1 Esdras 9
1 Then Esdras rising from the court of
the temple went to the chamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib,
2 and remained there, and did eat no
meat nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.
3 And there was a proclamation in all
Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should
be gathered together at Jerusalem:
4 and that whosoever met not there
within two or three days, according as the elders that bare rule appointed,
their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out
from them that were of the captivity.
5 And in three days were all they of
the tribe of Juda and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem the twentieth
day of the ninth month. 6 And all the
multitude sat in the broad court of the temple, trembling because of the
present foul weather.
7 So Esdras arose up, and said unto
them, Ye have transgressed the law in marrying strange wives, thereby to
increase the sins of Israel. 8 And now
by confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,
9 and do his will, and separate
yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.
10 Then cried the whole multitude,
and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast spoken, so will we do.
11 But forasmuch as the people are
many, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot stand without, and this is not
a work of a day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far:
12 therefore let the rulers of the
multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives
come at the time appointed, 13 and
with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of
the Lord from us for this matter.
14 Then Jonathan the son of
Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus accordingly
took this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and Sabbatheus helped them.
15 And they that were of the
captivity did according to all these things.
16 And Esdras the priest chose unto
him the principal men of their families, all by name: and in the first day of
the tenth month they sat together to examine the matter.
17 So their cause that held strange
wives was brought to an end in the first day of the first month.
18 And of the priests that were come
together, and had strange wives, there were found;
19 of the sons of Jesus the
son of Josedec, and his brethren; Matthelas, and
Eleazar, and Joribus, and Joadanus.
20 And they gave their hands to put
away their wives, and to offer rams to make reconcilement for their errors.
21 And of the sons of Emmer: Ananias,
and Zabdeus, and Manes, and Samæus, and Hiereel, and Azarias.
22 And of the sons of Phaisur;
Elionais, Massias, Ismael, and Nathanael, and Ocodelus, and Saloas.
23 And of the Levites; Jozabad, and
Semis, and Coïus, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Judas, and Jonah.
24 Of the holy singers: Eleasabus,
Bacchurus. 25 Of the porters;
Salumus, and Tolbanes.
26 Of them of Israel, of the sons of
Phoros; Hiermas, and Jezias, and Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and
Asebias, and Banæas. 27 Of the sons
of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and Jezrielus, and Joabdius, and Hieremoth, and
Aïdias. 28 And of the sons of Zamoth;
Eliadas, Eliasimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, and Sabatus, and Zeralias.
29 Of the sons of Bebai; Joannes, and
Ananias, and Josabad, and Amatheis.
30 Of the sons of Mani; Olamus,
Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus, Jasael, and Hieremoth.
31 And of the sons of Addi; Naathus,
and Moosias, Lacunus, and Naidus, Matthanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and
Manasseas. 32 And of the sons of
Annas; Elionas, and Asaias, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.
33 And of the sons of Asom; Altaneus,
and Mattathias, and Sabanneus, Eliphalat, and Manasses, and Semei.
34 And of the sons of Baani:
Jeremiah, Momdis, Ismaerus, Juel, Mabdai, and Pedias, and Anos, Rabasion, and
Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Samis, Selemias,
Nathanias: and of the sons of Ezora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambri,
Josephus. 35 And of the sons of
Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edaïs, Juel, Banaias.
36 All these had taken strange wives,
and they put them away with their children.
37 And the priests and Levites, and
they that were of Israel, dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the country, in the first
day of the seventh month: so the children of Israel were in their habitations.
38 And the whole multitude came
together with one accord into the broad place of the holy porch toward the
east: 39 and they spake unto Esdras
the priest and reader, that he would bring the law of Moses, that was given of
the Lord God of Israel. 40 So Esdras
the chief priest brought the law to the whole multitude from man to woman, and
to all the priests, to hear the law in the first day of the seventh month.
41 And he read in the broad court
before the holy porch from morning unto midday, before both men and women; and
all the multitude gave heed unto the law.
42 And Esdras the priest and reader
of the law stood up upon a pulpit of wood which was made
for that purpose.
43 And there stood up by him
Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ezecias, Baalsamus, upon the
right hand: 44 and upon his left hand
Phaldaius, and Misael, Melchias, Lothasubus, Nabarias, Zacharias.
45 Then took Esdras the book of the
law before the multitude: for he sat honourably in the first place in the
sight of them all. 46 And when he
opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God
most High, the God of hosts, Almighty.
47 And all the people answered, Amen;
and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord.
48 Also Jesus, Anniuth, Sarabias,
Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas, Auteas, Maiannas, and Calitas, Azarias, and
Joazabdus, and Ananias, Phalias, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, and
read the law of the Lord to the multitude, making them withal to understand
it.
49 Then spake Attharates unto Esdras
the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude,
even to all, saying, 50 This day is
holy unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they heard the law:)
51 go then, and eat the fat, and
drink the sweet, and send part to them that have nothing:
52 for this day is holy unto the
Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the Lord will bring you to honour.
53 So the Levites published all
things to the people, saying, This day is holy to the Lord; be not sorrowful.
54 Then went they their way, every
one to eat and drink and make merry, and to give part to them that had
nothing, and to make great cheer;
55 because they understood the words
wherein they were instructed, and for the which they had been assembled.