Ezra found that some of the exiled men who were allowed to return to Jerusalem to help build the house of the Lord were disobedient to God by marrying foreign women. God commanded them to take the land and to refrain from marrying the women of other lands because of their abominations and worship of other gods. He prayed to God and honored Him, recognizing His power and acknowledging the sin of the people. The people made a covenant with God that they would separate themselves from foreign wives and their children and become obedient to God’s commands. Each guilty man presenting himself to the priests, and guilt offerings were given on their behalf.