1Now while Ezrah prayed, and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before Beit HaElohim, there was gathered together unto him out of Yisra’el a very great congregation of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore. 2And Shekhan-Yah Ben Yekhi’el, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezrah, “We have broken faith with our Elohim, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Yisra’el concerning this thing. 3Now therefore let us make a covenant with our Elohim to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of יהוה , and of those that tremble at the Mitzvah of our Elohim; and let it be done according to the Torah. 4Arise; for the matter belongs unto you, and we are with you; be of good courage, and do it.”
5Then Ezrah arose, and made the chiefs of the Kohanim, the Levi’im, and all Yisra’el, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore. 6Then Ezrah rose up from before Beit HaElohim, and went into the chamber of Yehokhanan Ben Elyashiv; and when he came there, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the faithlessness of them of the captivity. 7And they made proclamation throughout Yehudah and Yerushalayim unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Yerushalayim; 8and that whoever did not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of the captivity. 9Then all the men of Yehudah and Binyamin gathered themselves together unto Yerushalayim within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the broad place before Beit HaElohim, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
10And Ezrah the kohen stood up, and said unto them, “You have broken faith, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Yisra’el. 11Now therefore make confession unto יהוה , the Elohim of your fathers, and do His pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.” 12Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, “As you have said, so it is for us to do. 13But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. 14Let now our princes of all the congregation stand, and let all them that are in our cities that have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our Elohim is turned from us, as touching this matter.”
15Only Yonatan Ben Asahel and Yakhez-Yah Ben Tikvah stood up against this matter; and Meshulam and Shabetai HaLevi helped them. 16And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezrah the kohen, with certain heads of fathers’ houses, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were separated; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth khodesh to examine the matter. 17And they were finished with all the men that had married foreign women by the first day of the first khodesh.
18And among the sons of the Kohanim there were found that had married foreign women, namely: of the sons of Yeshua, Ben Yotzadak, and his brethren, Ma’asei-Yah, and Eli’ezer, and Yariv, and Gedal-Yah. 19And they gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guilt. 20And of B’nei Imer: Khanani and Zevad-Yah. 21And of B’nei Kharim: Ma’asei-Yah, and Eli-Yah, and Shema-Yah, and Yekhi’el, and Uzi-Yah. 22And of B’nei Pash’khur: Elyo’einai, Ma’asei-Yah, Yishma’el, Netanel, Yozavad, and Elasah. 23And of the Levi’im: Yozavad, and Shimei, and Kela-Yah, the same is Kelita, Petakh-Yah, Yehudah, and Eli’ezer. 24And of the singers: Elyashiv; and of the porters: Shalum, and Telem, and Uri. 25And of Yisra’el: of the sons of Parosh: Ram-Yah, and Yizi-Yah, and Malkhi-Yah, and Miyamin, and El-Azar, and Malkhi-Yah, and Bena-Yah. 26And of B’nei Elam: Matan-Yah, Zekhar-Yah, and Yekhi’el, and Avdi, and Yeremot, and Eli-Yah. 27And of B’nei Zatu: Elyo’einai, Elyashiv, Matan-Yah, and Yeremot, and Zavad, and Aziza. 28And of B’nei Bevai: Yehokhanan, Khanan-Yah, Zabai, Atlai. 29And of B’nei Bani: Meshulam, Malukh, and Ada-Yah, Yashuv, and She’al, and Ramot. 30And of B’nei Pakhat Mo’av: Adna, and Kelal, Bena-Yah, Ma’asei-Yah, Matan-Yah, Betzalel, and Binui, and Menasheh. 31And of B’nei Kharim: Eli’ezer, Ishi-Yah, Malkhi-Yah, Shema-Yah, Shimon; 32Binyamin, Malukh, Shemar-Yah. 33Of B’nei Khashum: Mat’nai, Matatah, Zavad, Elifelet, Yeremai, Menasheh, Shimei. 34Of B’nei Bani: Ma’adai, Amram, and U’el; 35Bena-Yah, Ved-Yah, Keluhu; 36Van-Yah, Meremot, Elyashiv; 37Matan-Yah, Mat’nai, and Ya’asai; 38and Bani, and Binui, Shimei; 39Shelem-Yah, and Natan, and Ada-Yah; 40Makhnad’vai, Shashai, Sharai; 41Azarel, and Shelem-Yah, Shemar-Yah; 42Shalum, Amar-Yah, Yosef. 43Of B’nei Nevo: Ye’iyel, Matit-Yah, Zavad, Zevinah, Yadai, and Yo’el, Bena-Yah. 44All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
אוּכְהִתְפַּלֵּל עֶזְרָא, וּכְהִתְוַדֹּתוֹ, בֹּכֶה וּמִתְנַפֵּל, לִפְנֵי בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים: נִקְבְּצוּ אֵלָיו מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל קָהָל רַב מְאֹד, אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים וִילָדִים כִּי בָכוּ הָעָם, הַרְבֵּה בֶכֶה. בוַיַּעַן שְׁכַנְיָה בֶן יְחִיאֵל מִבְּנֵי עולם (עֵילָם), וַיֹּאמֶר לְעֶזְרָא אֲנַחְנוּ מָעַלְנוּ בֵאלֹהֵינוּ, וַנֹּשֶׁב נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת מֵעַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ; וְעַתָּה יֵשׁ מִקְוֶה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, עַל זֹאת. גוְעַתָּה נִכְרָת בְּרִית לֵאלֹהֵינוּ לְהוֹצִיא כָל נָשִׁים וְהַנּוֹלָד מֵהֶם, בַּעֲצַת אֲדֹנָי, וְהַחֲרֵדִים, בְּמִצְוַת אֱלֹהֵינוּ; וְכַתּוֹרָה, יֵעָשֶׂה. דקוּם כִּי עָלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר, וַאֲנַחְנוּ עִמָּךְ: חֲזַק, וַעֲשֵׂה.
הוַיָּקָם עֶזְרָא וַיַּשְׁבַּע אֶת שָׂרֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל, לַעֲשׂוֹת כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיִּשָּׁבֵעוּ. ווַיָּקָם עֶזְרָא, מִלִּפְנֵי בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים, וַיֵּלֶךְ, אֶל לִשְׁכַּת יְהוֹחָנָן בֶּן אֶלְיָשִׁיב; וַיֵּלֶךְ שָׁם, לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתָה כִּי מִתְאַבֵּל, עַל מַעַל הַגּוֹלָה. זוַיַּעֲבִירוּ קוֹל בִּיהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִַם, לְכֹל בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה לְהִקָּבֵץ, יְרוּשָׁלִָם. חוְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָבוֹא לִשְׁלֹשֶׁת הַיָּמִים, כַּעֲצַת הַשָּׂרִים וְהַזְּקֵנִים יָחֳרַם, כָּל רְכוּשׁוֹ; וְהוּא יִבָּדֵל, מִקְּהַל הַגּוֹלָה. טוַיִּקָּבְצוּ כָל אַנְשֵׁי יְהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִן יְרוּשָׁלִַם לִשְׁלֹשֶׁת הַיָּמִים , הוּא חֹדֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁיעִי בְּעֶשְׂרִים בַּחֹדֶשׁ; וַיֵּשְׁבוּ כָל הָעָם, בִּרְחוֹב בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים, מַרְעִידִים עַל הַדָּבָר, וּמֵהַגְּשָׁמִים.
יוַיָּקָם עֶזְרָא הַכֹּהֵן, וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם, אַתֶּם מְעַלְתֶּם, וַתֹּשִׁיבוּ נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת לְהוֹסִיף, עַל אַשְׁמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל. יאוְעַתָּה, תְּנוּ תוֹדָה לַיהוה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם וַעֲשׂוּ רְצוֹנוֹ; וְהִבָּדְלוּ מֵעַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ, וּמִן הַנָּשִׁים הַנָּכְרִיּוֹת. יבוַיַּעֲנוּ כָל הַקָּהָל וַיֹּאמְרוּ, קוֹל גָּדוֹל: כֵּן כדבריך (כִּדְבָרְךָ) עָלֵינוּ, לַעֲשׂוֹת. יגאֲבָל הָעָם רָב וְהָעֵת גְּשָׁמִים, וְאֵין כֹּחַ לַעֲמוֹד בַּחוּץ; וְהַמְּלָאכָה, לֹא לְיוֹם אֶחָד וְלֹא לִשְׁנַיִם כִּי הִרְבִּינוּ לִפְשֹׁעַ, בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה. ידיַעַמְדוּ נָא שָׂרֵינוּ לְכָל הַקָּהָל וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר בֶּעָרֵינוּ, הַהֹשִׁיב נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת יָבֹא לְעִתִּים מְזֻמָּנִים, וְעִמָּהֶם זִקְנֵי עִיר וָעִיר, וְשֹׁפְטֶיהָ: עַד לְהָשִׁיב חֲרוֹן אַף אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מִמֶּנּוּ עַד, לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה.
טואַךְ יוֹנָתָן בֶּן עֲשָׂהאֵל וְיַחְזְיָה בֶן תִּקְוָה, עָמְדוּ עַל זֹאת; וּמְשֻׁלָּם וְשַׁבְּתַי הַלֵּוִי, עֲזָרֻם. טזוַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן, בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה, וַיִּבָּדְלוּ עֶזְרָא הַכֹּהֵן אֲנָשִׁים רָאשֵׁי הָאָבוֹת לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם, וְכֻלָּם בְּשֵׁמוֹת; וַיֵּשְׁבוּ, בְּיוֹם אֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִי, לְדַרְיוֹשׁ, הַדָּבָר. יזוַיְכַלּוּ בַכֹּל אֲנָשִׁים, הַהֹשִׁיבוּ נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת: עַד יוֹם אֶחָד, לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן.
יחוַיִּמָּצֵא מִבְּנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים, אֲשֶׁר הֹשִׁיבוּ נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת: מִבְּנֵי יֵשׁוּעַ בֶּן יוֹצָדָק, וְאֶחָיו מַעֲשֵׂיָה וֶאֱלִיעֶזֶר, וְיָרִיב וּגְדַלְיָה. יטוַיִּתְּנוּ יָדָם, לְהוֹצִיא נְשֵׁיהֶם; וַאֲשֵׁמִים אֵיל צֹאן, עַל אַשְׁמָתָם. כוּמִבְּנֵי אִמֵּר, חֲנָנִי וּזְבַדְיָה. כאוּמִבְּנֵי, חָרִם מַעֲשֵׂיָה וְאֵלִיָּה וּשְׁמַעְיָה, וִיחִיאֵל וְעֻזִּיָּה. כבוּמִבְּנֵי, פַּשְׁחוּר אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי מַעֲשֵׂיָה יִשְׁמָעֵאל נְתַנְאֵל, יוֹזָבָד וְאֶלְעָשָׂה. כגוּמִן הַלְוִיִּם יוֹזָבָד וְשִׁמְעִי, וְקֵלָיָה הוּא קְלִיטָא, פְּתַחְיָה יְהוּדָה, וֶאֱלִיעֶזֶר. כדוּמִן הַמְשֹׁרְרִים, אֶלְיָשִׁיב; וּמִן הַשֹּׁעֲרִים, שַׁלֻּם וָטֶלֶם וְאוּרִי. כהוּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל מִבְּנֵי פַרְעֹשׁ רַמְיָה וְיִזִּיָּה וּמַלְכִּיָּה, וּמִיָּמִן וְאֶלְעָזָר, וּמַלְכִּיָּה, וּבְנָיָה. כווּמִבְּנֵי, עֵילָם מַתַּנְיָה זְכַרְיָה וִיחִיאֵל וְעַבְדִּי, וִירֵמוֹת וְאֵלִיָּה. כזוּמִבְּנֵי, זַתּוּא אֶלְיוֹעֵנַי אֶלְיָשִׁיב מַתַּנְיָה וִירֵמוֹת, וְזָבָד וַעֲזִיזָא. כחוּמִבְּנֵי, בֵּבָי יְהוֹחָנָן חֲנַנְיָה, זַבַּי עַתְלָי. כטוּמִבְּנֵי, בָּנִי מְשֻׁלָּם מַלּוּךְ וַעֲדָיָה, יָשׁוּב וּשְׁאָל ירמות (וְרָמוֹת). לוּמִבְּנֵי פַּחַת מוֹאָב, עַדְנָא וּכְלָל, בְּנָיָה מַעֲשֵׂיָה מַתַּנְיָה בְצַלְאֵל, וּבִנּוּי וּמְנַשֶּׁה. לאוּבְנֵי, חָרִם אֱלִיעֶזֶר יִשִּׁיָּה מַלְכִּיָּה, שְׁמַעְיָה שִׁמְעוֹן. לבבִּנְיָמִן מַלּוּךְ, שְׁמַרְיָה. לגמִבְּנֵי, חָשֻׁם מַתְּנַי מַתַּתָּה זָבָד אֱלִיפֶלֶט, יְרֵמַי מְנַשֶּׁה שִׁמְעִי. לדמִבְּנֵי בָנִי, מַעֲדַי עַמְרָם וְאוּאֵל. להבְּנָיָה בֵדְיָה, כלוהי (כְּלוּהוּ). לווַנְיָה מְרֵמוֹת, אֶלְיָשִׁיב. לזמַתַּנְיָה מַתְּנַי, ויעשו (וְיַעֲשָׂי). לחוּבָנִי וּבִנּוּי, שִׁמְעִי. לטוְשֶׁלֶמְיָה וְנָתָן, וַעֲדָיָה. ממַכְנַדְבַי שָׁשַׁי, שָׁרָי. מאעֲזַרְאֵל וְשֶׁלֶמְיָהוּ, שְׁמַרְיָה. מבשַׁלּוּם אֲמַרְיָה, יוֹסֵף. מגמִבְּנֵי, נְבוֹ יְעִיאֵל מַתִּתְיָה זָבָד זְבִינָא, ידו (יַדַּי) וְיוֹאֵל בְּנָיָה. מדכָּל אֵלֶּה, נשאי (נָשְׂאוּ) נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת; וְיֵשׁ מֵהֶם נָשִׁים, וַיָּשִׂימוּ בָּנִים.
Nekhem-Yah 1 <
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 