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Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married^(ab) women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.^(ac)

Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language^(ad) of Judah.

I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath^(ae) in God's name and said: "You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves.^(af)

Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him.^(ag) He was loved by his God,^(ah) and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.^(ai)

Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying^(aj) foreign women?"

One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib^(ak) the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat^(al) the Horonite. And I drove him away from me.

Remember^(am) them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.^(an)

So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign,^(ao) and assigned them duties, each to his own task.

I also made provision for contributions of wood^(ap) at designated times, and for the firstfruits.^(aq) Remember^(ar) me with favor, my God.