This is not so much about divorcing wives as it is about repairing the divorce from God. So the proposal for discipline: when you have sinned, bring the matter to the Word of God, the standard of God's Word. And to those ministers and officers who are to administer the Word of God, search the Scriptures to find the solution. That is clearly what they are trying to do here in Ezra 10:3:
let it be done according to the Law.It is not just what we think should be accomplished here. If it was up to us, we would either be too indulgent and allow the practice to go on, or we would be too strict, maybe even kill the people.1
3 Faisons maintenant une alliance avec notre Dieu pour le renvoi de toutes ces femmes et de leurs enfants, selon l'avis de mon seigneur et de ceux qui tremblent devant les commandements de notre Dieu. Et que l'on agisse d'après la loi.