23 In those days I also saw Jews who ahad married women of bAshdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.

25 So I ccontended with them and 5cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them dswear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. 26 eDid not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, fwho was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. gNevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. 27 Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, htransgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?”

28 And one of the sons iof Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of jSanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me.

29 kRemember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and lthe covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

30 mThus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also nassigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service,