that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

Fasting and Prayer for Protection

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

Confession of Improper Marriages

Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly.