Therefore: Again in Hebrew the connective conjunction and the adverb “now” is used for emphasis. Here it is not adversative as above in verse 2, but it expresses the logical conclusion as translated by Revised Standard Version.

Although Ezra did not indicate any hope in this situation, Shecaniah announced there was still hope if they make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children. This may refer to a renewal of the covenant that had been broken by their disobedience. The covenant was a type of agreement between God and the people, but they are not equal partners. The Hebrew expression for making a covenant is literally “cut a covenant [berith].” Similar expressions are used in many languages to express the adoption of a covenant by two parties. Here it is specified that the covenant is to be made “before our God,” indicating that it was a solemn agreement made by the people in the presence of God.

The covenant relationship is a central concept in Old Testament thought (Gen 6.18; Exo 2.24; Lev 2.13). Translators should use a term or expression for a formal agreement that is made between two parties. This is more than a promise that is made by one person to another. It is more than a promise that is accompanied by an oath. A covenant is an agreement that is formalized by an oath and a gesture that is performed by the parties that make the agreement. It is a contract or a pact or an alliance from which the people who enter into the covenant receive a benefit. In many societies covenants are established between warring people to bring about peace. In some societies a husband and wife may ritually share their blood, thereby making a special personal covenant together in addition to the public covenant of the wedding vows. Entering into a covenant relationship may be expressed in some languages as “tying a knot with someone” or “drinking blood with someone.”

To put away or “to send away” (New International Version, New Revised Standard Version) is used here with the meaning of divorce. But this is not the formal divorce that is described in Deut 24.1. This is an unceremonious breaking of the marriage relationships that were considered to be unacceptable. The foreign wives were to be sent away and the ones to whom they had given birth as well, that is, their children. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible says “to send them back.” Translators should use an expression that is equivalent in meaning to the Hebrew and that does not imply normal divorce proceedings.

All these wives is literally “all wives” in Hebrew. 1 Esdras 8.93 and a Septuagint manuscript have “all our wives.” The Hebrew text may represent a scribal mistake resulting from a confusion between two letters.

Shecaniah claimed that his proposal was according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Counsel refers to the advice that one person gives to another regarding action for that person to take. In this case it is a superior who has given advice to a subordinate. My lord refers to Ezra and should not refer to God. Good News Translation restructures from the third person reference to point directly to Ezra in the second person “you.”

Those who tremble at the commandment of our God: This does not refer to literal trembling in fear but rather to honoring God’s commandments (so Good News Translation) and to seeking to be obedient and faithful to God’s commands. Evidently Ezra had given instructions to a group of people who were strict followers of the Law. See Ezra 9.4. Commandment represents the general Hebrew term mitswah that has occurred previously (see Ezra 7.11; 9.10, 14).

Let it be done according to the law: This is a passive command in the third person singular. The speaker does not indicate who should do what he has proposed, but he asks that his proposal be carried out. Some languages may need to change this to an active verb form and provide an indefinite subject; for example, “people should do this thing as the Law says.” Good News Translation shifts the passive command into a personal statement in the first person plural. New Jerusalem Bible does the same but retains the command: “Let us act in accordance with the Law.”

For law the speaker uses the Hebrew word torah (see Ezra 3.2), but there was no law in the Pentateuch requiring separation from foreign wives. However, this may reflect an interpretation of Deut 24.1-4, where the relationship with a foreign wife was considered “something objectionable” (Revised Standard Version “some indecency”).

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .