And Ezra the priest stood up
In the midst of the assembly to make his speech, acquainting them with the reason of their meeting together:
and said unto them, ye have transgressed;
the law of God in the following instance:
and have taken strange wives;
of the people of the land and others, idolatrous persons:
to increase the trespass of Israel;
to add to former iniquities, which had been the cause of the captivity.