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!”
1 tn Heb “I will go to you.” The imperfect verbal form probably indicates his desire here. The expression “go to” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
2 tn Heb “for he did not know that.”
3 tn Heb “when you come to me.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
4 tn Heb “until you send.”
5 tn Heb “and he went to her.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
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.