9:1 Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents 6 who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 9:2 Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race 7 has become intermingled with the local residents. Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all of this!”
9:1 Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents 8 who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
1 tn Or “is in relationship with.”
2 tn Grk “is one body,” implying the association “with her.”
3 sn A quotation from Gen 2:24.
4 tn Grk “in relationship with.”
5 tn Grk “is one spirit,” implying the association “with him.”
6 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.” So also in v. 2.
7 tn Heb “the holy seed,” referring to the Israelites as God’s holy people.
8 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.” So also in v. 2.
9 tn Heb “all the days of.”
10 sn Darius ruled Persia ca. 522-486
11 sn The purpose of the opening verses of this chapter is to summarize why the Jews returning from the exile were unable to complete the rebuilding of the temple more quickly than they did. The delay was due not to disinterest on their part but to the repeated obstacles that had been placed in their path by determined foes.