Study Desk

I gave them instructions for Iddo, the leading man in a place called Kasifya, and told them what to say to Iddo and his brother, who were in charge of Kasifya, so that they would bring us men to minister in the house of our God.

Then, there at the Ahava River, I proclaimed a fast; so that we could humble ourselves before our God and ask a safe journey of him for ourselves, our little ones and all our possessions.

For I would have been ashamed to ask the king for a detachment of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies along the road, since we had said to the king, "The hand of our God is on all who seek him, for good; but his power and fury is against all who abandon him."

So we fasted and asked our God for this, and he answered our prayer.

I weighed out to them the silver, the gold and the utensils for the house of our God contributed by the king, his counselors, his princes and all Isra'el present there.

Then I told them, "You are consecrated to Adonai , the articles are holy, and the silver and gold are a voluntary offering for Adonai the God of your ancestors.

In time, we arrived at Yerushalayim, where we rested for three days.

The exiles who had returned from captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Isra'el — twelve young bulls for all Isra'el, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering; all this was a burnt offering for Adonai .

They have taken some of the women from these nations as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has assimilated to the peoples of the lands; moreover, the officials and leaders have been the main offenders in this treachery."

and said, "My God, I am ashamed. I blush to lift my face to you, my God! For our sins tower over our heads; our guilt reaches up to heaven.

Now, for a brief moment, Adonai our God has shown us the favor of allowing a remnant to escape and giving us a secure foothold in his holy place, in order for God to make things look brighter to us and revive us a little in our slavery.

For we are slaves. Yet our God has not abandoned us in our slavery, but has caused the kings of Persia to extend grace to us, reviving us, so that we can rebuild the house of our God, repair its ruins, and have a wall of defense in Y'hudah and Yerushalayim.

"But now, our God, what are we to say after this? For we have abandoned your mitzvot,

Therefore, you are not to give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons; and you are not to promote their peace or prosperity ever. Only in this way will you grow strong, enjoy the good things of the land and leave it as a lasting inheritance to your children.'

Sh'khanyah the son of Yechi'el, one of the descendants of ‘Eilam, spoke up and said to ‘Ezra, "We have acted treacherously toward our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Isra'el.

Stand up, and do your duty, for we are with you; take courage, and do it!"

But there are many people, and it's the rainy season — we can't stay out here in the open. Also, it isn't the work of a day or two; for there are many of us who have committed this crime.

They promised that they would send their wives away; and since they were guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt.

On hearing this answer, I sat down and wept; I mourned for several days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Let your ear now be attentive and your eyes be open, so that you will listen to the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you these days, day and night, for the people of Isra'el your servants — even as I confess the sins of the people of Isra'el that we have committed against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned.