Israel’s Intermarriage

¹After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said, ‘The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practices are like those of the Canaanites, Hethites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.[#9:1 Ezk 5:10–12; #9:1 Dt 12:29–31; Ezr 9:11; #9:1 Gn 15:18; Lv 18:24–30; Dt 7:1]

²Indeed, the Israelite men have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has become mixed with the surrounding peoples. The leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness! ’[#9:2 Lit they; #9:2 Dt 14:2; #9:2 Dt 7:1–4; Ezr 9:12; Neh 13:1–3,23; #9:2 Lit hand of the leaders; #9:2 Neh 13:28]

³When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.[#9:3 2Kg 18:37–19:2; Neh 1:4; Dn 9:3]

Ezra’s Confession

⁴Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering.[#9:4 Ezr 10:3; Is 66:2,5; #9:4 Ezr 2:1; 6:16; #9:4 Ex 29:38–39]

⁵At the evening offering, I got up from my time of humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God.[#9:5 Ex 9:29; Dn 6:10]

⁶And I said:[#9:6–15 Neh 1:5–11; Dn 9:4–19]