Immerse: Chronicles Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 129
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CHRONICLES–EZRA–NEHEMIAH
Then a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem that
all the exiles should come to Jerusalem. Those who failed to come within
three days would, if the leaders and elders so decided, forfeit all their property and be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.
Within three days, all the people of Judah and Benjamin had gathered
in Jerusalem. This took place on December 19, and all the people were
sitting in the square before the Temple of God. They were trembling both
because of the seriousness of the matter and because it was raining. Then
Ezra the priest stood and said to them: “You have committed a terrible
sin. By marrying pagan women, you have increased Israel’s guilt. So now
confess your sin to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do what he
demands. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from these
pagan women.”
Then the whole assembly raised their voices and answered, “Yes, you are
right; we must do as you say!” Then they added, “This isn’t something that
can be done in a day or two, for many of us are involved in this extremely
sinful affair. And this is the rainy season, so we cannot stay out here much
longer. Let our leaders act on behalf of us all. Let everyone who has a pagan
wife come at a scheduled time, accompanied by the leaders and judges of
his city, so that the fierce anger of our God concerning this affair may be
turned away from us.”
Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this
course of action, and they were supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai
the Levite.
So this was the plan they followed. Ezra selected leaders to represent their families, designating each of the representatives by name. On
December 29, the leaders sat down to investigate the matter. By March 27,
the first day of the new year, they had finished dealing with all the men
who had married pagan wives.
These are the priests who had married pagan wives:
From the family of Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah,
Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. They vowed to divorce their wives,
and they each acknowledged their guilt by offering a ram as a guilt
offering.
From the family of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
From the family of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and
Uzziah.
From the family of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel,
Jozabad, and Elasah.
These are the Levites who were guilty: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also
called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
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