And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
Anyone who didn't show up within three days, as ordered by the leaders and elders, would lose all their possessions and be kicked out of the community of people who had returned from exile.
The leaders are threatening serious consequences - losing everything and being cut off from the community - for anyone who doesn't respond to their urgent call.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Ezra, the Jewish people had returned from exile in Babylon and were working to restore their community in Jerusalem after years of captivity. They discovered that many had married foreign women, which violated God's laws as outlined in the Torah and could lead to spiritual compromise through idolatry. The leaders, including Ezra, issued this decree to enforce accountability and ensure the exiles' commitment to covenant faithfulness during a critical assembly.
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