²⁴ Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language^(A) of Judah. ²⁵ I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath^(B) in God’s name and said: “You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves.^{(C) 26} Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him.^(D) He was loved by his God,^(E) and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.^(F)