WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:09.099 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:09.099 --> 00:00:13.960 Ezra, chapters 7 through 10. Chapter 7 Now after 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.660 these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes, king 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:20.140 of Persia, Ezra the son of Sariah, the son of 00:00:20.140 --> 00:00:23.019 Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shalom, 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:26.420 the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son 00:00:26.420 --> 00:00:29.539 of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Mariot, 00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:33.060 the son of Zariah, the son of Uzi, the son of 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:36.520 Buki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, 00:00:36.579 --> 00:00:39.179 the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief 00:00:39.179 --> 00:00:42.520 priest. This Ezra came up from Babylon, and he 00:00:42.520 --> 00:00:45.240 was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:48.000 the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.820 him all his requests, according to the hand of 00:00:50.820 --> 00:00:53.329 the Lord his God upon him. Some of the children 00:00:53.329 --> 00:00:55.729 of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, 00:00:55.950 --> 00:00:59.109 the gatekeepers, and the Nethanim, came up to 00:00:59.109 --> 00:01:01.909 Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 00:01:02.109 --> 00:01:04.530 And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, 00:01:04.670 --> 00:01:07.829 which was in the seventh year of the king. On 00:01:07.829 --> 00:01:10.129 the first day of the first month, he began his 00:01:10.129 --> 00:01:12.569 journey from Babylon. And on the first day of 00:01:12.569 --> 00:01:15.329 the fifth month, he came to Jerusalem, according 00:01:15.329 --> 00:01:18.579 to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra 00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:20.900 had prepared his heart to seek the law of the 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:23.900 Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and 00:01:23.900 --> 00:01:28.159 ordinances in Israel. This is a copy of the letter 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:31.140 that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:33.620 scribe, expert in the words of the commandments 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:37.939 of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel. Artaxerxes, 00:01:38.099 --> 00:01:41.560 king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:44.340 the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, 00:01:44.540 --> 00:01:48.040 and so forth. I issue a decree that all those 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:50.739 of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites 00:01:50.739 --> 00:01:53.439 in my realm who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.719 may go with you, and whereas you are being sent 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.000 by the king and his seven counselors to inquire 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.560 concerning Judah and Jerusalem with regard to 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:05.560 the law of your God which is in your hand, and 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:07.819 whereas you are to carry the silver and gold 00:02:07.819 --> 00:02:10.199 which the king and his counselors have freely 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:12.879 offered to the God of Israel whose dwelling is 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:15.219 in Jerusalem. And whereas all the silver and 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:17.419 gold that you may find in all the province of 00:02:17.419 --> 00:02:19.879 Babylon, along with the freewill offering of 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:22.219 the people and the priests, are to be freely 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:25.039 offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem, 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.400 now therefore be careful to buy with this money 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:32.219 bulls, rams, and lambs with their grain offerings 00:02:32.219 --> 00:02:34.719 and their drink offerings, and offer them on 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:36.860 the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem. 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:39.639 And whatever seems good to you and your brethren, 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:42.419 to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, 00:02:42.539 --> 00:02:45.900 do it according to the will of your God. Also 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:48.360 the articles that are given to you for the service 00:02:48.360 --> 00:02:51.340 of the house of your God, deliver in full before 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:54.580 the God of Jerusalem. And whatever more may be 00:02:54.580 --> 00:02:56.900 needed for the house of your God, which you may 00:02:56.900 --> 00:02:59.680 have occasion to provide, pay for it from the 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:03.379 king's treasury. And I, even I, Artaxerxes the 00:03:03.379 --> 00:03:06.539 king, issue a decree to all the treasurers who 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:09.240 are in the region beyond the river. that whatever 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:11.860 Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the 00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:14.939 God of heaven, may require of you, let it be 00:03:14.939 --> 00:03:17.860 done diligently. Up to one hundred talents of 00:03:17.860 --> 00:03:20.740 silver, one hundred cores of wheat, one hundred 00:03:20.740 --> 00:03:23.979 baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:27.300 salt without prescribed limit. Whatever is commanded 00:03:27.300 --> 00:03:30.759 by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:33.460 for the house of the God of heaven. For why should 00:03:33.460 --> 00:03:35.580 there be wrath against the realm of the king 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:38.840 and his sons? Also we inform you that it shall 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:42.319 not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:46.620 on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:50.360 Nethanim, or servants of this house of God. And 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:52.960 you, Ezra, according to your God -given wisdom, 00:03:53.139 --> 00:03:56.240 set magistrates and judges, who may judge all 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:58.360 the people who are in the region beyond the river. 00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:02.219 All such as know the laws of your God, and teach 00:04:02.219 --> 00:04:04.860 those who do not know them. Whoever will not 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:06.979 observe the law of your God and the law of the 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:10.259 king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, 00:04:10.379 --> 00:04:13.800 whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:16.819 of goods, or imprisonment. Blessed be the Lord 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:19.680 God of our fathers, who has put such a thing 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.279 as this in the king's heart, to beautify the 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:24.720 house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:27.420 has extended mercy to me before the king and 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:29.860 his counselors, and before all the king's mighty 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:32.970 princes. So I was encouraged, as the hand of 00:04:32.970 --> 00:04:35.850 the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered leading 00:04:35.850 --> 00:05:00.720 men of Israel to go up with me. Of the sons of 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:04.199 Parush, Zechariah. And registered with him were 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:07.660 one hundred and fifty males. Of the sons of Pahat, 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:11.860 Moab. Elihunai, the son of Zariah. And with him 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:15.019 two hundred males. Of the sons of Shecania, Ben, 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:18.480 Jehaziel. And with him three hundred males. Of 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:21.620 the sons of Adin, Ebed, the son of Jonathan. 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:25.220 And with him fifty males. Of the sons of Elam, 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:28.920 Jeshiah, the son of Ataliah. And with him seventy 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:32.689 males. Of the sons of Shephatia, Zebediah the 00:05:32.689 --> 00:05:36.310 son of Mikael, and with him eighty males. Of 00:05:36.310 --> 00:05:39.930 the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jael, and 00:05:39.930 --> 00:05:42.550 with him two hundred and eighteen males. Of the 00:05:42.550 --> 00:05:46.449 sons of Shilomit, Ben -Josephiah, and with him 00:05:46.449 --> 00:05:50.029 one hundred and sixty males. Of the sons of Bibai, 00:05:50.170 --> 00:05:53.189 Zechariah the son of Bibai, and with him twenty 00:05:53.189 --> 00:05:57.180 -eight males. Of the sons of Asgad, Joanan the 00:05:57.180 --> 00:06:00.060 son of Hakatan, and with him one hundred and 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:03.560 ten males. Of the last sons of Adonikam, whose 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:07.519 names are these, Eliphelet, Jael, and Shemaiah, 00:06:07.699 --> 00:06:11.240 and with them sixty males. Also of the sons of 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:14.740 Bigvai, Utai, and Zabud, and with them seventy 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:17.639 males. Now I gathered them by the river that 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:20.639 flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:23.139 And I looked among the people and the priests, 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:26.089 and found none of the sons of Levi there. Then 00:06:26.089 --> 00:06:29.870 I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, 00:06:30.209 --> 00:06:35.089 Jerib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Mishulam, 00:06:35.129 --> 00:06:39.490 leaders, also for Joyerib and Elnathan, men of 00:06:39.490 --> 00:06:42.110 understanding. And I gave them a command for 00:06:42.110 --> 00:06:45.649 Edo the chief man at the place Kasifiah. And 00:06:45.649 --> 00:06:48.029 I told them what they should say to Edo and his 00:06:48.029 --> 00:06:51.170 brethren, the Nethanim, at the place Kasifiah, 00:06:51.310 --> 00:06:53.850 that they should bring us servants for the house 00:06:53.850 --> 00:06:56.569 of our God. Then by the good hand of our God 00:06:56.569 --> 00:06:59.050 upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, 00:06:59.430 --> 00:07:02.689 of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son 00:07:02.689 --> 00:07:06.269 of Israel, namely, Sherabiah, with his sons and 00:07:06.269 --> 00:07:09.470 brothers, eighteen men, and Hashabiah, and with 00:07:09.470 --> 00:07:12.709 him, Jeshiah, of the sons of Merari, his brothers 00:07:12.709 --> 00:07:15.850 and their sons, twenty men, also of the Nethanim, 00:07:16.069 --> 00:07:18.269 whom David and the leaders had appointed for 00:07:18.269 --> 00:07:20.870 the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty 00:07:20.870 --> 00:07:24.379 Nethanim, all of them, were designated by name. 00:07:24.740 --> 00:07:27.720 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:30.279 Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before 00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:33.399 our God, to seek from him the right way for us, 00:07:33.459 --> 00:07:35.899 and our little ones, and all our possessions. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:39.379 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:42.079 of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:44.639 enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:47.720 king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:51.089 those for good who seek him. But his power and 00:07:51.089 --> 00:07:53.649 his wrath are against all those who forsake him. 00:07:53.769 --> 00:07:56.350 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, 00:07:56.449 --> 00:07:59.850 and he answered our prayer. And I separated twelve 00:07:59.850 --> 00:08:03.329 of the leaders of the priests, Cherubiah, Hashabiah, 00:08:03.470 --> 00:08:05.810 and ten of their brethren with them, and weighed 00:08:05.810 --> 00:08:08.689 out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles, 00:08:08.930 --> 00:08:11.529 the offering for the house of our God, which 00:08:11.529 --> 00:08:14.329 the king and his counselors and his princes And 00:08:14.329 --> 00:08:17.329 all Israel, who were present, had offered. I 00:08:17.329 --> 00:08:20.129 weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty 00:08:20.129 --> 00:08:22.889 talents of silver, silver articles weighing one 00:08:22.889 --> 00:08:25.430 hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold, 00:08:25.610 --> 00:08:28.709 twenty gold basins worth a thousand drachmas, 00:08:28.810 --> 00:08:31.910 and two vessels of fine polished bronze, precious 00:08:31.910 --> 00:08:35.110 as gold. And I said to them, You are holy to 00:08:35.110 --> 00:08:38.070 the Lord. The articles are holy also. and the 00:08:38.070 --> 00:08:40.590 silver and the gold are a freewill offering to 00:08:40.590 --> 00:08:43.590 the Lord God of our fathers. Watch and keep them 00:08:43.590 --> 00:08:46.250 until you weigh them before the leaders of the 00:08:46.250 --> 00:08:49.029 priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers' 00:08:49.090 --> 00:08:52.509 houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers 00:08:52.509 --> 00:08:55.409 of the house of the Lord. So the priests and 00:08:55.409 --> 00:08:57.690 the Levites received the silver and the gold 00:08:57.690 --> 00:09:00.549 and the articles by weight to bring them to Jerusalem, 00:09:00.690 --> 00:09:03.879 to the house of our God. Then we departed from 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:06.419 the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:08.960 first month to go to Jerusalem. And the hand 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:11.580 of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:14.159 the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:17.179 road. So we came to Jerusalem and stayed there 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:20.059 three days. Now on the fourth day the silver 00:09:20.059 --> 00:09:22.740 and the gold and the articles were weighed in 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:25.480 the house of our God by the hand of Meramoth, 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:28.600 the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:31.299 Eliezer the son of Phinehas. With them were the 00:09:31.299 --> 00:09:34.919 Levites, Josabath the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:38.200 the son of Benui, with the number and weight 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:40.820 of everything. All the weight was written down 00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:43.759 at that time. The children of those who had been 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:46.720 carried away captive, who had come from the captivity, 00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:49.759 offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:55.200 twelve bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:58.840 and 12 male goats as a sin offering. All this 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:02.039 was a burnt offering to the Lord. And they delivered 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:04.940 the king's orders to the king's satraps and the 00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:07.740 governors in the region beyond the river. So 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:09.960 they gave support to the people and the house 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:15.620 of God. Chapter 9 When these things were done, 00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:18.419 the leaders came to me saying, The people of 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:21.179 Israel and the priests and the Levites have not 00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:23.440 separated themselves from the peoples of the 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:26.059 lands with respect to the abominations of the 00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:28.980 Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the 00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:32.659 Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:36.039 and the Amorites. For they have taken some of 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:38.440 their daughters as wives for themselves and their 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:41.210 sons. so that the holy seed is mixed with the 00:10:41.210 --> 00:10:44.529 peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the 00:10:44.529 --> 00:10:47.590 leaders and rulers has been foremost in this 00:10:47.590 --> 00:10:50.549 trespass. So when I heard this thing, I tore 00:10:50.549 --> 00:10:53.110 my garment and my robe, and plucked out some 00:10:53.110 --> 00:10:55.629 of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down 00:10:55.629 --> 00:10:58.250 astonished. Then everyone who trembled at the 00:10:58.250 --> 00:11:01.350 words of the God of Israel assembled to me because 00:11:01.350 --> 00:11:04.210 of the transgression of those who had been carried 00:11:04.210 --> 00:11:07.169 away captive, and I sat astonished until the 00:11:07.169 --> 00:11:09.529 evening sacrifice. At the evening sacrifice, 00:11:09.789 --> 00:11:13.230 I arose from my fasting, and having torn my garment 00:11:13.230 --> 00:11:16.330 and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out 00:11:16.330 --> 00:11:19.750 my hands to the Lord my God. And I said, O my 00:11:19.750 --> 00:11:23.490 God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift 00:11:23.490 --> 00:11:26.509 up my face to you, my God. For our iniquities 00:11:26.509 --> 00:11:29.830 have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt 00:11:29.830 --> 00:11:32.860 has grown up to the heavens. since the days of 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:35.919 our fathers to this day we have been very guilty 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:39.240 and for our iniquities we our kings and our priests 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:42.179 have been delivered into the hand of the kings 00:11:42.179 --> 00:11:45.840 of the lands to the sword to captivity to plunder 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:49.659 and to humiliation as it is this day and now 00:11:49.659 --> 00:11:52.299 for a little while grace has been shown from 00:11:52.299 --> 00:11:55.159 the lord our god to leave us a remnant to escape 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:58.529 and to give us a peg in his holy place that our 00:11:58.529 --> 00:12:01.730 God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure 00:12:01.730 --> 00:12:04.909 of revival in our bondage. For we were slaves, 00:12:05.129 --> 00:12:07.950 yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage, 00:12:07.990 --> 00:12:10.549 but he extended mercy to us in the sight of the 00:12:10.549 --> 00:12:13.210 kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the 00:12:13.210 --> 00:12:16.470 house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to 00:12:16.470 --> 00:12:19.460 give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. And now, 00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:22.580 O our God, what shall we say after this? For 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:25.019 we have forsaken your commandments, which you 00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:27.320 commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:30.700 The land which you are entering to possess is 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:33.519 an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:35.879 peoples of the lands, with their abominations, 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:38.620 which have filled it from one end to another 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:41.799 with their impurity. Now therefore do not give 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:44.720 your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:47.639 their daughters to your sons, and never seek 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:50.919 their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:54.059 and eat the good of the land, and leave it as 00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:56.759 an inheritance to your children forever. And 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:59.700 after all that has come upon us for our evil 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:02.659 deeds and for our great guilt, since you our 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:05.460 God have punished us less than our iniquities 00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:08.639 deserve, and have given us such deliverance as 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:11.049 this, Should we again break your commandments 00:13:11.049 --> 00:13:13.809 and join in marriage with the people committing 00:13:13.809 --> 00:13:16.690 these abominations? Would you not be angry with 00:13:16.690 --> 00:13:19.269 us until you had consumed us so that there would 00:13:19.269 --> 00:13:22.629 be no remnant or survivor? O Lord God of Israel, 00:13:22.809 --> 00:13:26.009 you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, 00:13:26.169 --> 00:13:29.769 as it is this day. Here we are before you in 00:13:29.769 --> 00:13:32.789 our guilt, though no one can stand before you 00:13:32.789 --> 00:13:40.039 because of this. Now while Ezra was praying, 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:43.039 and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:45.879 down before the house of God, a very large assembly 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:48.740 of men, women, and children gathered to him from 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:52.000 Israel. For the people wept very bitterly. And 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:54.740 Shecaniah the son of Jael, one of the sons of 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:58.159 Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, We have trespassed 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:01.480 against our God, and have taken pagan wives from 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:03.940 the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:07.100 in Israel in spite of this. Now therefore, let 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:09.600 us make a covenant with our God to put away all 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.480 these wives and those who have been born to them, 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:15.860 according to the advice of my Master and of those 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:18.559 who tremble at the commandment of our God, and 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:22.120 let it be done according to the law. Arise, for 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:25.080 this matter is your responsibility. We also are 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:28.110 with you. Be of good courage and do it. Then 00:14:28.110 --> 00:14:30.590 Ezra arose and made the leaders of the priests, 00:14:30.830 --> 00:14:33.809 the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that 00:14:33.809 --> 00:14:36.129 they would do according to this word. So they 00:14:36.129 --> 00:14:39.210 swore an oath. Then Ezra rose up from before 00:14:39.210 --> 00:14:41.769 the house of God and went into the chamber of 00:14:41.769 --> 00:14:44.950 Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. And when he came 00:14:44.950 --> 00:14:48.190 there, he ate no bread and drank no water, for 00:14:48.190 --> 00:14:50.850 he mourned because of the guilt of those from 00:14:50.850 --> 00:14:53.210 the captivity. And they issued a proclamation 00:14:53.210 --> 00:14:56.049 throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants 00:14:56.049 --> 00:14:59.259 of the captivity. that they must gather at Jerusalem, 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:02.059 and that whoever would not come within three 00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:04.899 days, according to the instructions of the leaders 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:08.299 and elders, all his property would be confiscated, 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:10.659 and he himself would be separated from the assembly 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:14.220 of those from the captivity. So all the men of 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:16.460 Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:19.500 three days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:22.240 of the month. And all the people sat in the open 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:24.860 square of the house of God, trembling because 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:27.509 of this matter and because of heavy rain. Then 00:15:27.509 --> 00:15:30.350 Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, You 00:15:30.350 --> 00:15:32.649 have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, 00:15:32.950 --> 00:15:35.870 adding to the guilt of Israel. Now therefore 00:15:35.870 --> 00:15:38.409 make confession to the Lord God of your fathers 00:15:38.409 --> 00:15:41.470 and do his will. Separate yourselves from the 00:15:41.470 --> 00:15:43.830 peoples of the land and from the pagan wives. 00:15:44.769 --> 00:15:47.049 Then all the assembly answered and said with 00:15:47.049 --> 00:15:50.690 a loud voice, Yes, as you have said, so we must 00:15:50.690 --> 00:15:53.710 do. But there are many people. It is the season 00:15:53.710 --> 00:15:56.120 for heavy rain. and we are not able to stand 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:59.500 outside. Nor is this the work of one or two days, 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:01.919 for there are many of us who have transgressed 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:04.679 in this matter. Please let the leaders of our 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:07.679 entire assembly stand, and let all those in our 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:10.919 cities who have taken pagan wives come at appointed 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:13.639 times, together with the elders and judges of 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:16.639 their cities, until the fierce wrath of our God 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:19.879 is turned away from us in this matter. Only Jonathan, 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:23.559 the son of Asahel, and Jehaziah, the son of Tigva, 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:26.259 opposed this, and Meshulam and Shabitai, the 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:29.100 Levite, gave them support. Then the descendants 00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:31.919 of the captivity did so, and Ezra the priest, 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:34.159 with certain heads of the father's households, 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:37.679 were set apart by the father's households, each 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.299 of them by name, and they sat down on the first 00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:42.700 day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:45.240 By the first day of the first month, they finished 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:50.110 questioning all the men who had taken And among 00:16:50.110 --> 00:16:52.610 the sons of the priests who had taken pagan wives, 00:16:52.830 --> 00:16:55.350 the following were found of the sons of Jeshua 00:16:55.350 --> 00:16:58.789 the son of Josedek and his brothers, Masaiah, 00:16:58.990 --> 00:17:03.190 Eleazar, Jerib, and Gedaliah. And they gave their 00:17:03.190 --> 00:17:05.410 promise that they would put away their wives, 00:17:05.549 --> 00:17:08.589 and being guilty, they presented Aram of the 00:17:08.589 --> 00:17:12.170 flock as their trespass offering. Also of the 00:17:12.170 --> 00:17:15.609 sons of Emer, Hanani, and Zebediah, of the sons 00:17:15.609 --> 00:17:19.819 of Harim, Masaiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.480 and Uzziah. Of the sons of Peshur, Elionai, Masaiah, 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:30.079 Ishmael, Nethanel, Josabath, and Elasa. Also 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:34.119 of the Levites, Josabath, Shimei, Keliah, the 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:37.920 same as Kelita, Pettiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:42.000 Also of the singers, Eliashib, and of the gatekeepers, 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:46.279 Shalom, Telem, and Uri. And others of Israel, 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:52.460 The sons of Parosh, Ramya, Jeziah, Malkiah, Mijamim, 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:57.180 Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah. Of the sons of 00:17:57.180 --> 00:18:02.940 Elam, Mataniah, Zechariah, Jael, Abdi, Jerimoth, 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:08.460 and Eliah. Of the sons of Jatu, Elionai, Eliashib, 00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:13.759 Mataniah, Jerimoth, Zebad, and Aziza. Of the 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:18.910 sons of Vibai, Jehohanan. Hananiah, Zabai, and 00:18:18.910 --> 00:18:23.390 Atlai. Of the sons of Bani, Mishulam, Maluk, 00:18:23.529 --> 00:18:28.490 Adaiah, Jashub, Sheil, and Ramut. Of the sons 00:18:28.490 --> 00:18:33.369 of Pahat Moab, Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Masiah, 00:18:33.569 --> 00:18:38.869 Mataniah, Bezalel, Benui, and Manasseh. Of the 00:18:38.869 --> 00:18:43.890 sons of Harim, Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, 00:18:44.250 --> 00:18:49.539 Shemion, Benjamin, Malouk, and Shemaria. Of the 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:55.000 sons of Hashum, Matanai, Matata, Zabad, Elifelet, 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:59.480 Jeremiah, Manasseh, and Shimei. Of the sons of 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:06.240 Bani, Maadai, Amram, Uwel, Benaiah, Bedeah, Kelu, 00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:13.160 Vanya, Merimut, Eliashib, Matania, Matanai, Jasai, 00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:20.000 Bani, Benui, Shimei, Shilemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:26.680 Makna Dibai, Shashai, Sharai, Azarel, Shilemiah, 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:31.700 Shemariah, Shalom, Amariah, and Joseph. Of the 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:36.819 sons of Nebo, Jael, Matityah, Zabad, Zebina, 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:41.809 Jadai, Joel, and Benaiah. All these had taken 00:19:41.809 --> 00:19:44.769 pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom 00:19:44.769 --> 00:19:45.750 they had children.