And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have sinned against our God, and have dwelt with foreign women from the peoples of the land. Even now there is hope in Israel concerning this matter.
shall we again turn back to break Your commandments and intermarry with the people of these disgusting things? Would You not be angry with us until You had finished us, until there is no remnant or survivor?
And if the people of the land should bring goods or any food to sell on the Sabbath, we would not take from them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day. And they would forego the seventh year, and the interest of every hand.
And who will listen to you in this thing? For as the portion of him who goes down to battle, so shall be his share who remains by the baggage. They shall share together.