And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
Ezra the priest stood up and said. Having fully represented the enormity of their sin, and urged them to dissolve their unlawful connections, he was gratified by receiving a prompt acknowledgment of the justice of his reproof, and a promise of compliance with his recommendation. But as the weather was ungenial, and the defaulters were too numerous to be passed in review at one time, it was resolved that a commission should be appointed to examine into the whole matter. These commissioners, assisted by the judges and elders of the respective cities, made a minute investigation into every case, and, after three months' labour, completely removed all traces of the abuse. Doubtless an adequate provision was made for the repudiated wives and children, according to the means and circumstances of the husbands.