Ezra 10

The issue of lists of names rears its requirements strongly in this chapter and the last one to be posted tomorrow. Note the verses where there is no rest (hint, there is only one number in the right hand column which counts syllables to the rest on the subdominant, and from the rest to the tonic). The music fits the words. Whether we like the words or not, we have a sense of their apprehension and urgency.

It appears they thought they were disobeying (Obey is a word I have used for יקה, occurs 3 times) the law, but I think they were misreading the instruction. We have already seen that the whole of them were near kin in any case.

I have not used law as a gloss, only instruction. I have not used soul, but being, very self, and integrity, and a few other things that the word means like throat and cadaver. And I did not use the double barreled loving-kindness (just kindness and mercy). And there is no need for the concept of punishment (just plenty of consequences and responsibility). And I did not use the coinage atonement (just a cover or cover price). Nor have I used repent (just a turning / returning). I required appeasement of Yahweh only from a pagan speaker (otherwise it is a restful fragrance). There are plenty of offerings and offering types of course.

Seven loaded theological words I have not required. Even I am surprised. I did not set out with this in mind. But we impose our idea of what God must be like on the text. Maybe we can read differently and learn the true cost of discipleship.

Ezra 10		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וּכְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל עֶזְרָא֙ וּכְ֨הִתְוַדֹּת֔וֹ בֹּכֶה֙ וּמִתְנַפֵּ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים נִקְבְּצוּ֩ אֵלָ֨יו מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֜ל קָהָ֣ל רַב־מְאֹ֗ד אֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְנָשִׁים֙ וִֽילָדִ֔ים כִּֽי־בָכ֥וּ הָעָ֖ם הַרְבֵּה־בֶֽכֶה	1		And when Ezra had prayed and when he had given thanks, weeping, and falling down before the house of God, from Israel, a very vast congregation was collected to him of men and women and juveniles, for the people wept, excessively weeping.	3e	4C	24 31
וַיַּעַן֩ שְׁכַנְיָ֨ה בֶן־יְחִיאֵ֜ל מִבְּנֵ֤י עֵילָם֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעֶזְרָ֔א אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ מָעַ֣לְנוּ בֵאלֹהֵ֔ינוּ וַנֹּ֛שֶׁב נָשִׁ֥ים נָכְרִיּ֖וֹת מֵעַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעַתָּ֛ה יֵשׁ־מִקְוֶ֥ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַל־זֹֽאת	2		And Shekanayah, child of Yexiel, from the children of Eilam answered, and he said to Ezra, We ourselves have trespassed against our God, and we have settled with foreign wives from the people of the land. And now there is expectation for Israel over this.	3d	4C	44 12
וְעַתָּ֣ה נִֽכְרָת־בְּרִ֣ית לֵ֠אלֹהֵינוּ לְהוֹצִ֨יא כָל־נָשִׁ֜ים וְהַנּוֹלָ֤ד מֵהֶם֙ בַּעֲצַ֣ת אֲדֹנָ֔י וְהַחֲרֵדִ֖ים בְּמִצְוַ֣ת אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וְכַתּוֹרָ֖ה יֵעָשֶֽׂה	3		And now let us cut a covenant for our God, to bring out all wives and those born of them, in the counsel of my lord, and those who are apprehensive by the commandment of our God. And according to the instruction, let it be done.	3e	4C	41 7
ק֛וּם כִּֽי־עָלֶ֥יךָ הַדָּבָ֖ר וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ עִמָּ֑ךְ חֲזַ֖ק וַעֲשֵֽׂה	4	d	Arise because for you is the matter, and we will be with you. Be encouraged, and take action.	3d	4B	13 5
וַיָּ֣קָם עֶזְרָ֡א וַיַּשְׁבַּ֣ע אֶת־שָׂרֵי֩ הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַלְוִיִּ֜ם וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה וַיִּשָּׁבֵֽעוּ	5		And Ezra arose and made the chief of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear to do according to this word, and they swore.	3d	4B	36
וַיָּ֣קָם עֶזְרָ֗א מִלִּפְנֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ אֶל־לִשְׁכַּ֖ת יְהוֹחָנָ֣ן בֶּן־אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שָׁ֗ם לֶ֤חֶם לֹֽא־אָכַל֙ וּמַ֣יִם לֹֽא־שָׁתָ֔ה כִּ֥י מִתְאַבֵּ֖ל עַל־מַ֥עַל הַגּוֹלָֽה	6		And Ezra arose from the presence of the house of God, and walked to the chamber of Yehoxanan, child of Elyashib. And he went there. Bread he did not eat, and water he did not imbibe, for he was longing concerning the trespass of the exiled.	3e	4C	27 22
וַיַּעֲבִ֨ירוּ ק֜וֹל בִּיהוּדָ֣ה וִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם לְכֹל֙ בְּנֵ֣י הַגּוֹלָ֔ה לְהִקָּבֵ֖ץ יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם	7		And they had a declaration pass through in Judah and Jerusalem, for all the children of the exiled to collect themselves in Jerusalem.	3e	4B	28
וְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יָב֜וֹא לִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֗ים כַּעֲצַ֤ת הַשָּׂרִים֙ וְהַזְּקֵנִ֔ים יָחֳרַ֖ם כָּל־רְכוּשׁ֑וֹ וְה֥וּא יִבָּדֵ֖ל מִקְּהַ֥ל הַגּוֹלָֽה	8		And all that would not come within the three days, according to the counsel of the chiefs and the elders, all his property would be put to the ban, and he would be differentiated from the congregation of the exiled.	3e	4C	29 10
וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ כָל־אַנְשֵֽׁי־יְהוּדָה֩ וּבִנְיָמִ֨ן ׀ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֗ים ה֛וּא חֹ֥דֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁיעִ֖י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ כָל־הָעָ֗ם בִּרְחוֹב֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים מַרְעִידִ֥ים עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר וּמֵהַגְּשָׁמִֽים	9		And all the men of Judah and Benjamin collected themselves to Jerusalem within the three days. This was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month. And all the people sat in the piazza of the house of God from trembling concerning the matter, and for the heavy rain.	3d	4B	36 25
וַיָּ֨קָם עֶזְרָ֤א הַכֹּהֵן֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַתֶּ֣ם מְעַלְתֶּ֔ם וַתֹּשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת לְהוֹסִ֖יף עַל־אַשְׁמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	10		And Ezra the priest arose and he said to them, You yourselves have trespassed, and you have settled with foreign wives, to add to the offense of Israel.	3e	4C	28 9
וְעַתָּ֗ה תְּנ֥וּ תוֹדָ֛ה לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם וַעֲשׂ֣וּ רְצוֹנ֑וֹ וְהִבָּֽדְלוּ֙ מֵעַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וּמִן־הַנָּשִׁ֖ים הַנָּכְרִיּֽוֹת	11		And now yield thanksgiving to Yahweh the God of your ancestors to do his bidding. And differentiate yourselves from the people of the land and from the foreign women.	3d	4B	21 19
וַיַּֽעְנ֧וּ כָֽל־הַקָּהָ֛ל וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ ק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל כֵּ֛ן כִּדְבָרְךָ֥ עָלֵ֖ינוּ לַעֲשֽׂוֹת	12		And all the congregation answered and said with a great voice, So, according to your word, we have come up to do.	3c	4B	13 10
אֲבָ֞ל הָעָ֥ם רָב֙ וְהָעֵ֣ת גְּשָׁמִ֔ים וְאֵ֥ין כֹּ֖חַ לַעֲמ֣וֹד בַּח֑וּץ וְהַמְּלָאכָ֗ה לֹֽא־לְי֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ וְלֹ֣א לִשְׁנַ֔יִם כִּֽי־הִרְבִּ֥ינוּ לִפְשֹׁ֖עַ בַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה	13		Lamentably the people are too many, and it is the time of heavy rains, and without power to stand outside. And the line of work is not for one day and not for two, for we are many who transgressed in this matter.	3e	4C	20 25
יַֽעֲמְדוּ־נָ֣א שָׂ֠רֵינוּ לְֽכָל־הַקָּהָ֞ל וְכֹ֣ל ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בֶּעָרֵ֗ינוּ הַהֹשִׁ֞יב נָשִׁ֤ים נָכְרִיּוֹת֙ יָבֹא֙ לְעִתִּ֣ים מְזֻמָּנִ֔ים וְעִמָּהֶ֛ם זִקְנֵי־עִ֥יר וָעִ֖יר וְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יהָ עַ֠ד לְהָשִׁ֞יב חֲר֤וֹן אַף־אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ עַ֖ד לַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה	14		Let please our chiefs stand for all the congregation, and let all that in our cities have settled with foreign wives come in due time from the seasons, and with them, elders city by city, and their judges, until the burning of the anger of our God is turned from us during this matter.	3d	4C	49 20
אַ֣ךְ יוֹנָתָ֧ן בֶּן־עֲשָׂהאֵ֛ל וְיַחְזְיָ֥ה בֶן־תִּקְוָ֖ה עָמְד֣וּ עַל־זֹ֑את וּמְשֻׁלָּ֛ם וְשַׁבְּתַ֥י הַלֵּוִ֖י עֲזָרֻֽם	15	B	But Yonathan, child of Ashael, and Yehezyah, child of Tiqvah, stood at this, and Meshullam, and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.	3c	4B	19 12
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֮ בְּנֵ֣י הַגּוֹלָה֒ וַיִּבָּדְלוּ֩ עֶזְרָ֨א הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֲנָשִׁ֨ים רָאשֵׁ֧י הָאָב֛וֹת לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם וְכֻלָּ֣ם בְּשֵׁמ֑וֹת וַיֵּשְׁב֗וּ בְּי֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִ֔י לְדַרְי֖וֹשׁ הַדָּבָֽר	16		And the children of the exiled did so. And Ezra the priest, some from the heads of the ancestors for the house of their ancestors, differentiated themselves, and they all, by name. And they sat on the first day of the tenth month to search out the matter.	3c	4C	38 20
וַיְכַלּ֣וּ בַכֹּ֔ל אֲנָשִׁ֕ים הַהֹשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת עַ֛ד י֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשֽׁוֹן	17		And they found an end with all the men who had settled with foreign wives, by the first day of the first month.	3d	4B	17 10
וַיִּמָּצֵא֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹשִׁ֖יבוּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת מִבְּנֵ֨י יֵשׁ֤וּעַ בֶּן־יֽוֹצָדָק֙ וְאֶחָ֔יו מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ וֶֽאֱלִיעֶ֔זֶר וְיָרִ֖יב וּגְדַלְיָֽה	18		And there were found from the children of the priests that brought back foreign wives, from the children of Jeshua, child of Jotsadaq, and his kin, Maaseyah and Eliezer, Yariv and Gedoliah.	3e	4C	20 27
וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ יָדָ֖ם לְהוֹצִ֣יא נְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם וַאֲשֵׁמִ֥ים אֵֽיל־צֹ֖אן עַל־אַשְׁמָתָֽם	19		And they gave their hand to bring out their wives, a guilt offering of a ram of the flock for their offense.	3e	4B	11 10
וּמִבְּנֵ֣י אִמֵּ֔ר חֲנָ֖נִי וּזְבַדְיָֽה	20		And from the children of Immer, Hanani, and Zebadiah.	3e	4B	11
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י חָרִ֑ם מַעֲשֵׂיָ֤ה וְאֵֽלִיָּה֙ וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה וִיחִיאֵ֖ל וְעֻזִיָּֽה	21		And from the children of Xarim, Maaseyah, and Elyah, and Shemaiah, and Jechiel, and Uzziah.	3e	4C	5 18
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י פַּשְׁח֑וּר אֶלְיוֹעֵינַ֤י מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל נְתַנְאֵ֔ל יוֹזָבָ֖ד וְאֶלְעָשָֽׂה	22		And from the children of Pashur, Elyoeinai, Maaseyah, Yishmaeil, Netaneel, Jozebad, and Elasah.	3e	4C	5 22
וּמִֽן־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם יוֹזָבָ֣ד וְשִׁמְעִ֗י וְקֵֽלָיָה֙ ה֣וּא קְלִיטָ֔א פְּתַֽחְיָ֥ה יְהוּדָ֖ה וֶאֱלִיעֶֽזֶר	23		And from the Levites, Jozebad, and Shimei, and Qelayah, (this was Qelita), Petaxiah, Judah, and Eliezer.	3e	4B	5 25
וּמִן־הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב וּמִן־הַשֹּׁ֣עֲרִ֔ים שַׁלֻּ֥ם וָטֶ֖לֶם וְאוּרִֽי	24		And from the singers, Elyashib, and from the gatekeepers Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.	3e	4B	8 14
וּמִֽיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִבְּנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֡שׁ רַ֠מְיָה וְיִזִּיָּ֤ה וּמַלְכִּיָּה֙ וּמִיָּמִ֣ן וְאֶלְעָזָ֔ר וּמַלְכִּיָּ֖ה וּבְנָיָֽה	25		And from Israel, from the children of Parosh, Ramiah, and Yezyah, and Malkiah, and Miyamin, and Eleazar, and Malkiah, and Benaiah.	3e	4C	5 29
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י עֵילָ֑ם מַתַּנְיָ֤ה זְכַרְיָה֙ וִיחִיאֵ֣ל וְעַבְדִּ֔י וִירֵמ֖וֹת וְאֵלִיָּֽה	26		And from the children of Eilam, Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jechiel, and Abdi, and Yarmut, and Elyah.	3e	4C	5 19
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י זַתּ֑וּא אֶלְיוֹעֵנַ֤י אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ מַתַּנְיָ֣ה וִֽירֵמ֔וֹת וְזָבָ֖ד וַעֲזִיזָֽא	27		And from the children of Zattu, Elioenai, Elyashib, Mattaniah, and Yarmut, and Zebad, and Aziza.	3e	4C	5 20
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י בֵּבָ֑י יְהוֹחָנָ֥ן חֲנַנְיָ֖ה זַבַּ֥י עַתְלָֽי	28		And from the children of Bebai, Yehoxanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Atlai.	3e	4A	5 11
וּמִבְּנֵ֖י בָּנִ֑י מְשֻׁלָּ֤ם מַלּוּךְ֙ וַעֲדָיָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב וּשְׁאָ֥ל וְרָמֽוֹת	29		And from the children of Bani, Meshullam, Malluk, and Adiyah, Yeshuv, and Sheal, and Ramot.	3e	4C	5 16
וּמִבְּנֵ֛י פַּחַ֥ת מוֹאָ֖ב עַדְנָ֣א וּכְלָ֑ל בְּנָיָ֤ה מַעֲשֵׂיָה֙ מַתַּנְיָ֣ה בְצַלְאֵ֔ל וּבִנּ֖וּי וּמְנַשֶּֽׁה	30		And from the children of the viceroy of Moab, Adna, and Kella, Benaiah, Maaseyah, Mattaniah, Betsalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.	3d	4C	11 19
וּבְנֵ֖י חָרִ֑ם אֱלִיעֶ֧זֶר יִשִּׁיָּ֛ה מַלְכִּיָּ֖ה שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה שִׁמְעֽוֹן	31		And the children of Xarim, Eliezer, Yeshiah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Simeon,	3c	4A	4 15
בְּנְיָמִ֥ן מַלּ֖וּךְ שְׁמַרְיָֽה	32		Benjamin, Malluk, Shamariah,	3e	3g	9
מִבְּנֵ֖י חָשֻׁ֑ם מַתְּנַ֤י מַתַּתָּה֙ זָבָ֣ד אֱלִיפֶ֔לֶט יְרֵמַ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה שִׁמְעִֽי	33		From the children of Xashum, Mattnay, Mattathah, Zebad, Eliphelet, Yeremy, Manasseh, Shimei,	3e	4C	4 19
מִבְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔י מַעֲדַ֥י עַמְרָ֖ם וְאוּאֵֽל	34		From the children of Bani, Maadai, Amram, and Uel,	3e	4B	12
בְּנָיָ֥ה בֵדְיָ֖ה כְּלֽוּהוּ	35		Benaiah, Bedeyah, Kelluh,	3e	3g	8
וַנְיָ֥ה מְרֵמ֖וֹת אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב	36		Vanyah, Meremot, Elyashib,	3e	3g	8
מַתַּנְיָ֥ה מַתְּנַ֖י וְיַעֲשָֽׂי	37		Mattaniah, Mattnay, and Yaasai,	3e	3g	9
וּבָנִ֥י וּבִנּ֖וּי שִׁמְעִֽי	38		And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,	3e	3g	8
וְשֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֥ה וְנָתָ֖ן וַעֲדָיָֽה	39		And Shelemyah, and Nathan, and Adiyah,	3e	3g	11
מַכְנַדְבַ֥י שָׁשַׁ֖י שָׁרָֽי	40		Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai,	3e	3g	7
עֲזַרְאֵ֥ל וְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ שְׁמַרְיָֽה	41		Azarel, and Shelemyah, Shamariah,	3e	3g	11
שַׁלּ֥וּם אֲמַרְיָ֖ה יוֹסֵֽף	42		Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.	3e	3g	7
מִבְּנֵ֖י נְב֑וֹ יְעִיאֵ֤ל מַתִּתְיָה֙ זָבָ֣ד זְבִינָ֔א יַדַּ֥י וְיוֹאֵ֖ל בְּנָיָֽה	43		From the children of Nebo, Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zebad, Zebina, Yadi, and Yoel, Benaiah.	3e	4C	4 19
כָּל־אֵ֕לֶּה נָשְׂא֖וּ נָשִׁ֣ים נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת וְיֵ֣שׁ מֵהֶ֣ם נָשִׁ֔ים וַיָּשִׂ֖ימוּ בָּנִֽים	44		All these had taken foreign wives. And there were of them, wives that had put out children.	3e	4B	10 12

Nowhere in the hundreds of uses of this common stem, have I glossed יצא with put away. Why should I start now in the second to last chapter? If the writer meant put away or put aside why not use סור?

יצא brought out (114) go forth (105) emerge (101) came out (82) went out (81) went forth (70) came forth (65) bring forth (60) go out (53) come forth (50) brought forth (49) bring out (41) going out (41) come out (33) exeunt (18) goes out (17) comes forth (16) going forth (15) coming forth (11) comes out (9) exit (9) gone out (9) brings forth (8) gone forth (8) offspring (8) goes forth (7) -- (5) bringing out (5) emergence (5) brings out (4) come (4) source (4) goings forth (3) bringing forth (2) bulge out (2) coming out (2) go (2) going off duty (2) goings out (2) out came (2) sally forth (2) Yahatsah (1) all came out (1) and went out (1) anyone going out (1) duty (1) forth (1) get out (1) outgo (1) sally (1) there emerge (1) vanish (1)

סור put aside (125) turn aside (59) depart (44) turned aside (41) stubborn (11) turns aside (9) turning aside (4) stay (3) departure (2) Sur (1) frying pan (1) gone off (1) obligation (1) puts aside (1) putting aside (1) scamper off (1)

So I think they all settled with a sin offering and life went on. Anything else would be a bloodbath and an abomination.