Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, saying, “We have acted with vile unfaithfulness against our God and have wedded foreign women from the people of the land, yet there is now hope in Israel concerning this.
should we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the people of these abominations? Would You not become so completely angry with us that there would be no remnant, nor any who escape?
If the people of the land bring merchandise or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day. We will also renounce the seventh year harvest and the full payment of every debt.
And who will listen to you in this matter? Indeed as the share is of the one going down to battle, so will be the share of the one staying with the equipment. They will share equally.”