[This chapter is in Orthodox Bibles] The Expulsion of Foreign Wives. Ezra reads the Law to the people.

Note. The Book of First Esdras is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox Churches

THE EXPULSION OF FOREIGN WIVES

VERSE 1. Then Esdras rose up from the court of the temple and went to the chamber of Jonas the son of Eliasib,

Ezra 10:6. Then Ezra rose up from before God’s house, and went into the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. When he came there, he didn’t eat bread or drank water, for he mourned because of the trespass of the exiles.

VERSE 2. and lodged there, and ate no bread and drank no water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.

VERSE 3. A proclamation was made in all Judea and Jerusalem to all those who returned from captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem,

VERSE 4. and that whoever didn’t meet there within two or three days, in accordance with the ruling of the elders, that their livestock would be seized for the use of the temple, and they would be expelled from the multitude of those who returned from captivity.

seized for the use of the temple. Or “seized for sacrifice.”

This refers to the ancient institution of the “ban.” Objects were removed from secular use and devoted to the LORD God by sacrifice.

VERSE 5. Within three days, all those of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem. This was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.

VERSE 6. All the multitude sat together shivering in the broad place before the temple because of the present foul weather.

VERSE 7. So Esdras arose up and said to them, “You have transgressed the law and married foreign wives, increasing the sins of Israel.

VERSE 8. Now make confession and give glory to the Lord, the God of our fathers,

VERSE 9. and do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the foreign women.”

VERSE 10. Then the whole multitude cried out, and said with a loud voice, “Just as you have spoken, so we will do.

VERSE 11. But because the multitude is great, and it is foul weather, so that we can’t stand outside, and this is not a work of one day or two, seeing our sin in these things has spread far,

VERSE 12. therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all those of our settlements that have foreign wives come at the time appointed,

VERSE 13. and with them the rulers and judges of every place, until we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.”

VERSE 14. So Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezekias the son of Thocanus took the matter on themselves. Mosollamus and Levis and Sabbateus were judges with them.

Ezekias. Or Ezias.

took the matter on themselves. They undertook the matter. Or perhaps they “approved of this.”

However, Ezra says they disapproved of it:

Ezra 10:15. Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

VERSE 15. Those who returned from captivity did according to all these things.

VERSE 16. Esdras the priest chose for himself principal men of their families, all by name. On the new moon of the tenth month they met together to examine the matter.

VERSE 17. So their cases of men who had foreign wives was brought to an end by the new moon of the first month.

VERSE 18. Of the priests who had come together and had foreign wives, there were found

VERSE 19. of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedek, and his kindred, Mathelas, Eleazar, and Joribus, and Joadanus.

Mathelas. Or Maaseiah.

Joribus. Or Jarib.

Joadanus. Or Gedaliah.

VERSE 20. They gave their hands to put away their wives, and to offer rams to make reconciliation for their error.

VERSE 21. Of the sons of Emmer: Ananias, Zabdeus, Manes, Sameus, Hiereel, and Azarias.

Manes. Or Harim.

Sameus. Or Maaseiah.

Hiereel. Or Jehiel.

Azarias. Or Uzziah.

VERSE 22. Of the sons of Phaisur: Elionas, Massias, Ishmael, Nathanael, Ocidelus, and Saloas.

Phaisur. Or Pashhur.

Ocidelus. Or Jozabad.

Saloas. Or Elasah.

VERSE 23. Of the Levites: Jozabdus, Semeis, Colius who was called Calitas, Patheus, Judas, and Jonas.

Colius. Or Kelaiah.

Calitas. Or Kelita.

Patheus. Or Pethahiah.

VERSE 24. Of the holy singers: Eliasibus and Bacchurus.

Eliasibus. Or Eliashib.

VERSE 25. Of the gatekeepers: Sallumus and Tolbanes.

Tolbanes. Or Telem.

VERSE 26. Of Israel, of the sons of Phoros: Hiermas, Ieddias, Melchias, Maelus, Eleazar, Asibas, and Banneas.

VERSE 27. Of the sons of Ela: Matthanias, Zacharias, Jezrielus, Oabdius, Hieremoth, and Aedias.

Jezrielus. Or Jehiel.

Aedias. Or Abdi.

VERSE 28. Of the sons of Zamoth: Eliadas, Eliasimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, Sabathus, and Zardeus.

Zamoth. Or Zattu.

Eliadas. Or Elioenai.

Eliasimus. Or Eliashib.

Othonias. Or Mattaniah.

Sabathus. Or Zabad.

Zardeus. Or Aziza.

VERSE 29. Of the sons of Bebai: Joannes, Ananias, Jozabdus, and Ematheis.

Jozabdus. Or Zabbai.

Ematheis. Or Athlai.

VERSE 30. Of the sons of Mani: Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubas, Jasaelus, and Hieremoth.

Mani. Or Bani.

Olamus. Or Meshullam.

Mamuchus. Or Malluch.

Jedeus. Or Adaiah.

Jasaelus. Or Sheal.

VERSE 31. Of the sons of Addi: Naathus, Moossias, Laccunus, Naidus, Matthanias, Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.

VERSE 32. Of the sons of Annas: Elionas, Aseas, Melchias, Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.

VERSE 33. Of the sons of Asom: Maltanneus, Mattathias, Sabanneus, Eliphalat, Manasses, and Semei.

Maltanneus. Or Mattenai.

Mattathias. Or Mattattah.

Sabanneus. Or Zabad.

VERSE 34. Of the sons of Baani: Jeremias, Momdis, Ismaerus, Juel, Mamdai, Pedias, Anos, Carabasion, Enasibus, Mamnitamenus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Someis, Selemias, and Nathanias. Of the sons of Ezora: Sesis, Ezril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambri, and Josephus.

VERSE 35. Of the sons of Nooma: Mazitias, Zabadeas, Edos, Juel, and Banaias.

VERSE 36. All these had taken foreign wives, and they put them away with their children.

They sent both their foreign wives and their children away.

If this chapter were a movie, this would be a terribly sad moment.

Thousands of women are being forced to walk out of the community into the wilderness, with no support and no provision, carrying their children.

VERSE 37. The priests and Levites, and those who were of Israel, lived in Jerusalem and in the country, on the new moon of the seventh month, and the children of Israel in their settlements.

EZRA READS THE LAW TO THE PEOPLE

VERSE 38. The whole multitude gathered together with one accord into the broad place before the porch of the temple toward the east.

Nehemiah 8:1. All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

VERSE 39. They said to Esdras the priest and reader, “Bring the law of Moses that was given by the Lord, the God of Israel.”

VERSE 40. So Esdras the chief priest brought the law to the whole multitude both of men and women, and to all the priests, to hear the law on the new moon of the seventh month.

VERSE 41. He read in the broad place before the porch of the temple from morning until midday, before both men and women; and all the multitude gave attention to the law.

VERSE 42. Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon the pulpit of wood which had been prepared.

VERSE 43. Beside him stood Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ezekias, and Baalsamus on the right hand,

Ezekias. Or Hilkiah.

VERSE 44. and on his left hand, Phaldeus, Misael, Melchias, Lothasubus, Nabarias, and Zacharias.

Phaldeus. Or Pedaiah.

Lothasubus. Or Hashuin.

VERSE 45. Then Esdras took the book of the law before the multitude, and sat honorably in the first place before all.

VERSE 46. When he opened the law, they all stood straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God Most High, the God of armies, the Almighty.

VERSE 47. All the people answered, “Amen.” Lifting up their hands, they fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord.

VERSE 48. Also Jesus, Annus, Sarabias, Iadinus, Jacubus, Sabateus, Auteas, Maiannas, Calitas, Azarias, Jozabdus, Ananias, and Phalias, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, §and read to the multitude the law of the Lord, explaining what was read.

Auteas. Or Hodiah.

and read to the multitude the law of the Lord. Some authorities omit this phrase.

VERSE 49. Then Attharates said to Esdras the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites who taught the multitude, even to all,

Attharates. In Hebrew, the title of “governor” is tirshata. It is translated into Greek as Attharates.

In this context, the Greek title is being used as a personal name.

VERSE 50. “This day is holy to the Lord—now they all wept when they heard the law—

VERSE 51. go then, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing;

VERSE 52. for the day is holy to the Lord. Don’t be sorrowful, for the Lord will bring you to honor.”

VERSE 53. So the Levites commanded all things to the people, saying, “This day is holy. Don’t be sorrowful.”

VERSE 54. Then they went their way, every one to eat, drink, enjoy themselves, to give portions to those who had nothing, and to rejoice greatly,

VERSE 55. because they understood the words they were instructed with, and for which they had been assembled.

understood. Or were inspired by.

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1 Esdras chapter 9