Ezra 9 - 10
1
After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, "The people of Israel and the priests and the e Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands f with their abominations, from the g Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2
h For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the i holy race has j mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost."
3
As soon as I heard this, I k tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and l sat appalled.
4
Then all who m trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat n appalled until the evening sacrifice.
5
And at the n evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment k and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees o and spread out my hands to the Lord my God,
6
saying: "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities p have risen higher than our heads, and our q guilt has r mounted up to the heavens.
7
s From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great q guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, t and to utter shame, as it is today.
8
But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a u remnant and to give us a v secure hold within his holy place, that our God may w brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery.
9
x For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, y but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.
10
"And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments,
11
which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with z their uncleanness.
12
a Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land b and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.'
13
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for c our great guilt, seeing that you, our d God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a e remnant as this,
14
shall we break your commandments again and f intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us g until you consumed us, so that there should be no e remnant, nor any to escape?
15
O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a e remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our h guilt, i for none can stand before you because of this."
Ezra 10
1
j While Ezra prayed and k made confession, weeping and l casting himself down m before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.
2
And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: n "We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.
3
Therefore o let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and p their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of q those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done r according to the Law.
4
Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; s be strong and do it."
5
Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel t take oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.
6
Then Ezra withdrew u from before the house of God and went to the v chamber of w Jehohanan the son of x Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither y eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles.
7
And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem,
8
and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles.
9
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the z heavy rain.
10
And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel.
11
Now then a make confession to the Lord, the God of your fathers and do his will. b Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives."
12
Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, "It is so; we must do as you have said.
13
But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
14
Let our officials stand for the whole assembly. Let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come c at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every city, d until the fierce wrath of our God over this matter is turned away from us."
15
Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and e Meshullam and f Shabbethai the Levite supported them.
16
Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of fathers' houses, according to their fathers' houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter;
17
and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.
18
Now there were found some of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, some of the sons of g Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers.
19
They h pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was i a ram of the flock for their guilt.
20
j Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21
k Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22
Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23
Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24
Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25
And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, and Benaiah.
26
Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27
Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28
Of the sons of Bebai were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29
Of the sons of Bani were Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30
Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31
Of the l sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32
Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33
Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34
Of the sons of m Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
36
Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37
Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu.
38
Of the sons of Binnui: Shimei,
39
Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40
Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42
Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43
Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44
All these had married foreign women, and some of the women n had even borne children.
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Cross References
Ezra 6:21
It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.
Nehemiah 9:2
And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 12:30 - 31
Take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? - that I also may do the same.
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Cross References
Exodus 13:5
And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:2
And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of...
Nehemiah 13:23
In those days also I saw the Jews who had marri...
Nehemiah 13:27
Shall we then listen to you and do all this gre...
Exodus 34:16
And you take of their daughters for your sons, ...
Deuteronomy 7:3
You shall not intermarry with them, giving your...
Nehemiah 10:30
We will not give our daughters to the peoples o...
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
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Cross References
Psalms 106:35
But they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
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Cross References
Joshua 7:6
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 1:4
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:3
Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law.
Isaiah 66:2
All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers who hate you and cast you out for my name's sake have said, 'Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy'; but it is they who shall be put to shame.
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Cross References
Exodus 29:39
One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight.
Exodus 29:41
The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and shall offer with it a grain offering and its drink offering, as in the morning, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:4
Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:3
As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.
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Cross References
1 Kings 8:22
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.
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Cross References
Psalms 38:4
For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:7
From the days of our fathers to this day we hav...
Ezra 9:13
And after all that has come upon us for our evi...
Ezra 9:15
O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we...
Ezra 10:10
And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, ...
Ezra 10:19
They pledged themselves to put away their wives...
2 Chronicles 24:18
And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the G...
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Cross References
2 Chronicles 28:9
But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, "Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven.
Revelation 18:5
For her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
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Cross References
Psalms 106:6
Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.
Daniel 9:5 - 6
We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:6
Saying: "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.
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Cross References
Daniel 9:7 - 8
To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:13 - 14
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this.
Ezra 9:15
O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.
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Cross References
Isaiah 22:23
And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house.
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Cross References
Psalms 13:3
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 9:36
Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves.
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Cross References
Ezra 7:28
And who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
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Cross References
Ezra 6:21
It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:2
For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.
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Cross References
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:6 - 7
Saying: "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.
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Cross References
Job 11:6
And that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
Psalms 103:10
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:8
But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:2
For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 9:8
Even at Horeb you provoked the Lord to wrath, and the Lord was so angry with you that he was ready to destroy you.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:13
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:13
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 9:33
Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.
Psalms 119:137
Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules.
Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
Daniel 9:14
Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice.
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Cross References
Psalms 130:3
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
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Cross References
Nehemiah 1:4 - 5
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 1:6
Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.
Daniel 9:20
While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 9:18
Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger.
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Cross References
2 Chronicles 20:9
'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you - for your name is in this house - and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.'
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Cross References
Ezra 9:2
For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.
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Cross References
2 Chronicles 34:31
And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:44
All these had married foreign women, and some of the women had even borne children.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:4
Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 7:2 - 3
And when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them.
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Cross References
1 Chronicles 28:10
Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.
2 Chronicles 19:11
And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord ; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!
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Cross References
Nehemiah 5:12
Then they said, "We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say." And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.
Nehemiah 13:25
And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take oath in the name of God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:1
While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.
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Cross References
Ezra 8:29
Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the Lord.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 12:22 - 23
In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the Levites were recorded as heads of fathers' houses; so too were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 3:1
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 9:18
Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 12:18
So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
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Cross References
Joshua 7:19
Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:3
Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 13:31
And I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
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Cross References
2 Chronicles 29:10
Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us.
2 Chronicles 30:8
Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
Numbers 25:4
And the Lord said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.
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Cross References
Ezra 8:16
Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 11:16
And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God.
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Cross References
Ezra 3:2
Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
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Cross References
2 Kings 10:15
And when he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. And he greeted him and said to him, "Is your heart true to my heart as mine is to yours?" And Jehonadab answered, "It is." Jehu said, "If it is, give me your hand." So he gave him his hand. And Jehu took him up with him into the chariot.
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Cross References
Leviticus 6:6
And he shall bring to the priest as his compensation to the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:20 - 43
Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
Ezra 2:3 - 42
The sons of Parosh, 2,172.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:31
Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:21
Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:29
Of the sons of Bani were Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
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Cross References
Ezra 10:3
Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.