1
While Ezra was praying and confessing sin, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites gathered to him—men, women, and children. The people wept loudly.
2
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, spoke to Ezra, saying, “We have acted unfaithfully against our God by taking foreign women from among the peoples of the land. Yet even now there is hope for Israel.
3
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these women and the children born to them, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the law.
4
Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We will be with you. Be strong, and act!”
5
Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear that they would do according to this word; and they swore.
6
Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, and there he spent the night without eating bread or drinking water, for he mourned because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
7
And a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles, that they should gather at Jerusalem.
8
Whoever did not come within three days, according to the decision of the leaders and the elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.
9
So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month. All the people sat in the court of the house of God, trembling because of the matter and because of the heavy rain.
10
Then the priest Ezra stood up and said to them, “You have acted unfaithfully, for you have taken foreign women, and so have increased the guilt of Israel.
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Now therefore confess before the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do what is pleasing to Him; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women.”
12
Then the whole assembly answered and cried out with a loud voice, “Indeed, it is our duty to do as you have said.
13
But the people are many, and it is the rainy season, so we cannot stand outside. Moreover, this is not a matter for one day or two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
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Let our leaders act on behalf of the whole assembly; then all who in our cities have taken foreign wives shall come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of each city, until the burning anger of our God over this matter is turned away from us.”
15
Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this matter, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite.
16
But those who had returned from the exile did so. So Ezra the priest selected certain men, heads of fathers’ houses, each by his father’s house, all of them named individually. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the matter,
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and they finished all the business concerning those who had taken foreign wives on the first day of the first month.
18
Among the priests who had taken foreign wives were these: from the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19
With their hands pledged, they promised to send away their wives. And they offered a ram from the flock as a guilt offering for their offense.
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From the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah;
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from the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah;
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and from the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
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From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
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From the singers: Eliashib.
From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
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From the rest of Israel: from the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
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From the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
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From the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
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From the sons of Bebai: Johanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
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From the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
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From the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
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From the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Simeon,
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Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
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From the sons of Hashum: Matnai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
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From the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
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Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhu,
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Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
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Mattaniah, Matnai, and Jaasai.
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From the sons of Binnui: Shimei,
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Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
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Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
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Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
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Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
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From the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44
They all took foreign women as wives; so they sent away those wives, together with their children.
📜💔🔧 Summary of Ezra 10 – Repentance and Separation from Foreign Women
Ezra 10 is a tearful ending and a radical action to the book of Ezra. After Ezra prayed and wept before the Lord because of the sin of intermarriage (Ezra 9), the people of Israel were moved and gathered in repentance. They realized that they had broken the covenant of God, and were willing to take decisive action: to separate themselves from foreign wives for the purity of the people. This chapter affirms that true repentance does not only weep, but also acts — even when it is painful.
📌 1. The People of Israel Gather and Weep with Ezra (verses 1–4)
➡️ As Ezra prayed and confessed sin on behalf of the people, many of the people wept greatly
➡️ Then one among them proposed practical repentance: to break off marriage ties with foreign women
➡️ He said:
“Make a covenant with our God… and send away all the foreign women…”
➡️ They called on Ezra to rise up and lead this work of purification
🎯 True repentance moves the hearts of the people and leads to real change.
📌 2. Leaders Are Appointed and a Great Assembly Is Prepared (verses 5–8)
➡️ Ezra rose up and made the leaders swear to do this
➡️ A great assembly of all the people was to be held in Jerusalem within three days, and all were to be present
➡️ Whoever did not come would lose his property and be excluded from the assembly
🎯 Compromise with sin cannot be allowed — firmness is needed, even in difficult decisions.
📌 3. The People Gather in Cold and Wet Weather (verses 9–15)
➡️ Even though it was raining and the season was cold, all the people gathered, trembling because of the weather and because of their fear of God
➡️ They confessed their sin and were willing to follow the process of separation
➡️ Ezra and the leaders formed an investigating commission, because the matter was great and touched many families
🎯 True obedience is shown by willingness to sacrifice for the sake of truth, even when it is uncomfortable.
📌 4. The List of Those Who Transgressed and Repented (verses 16–44)
➡️ The commission began its work, and for a full month, they examined and recorded all who were guilty
➡️ The list of those who had married foreign women was recorded openly, including the priests, Levites, singers, and ordinary people
➡️ Some of them even promised to offer a sin offering
🎯 Sin, even when forgiven, still has real consequences that must be dealt with earnestly.
📖 Main Teaching
- True repentance is not only a feeling, but real action to leave sin behind
- The holiness of God’s people is important for maintaining the covenant relationship with Him
- God calls His people to separate themselves from bonds that draw them away from God
- Spiritual leaders must be brave enough to make difficult decisions, even when they are not popular
- God gives a new opportunity, but the people must respond with radical obedience
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“For godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation…”
➡️ The people’s weeping and the act of separation are a form of sorrow that bears the fruit of repentance
“If your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out… it is better to lose one part than for the whole body to be thrown into hell.”
➡️ Separation from foreign women is a picture of radical action to turn away from sin
“…a holy congregation, without blemish or wrinkle…”
➡️ The Lord desires His people to live in holiness, not compromise
“If we confess our sins… He will forgive…”
➡️ The Lord responds to confession and repentance with forgiveness, yet still requires faithfulness
🕊️ “We have been unfaithful to our God by taking foreign women as wives.” – Ezra 10:2
🕊️ “Arise, for this matter is your responsibility…” – Ezra 10:4
🕊️ “All the people sat in the court of the house of God… trembling because of the matter and because of the heavy rain.” – Ezra 10:9
🕊️ “They gave their hand as a pledge that they would send away their wives.” – Ezra 10:19
