Very soon thereafter a few of the chief men of Israel approached Ezra with a serious complaint. Some of "the people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites" had so far disregarded the holy commands of Jehovah as to intermarry 620 with the surrounding peoples. "They have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons," Ezra was told, "so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people" of heathen lands; "yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass." Ezra 9:1, 2.

Kort efter henvendte nogle af Israels øverster sig til Ezra og forebragte ham en alvorlig anklage. Nogle af "folket, Israel og præsterne og levitterne" var gået så vidt i deres ringeagt for Herrens hellige bud, at de havde giftet sig med nabofolkene. Der blev sagt til Ezra: "Af deres døtre har de taget sig selv og deres sønner hustruer, så at den hellige sæd har blandet sig med hedningerne, og øversterne og forstanderne var de første til at øve denne troløshed!" Ezra 9,1-2.