Chapter Nine

1–6. A public assembly convened by Ezra. 7–9. Ezra’s speech. 10–17. Appointment of people to investigate mixed marriages. 18–36. A list of people who entered into mixed marriages. 37–55. The reading of the law.

1 Esdras 9:1. And Ezra rose from before the temple porch and went to the dwelling of Johanan, the son of Eliashib, 1. Verses 1–36 present a narrative of Ezra 10:6-44.

1 Esdras 9:2. and, remaining there, he did not eat bread or drink water, grieving over the great wickedness of the people. 1 Esdras 9:3. And a proclamation was made throughout Judea and Jerusalem to all who had returned from exile, calling them to assemble in Jerusalem; 1 Esdras 9:4. and those who did not appear within two or three days were to have their property confiscated by the judgment of the ruling elders, and they themselves were to be excluded from the assembly of those who had been in exile. 1 Esdras 9:5. And within three days all from the tribe of Judah and Benjamin who had returned gathered in Jerusalem—this was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. 5. This was in the ninth month, that is, the month of Kislev, corresponding to our December.

1 Esdras 9:6. And all the people sat in the courtyard of the temple, trembling at the onset of winter. 1 Esdras 9:7. Ezra, standing up, said to them: You have done wickedness and dwell with women of foreign peoples, adding to the sins of Israel. 1 Esdras 9:8. Therefore, now give confession and glory to the Lord, the God of our fathers, 1 Esdras 9:9. and do his will, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the earth and from foreign women! 1 Esdras 9:10. And the entire assembly cried out, and they spoke in a loud voice: as you have said, so we will do. 1 Esdras 9:11. But the assembly is numerous, and the season is winter, and we are not strong enough to stand in the open air, and this matter is not for us one day or two days, for we have sinned very greatly in this: 1 Esdras 9:12. therefore let officials be set over the assembly, and let all those from our settlements who have foreign wives come to them 12. The assembly proposes that only the officials remain in Jerusalem, and the responsibility for investigating mixed marriages should be entrusted to them. – At their time: Greek λαβόντες χρόνον, “having chosen a time”; also (v. 13) “taking the elders and judges of each place”.

1 Esdras 9:13. with the elders and judges of each place, until God’s anger is turned away from us in this matter. 1 Esdras 9:14. And Jonathan, the son of Asaph, and Hezekiah, the son of Theocanus, took on this responsibility, while Meshullam and Levi and Sabbateus assisted them. 14. Cf. Ezra 10:15. Instead of Hezekiah, son of Theocanus, in 1 Ezra it is called Yahziah, son of Pikthai. The words Levi and Sabbateus in 1 Ezra correspond to: “and Shavfai the Levite.” It is not clear what duties the named people had. Since, as is evident from vv. 16–17, people were chosen by Ezra himself for the investigation of the matter of mixed marriages, the people named in v. 14 apparently took on some other duty, perhaps that of conducting relations with those coming to Jerusalem.

1 Esdras 9:15. And those who had returned from exile carried this out completely. 1 Esdras 9:16. And Ezra the priest chose the chief fathers of all by name, and they met on the new moon of the tenth month to examine the matter. 16. And Ezra the priest chose. In Ezra 10 the matter is presented differently: Ezra himself was chosen along with other people. The meaning of v. 16 apparently arose from an erroneous reading Ezra 10:16.

1 Esdras 9:17. And the examination of the men who held foreign wives was completed by the new moon of the first month. 1 Esdras 9:18. And there were found among the assembled priests those who had foreign wives: 1 Esdras 9:19. of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and of his brothers—Mathithiah and Eleazar and Joriv and Joadan, 19. Cf. Ezra 10:18. Mathithiah (instead of Maaseiah); Joadan (instead of Jedeliah).

1 Esdras 9:20. who pledged themselves to send away their wives, and they brought rams as a sacrifice for their sin; 1 Esdras 9:21. and of the sons of Immer—Hanani and Zebediah, and Manis and Samey, and Jeraiel and Azariah; 21. Cf. Ezra 10:20, where instead of the six listed in v. 21, only Hanani and Zebediah are mentioned.

1 Esdras 9:22. and of the sons of Pashhur—Elioenai, Maseia, Ishmael and Nathanel and Okodil and Saloya; 22. The sons of Harim named in Ezra 10 in 2 Esdras are omitted. Of the sons of Pashhur, instead of Iozavad and Elas (Ezra 10:22), Okodil and Saloya are listed.

1 Esdras 9:23. and of the Levites—Iozavad and Semeis and Koliy, who is also called Kalita, and Patheus and Judah and Iona; 23. Cf. Ezra 10:23. Semeis (instead of Shimei); Koliy (instead of Kelaiah); Patheus (instead of Pethahiah). Instead of Iona in Ezra is called Eliezer.

1 Esdras 9:24. of the singers—Eliasiv, Bakkhur; 24. Cf. Ezra 10:24. Eliasiv (instead of Eliashib). The name Bakkhur is not in 1 Ezra.

1 Esdras 9:25. of the gatekeepers—Shallum and Tolvan; 25. Cf. Ezra 10:24. Of the gatekeepers, Shallum and Tolvan in 1 Ezra “of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem and Uriah”.

1 Esdras 9:26. of the people of Israel, of the sons of Pharos—Jerma and Jeziah, and Melchia and Mail, and Eleazar and Asebiah and Vaneja; 26. Cf. Ezra 10:25, where of the sons of Parosh are listed Ramaiah, Izziah, Malchiah, Miamin, Eleazar, Malchiah and Benaiah.

1 Esdras 9:27. of the sons of Ila—Matthania, Zacharias and Jezriel, and Joavdiy and Jeremoth and Aidiah; 27. Cf. Ezra 10:26. Ila (instead of Elam). Instead of Jezriel and Aidiah in 1 Ezra are listed Jehiel and Eliah.

1 Esdras 9:28. of the sons of Zamora—Eliada, Eleazim, Ophonia, Jarimoth and Savat and Zeralia; 28. Cf. Ezra 10:27: “and of the sons of Zaphu—Elioenai, Eliashib, Matthania, Jeremoth, Savad and Azisa”.

1 Esdras 9:29. and of the sons of Bivaia—Joann and Hanania and Iozavad and Amatia; 29. Cf. Ezra 10:28: “and of the sons of Bevai—Johanan, Hanania, Zasvai and Atlai”.

1 Esdras 9:30. of the sons of Mani—Olam, Mamuh, Yedei, Yasov and Yasail and Jeremoth; 30. Cf. Ezra 10:29: “and of the sons of Vania—Meshullan, Malluch, Adaiah, Yasov, Sheal and Jeramoth”.

1 Esdras 9:31. and of the sons of Addi—Naaf and Mooseia, Lakkun and Naid, Matthania and Sesfil and Valnuy and Manassia; 31. Cf. Ezra 10:30, where there are other names.

1 Esdras 9:32. and of the sons of Anan—Eliona and Asaia, and Melchia and Savvei, and Simon Hosamei; 32. Cf. Ezra 10:31-32, where there are other names,

1 Esdras 9:33. and of the sons of Asom—Altanei and Mattathia, and Savanei and Elifalet, and Manassia and Semei; 33. Cf. Ezra 10:33.

1 Esdras 9:34. and of the sons of Vania—Jeremia, Momdiy, Ismair, Yuil, Mafday and Pedia and Anos, Ravasion and Enasiv and Mamnifanem, Eliasis, Vannus, Eliali, Somei, Selemeia, Nafania; and of the sons of Ezora—Sesis, Ezril, Azail, Samat, Zamri, Yosef; 1 Esdras 9:35. and of the sons of Efma—Maziteia, Zavadei, Idei, Yuil, Vaneia. 34–35. Cf Ezra 10:34-43, where there are other names.

1 Esdras 9:36. All of these had taken foreign wives and sent them away along with their children. 1 Esdras 9:37. And in the new moon of the seventh month the priests and Levites and the Israelites who had been in Jerusalem and in the surrounding region, and the sons of Israel in their places, took their positions. 37. From v. 37 to the end follows a narrative of Neh 7:73-8. – In the new moon of the seventh month, that is, the month of Tishrei.

1 Esdras 9:38. And all the people gathered with one accord in the open space before the eastern gate of the temple, 38. Before the eastern gates of the temple – according to Neh 8:1 before the Water Gate.

1 Esdras 9:39. and they said to Ezra the priest and reader to bring the law of Moses given by the Lord, the God of Israel. 1 Esdras 9:40. And the high priest Ezra brought the law before all the people—from man to woman, and before all the priests, so that they might hear the law, on the new moon of the seventh month, 1 Esdras 9:41. and he read it aloud in the open space before the gates of the temple from morning until midday, before the men and women, and all the people listened to the law. 1 Esdras 9:42. And Ezra the priest and reader stood upon a prepared wooden platform; 1 Esdras 9:43. and beside him stood on the right Mattathia, Sammus, Hanania, Azaria, Uriah, Hezekiah and Baalsam, 1 Esdras 9:44. and on the left—Faldey and Misael, Malchiah, Aofasov, Navaria, Zacharia. 43–44. Cf. Neh 8:4 vv. 43–44 indicate, as in Neh 8:4 13 people standing beside Ezra: seven on the right side and six on the left. According to the book of Nehemiah—seven stood on the left side and six on the right.

1 Esdras 9:45. And taking the book of the law before the people, Ezra sat down with dignity before them all; 1 Esdras 9:46. and when he explained the law, all stood; and Ezra blessed the Lord God Most High, God of Hosts, the Almighty. 1 Esdras 9:47. And all the people cried out: Amen! and, raising up their hands to heaven and falling down to the earth, they worshiped the Lord. 1 Esdras 9:48. Also Jesus and Anniuf, and Saraveia and Yedin and Yakuv, Sabateia, Avtey, Meanna and Kalita, Azaria and Yozavd, and Hanania and Faleia, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord and read the law of the Lord before the people, explaining the reading. 48. Cf. Neh 8:7.

1 Esdras 9:49. And Atfarath said to Ezra the high priest and reader, and to the Levites who taught the people, to all: 49. And Atfarath said to Ezra. According to Neh 8:9: “then Nehemiah, who is also the Tirsatha, and the scribe Ezra, said to the people”.

1 Esdras 9:50. this day is holy to the Lord, and all wept as they heard the law; 1 Esdras 9:51. go and eat rich food and drink sweet wine, and send portions to the destitute, 1 Esdras 9:52. for the day is holy to the Lord, and therefore do not grieve, for the Lord will glorify you. 1 Esdras 9:53. The Levites also exhorted all the people and said: the day is holy, do not grieve. 1 Esdras 9:54. And all went to eat and drink and make merry and to send portions to the destitute, and they made great rejoicing, 1 Esdras 9:55. because they were filled with the words which they had been taught in the assembly. 55. At the end of v. 55 in the Russian text, the words are not translated: καί έπισυνηλθησαν, “and they gathered.” This word indicates that the book ends mid-phrase, therefore the Vulgate adds: “all in Jerusalem celebrate the joy according to the covenant of the Lord, God of Israel.” Josephus (Antiquities XI, 5, 5), following in his account of Ezra the book we are considering, reports that the people, after the described events, fasted for 8 days and then all returned to their homes, singing hymns to God and giving thanks to Ezra for his labors, and that Ezra died in old age and was buried in Jerusalem. There is no basis for asserting that these accounts were ever at the end of Esdras, rather than being borrowed by Josephus from tradition. Professor of the Kiev Spiritual Academy, Master of Theology V. P. Rybinský.