⁹ If you return to the Lord, then those who have taken your relatives away as prisoners will take pity on them and let them come back home. The Lord your God is kind and merciful, and if you return to him, he will accept you.”

¹⁰ The messengers went to every city in the territory of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far north as the tribe of Zebulun, but people laughed at them and made fun of them. ¹¹ Still, there were some from the tribes of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun who were willing to come to Jerusalem.