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695 B
695 B
the officials approached me
"Officials" in this case is more likely to refer to the Jewish princes who returned earlier with Zerubbabel.
have not separated themselves
have married people from other lands and have adopted their religion.
and their abominations
The real issue was that when they married outsiders, they abandoned God.
have mixed the holy people with the people of other lands
God's law has provision for Israel marrying people who choose to follow Yahweh as their God. However, in this case the outsiders were leading the Israelites into their mix of religion.
the officials and leaders
The people with specific authority in the government.