And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
They gave their hands - i:e., came under a solemn engagement, which was usually ratified by pledging the right hand (Proverbs 6:1; Ezekiel 17:18). The delinquents of the priestly order bound themselves to do like the common Israelites (Ezra 10:25), and sought to expiate their sin by sacrificing a ram as a trespass offering. According to the opinion of the Jews at Yemen-all of whom speak beautifully the Hebrew language, and are thought to be descendants of the ten tribes-the Afghans are the progeny of the strange and repudiated wives referred to in this chapter (Joseph Wolff, 'Researches and Missionary Labours,' p. 200).