Ezra 6:20-21

6:20 The priests and the Levites had purified themselves, every last one, ¹  and they all were ceremonially pure. They sacrificed the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their colleagues ²  the priests, and for themselves. 6:21 The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had joined them ³  in separating themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the Lord God of Israel.

¹ tn Heb “as one.” The expression is best understood as referring to the unity shown by the religious leaders in preparing themselves for the observance of Passover. On the meaning of the Hebrew phrase see DCH 1:182 s.v. אֶחָד 3b. See also HALOT 30 s.v. אֶחָד 5.

² tn Heb “brothers.”

³ tn Heb “who had separated from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to them.”