²³ In those days I also saw Jews who ^(A)had married women of ^(B)Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

Intermarriage with Pagans

9 When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not ^(A)separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, ^(B)with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. ² For they have ^(C)taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the ^(D)holy seed is ^(E)mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this ^[a]trespass.”

³⁰ We would not give ^(A)our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

¹⁰ Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have ^[a]transgressed and ^[b]have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel.

^14 (A)Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For ^(B)what ^[a]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what ^[b]communion has light with darkness?

Principles of Separation^(A)

13 On that day ^(B)they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written ^(C)that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God,

⁴⁴ All these had taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

⁷ Now it happened, ^(A)when Sanballat, Tobiah, ^(B)the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the ^[a]gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry,

¹¹ which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the ^(A)uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their impurity. ¹² Now therefore, ^(B)do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons; and ^(C)never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and ^(D)leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’