, and She’al, and Ramot.

וּמִבְּנֵי פַּחַת מוֹאָב עַדְנָא וּכְלָל בְּנָיָה מַעֲשֵׂיָה מַתַּנְיָה בְצַלְאֵל וּבִנּוּי וּמְנַשֶּׁה

From the children of Pahat Moav: Adna, and Kelal, Benaya, Maaseya, Matanya, Betzalel, and Binui, and Menashe.

וּבְנֵי חָרִם אֱלִיעֶזֶר יִשִּׁיָּה מַלְכִּיָּה שְׁמַעְיָה שִׁמְעוֹן

From the children of Harim: Eliezer, Yishiya, Malkiya, Shemaya, Shimon;

בִּנְיָמִן מַלּוּךְ שְׁמַרְיָה

Binyamin, Malukh, Shemarya.

מִבְּנֵי חָשֻׁם מַתְּנַי מַתַּתָּה זָבָד אֱלִיפֶלֶט יְרֵמַי מְנַשֶּׁה שִׁמְעִי

From the children of Hashum: Matenai, Matata, Zavad, Elifelet, Yeremai, Menashe, Shimi.

מִבְּנֵי בָנִי מַעֲדַי עַמְרָם וְאוּאֵל

From the children of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and U’el,

בְּנָיָה בֵדְיָה כְּלוּהוּ

Benaya, Bedeya, Keluhu,

וַנְיָה מְרֵמוֹת אֶלְיָשִׁיב

Vanya, Meremot, Elyashiv,

מַתַּנְיָה מַתְּנַי וְיַעֲשָׂי

Matanya, Matenai, and Yaasai,

וּבָנִי וּבִנּוּי שִׁמְעִי

and Bani, and Binui, Shimi,

וְשֶׁלֶמְיָה וְנָתָן וַעֲדָיָה

andShelemya, and Natan, and Adaya,

מַכְנַדְבַי שָׁשַׁי שָׁרָי

Makhnadevai, Shashai, Sharai,

עֲזַרְאֵל וְשֶׁלֶמְיָהוּ שְׁמַרְיָה

Azarel, and Shelemyahu, Shemarya,

שַׁלּוּם אֲמַרְיָה יוֹסֵף

Shalum, Amarya, Yosef.

מִבְּנֵי נְבוֹ יְעִיאֵל מַתִּתְיָה זָבָד זְבִינָא יַדַּי וְיוֹאֵל בְּנָיָה

From the children of Nevo: Ye’iel, Matitya, Zavad, Zevina, Yadai, and Yoel, Benaya.

כָּל־אֵלֶּה נָשְׂאוּ נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת וְיֵשׁ־מֵהֶם נָשִׁים ויָּשִׂימוּ בָּנִים

All these had married foreign wives, and among them had wives by whom in the meantime they had fathered children. All these wives and children were separated from the people, and sent to their nations and families of origin. The Judeans in the Land of Israel were thereby purified from intermarriage.