The Word for Today with Ray

Saturday, December 6, 2025

Lod and Ono - Nehemiah 11:35

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about the groups of the people of Israel and their villages including, “the children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages, and at Ananthoth, Nob, Ananiah, Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, Hadid, Zeboim and Neballat ...”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-five of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “Lod and Ono” where we read,

Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

The verse reads, “Lod, and Ono, ...” Nehemiah began with the word, “Lod” which means “travail and was a city approx eleven miles (17 km) southeast of Joppa in the plain of Sharon in the territory of Benjamin”, “and Ono” whose name means “vigorous” and was “a city in Benjamim”. Nehemiah shared how the towns of “Lod and Ono” were among the locations where the people of Judah inhabited.

The verse continues, “... the valley of craftsmen.” Nehemiah added the words, “the valley” which means “the town and settled abode” “of craftsmen” or “belonging to magicians or workers of cunning and magic art”. Nehemiah shared how “Ono” was a place where the people of Judah lived, and the people there did magic and cunning works.

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Nehemiah that “Lod and Ono” were also settled towns where the people of Judah lived. God was spreading His people throughout the land of Judah, and He would provide for and protect them in those places. God loves Israel, and He loves us as well. He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and He was raised from the dead three days later so all who believe and trust in Him may be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. W hen we surrender our lives completely to Him, God will lead us where He wants us to live like He led the people of Judah.

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the Levites' divisions”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Hadid, Zeboim and Neballat - Nehemiah 11:34

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about the groups of the people of Israel and their villages including, “the children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages, and at Ananthoth, Nob, Ananiah, Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim ...”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-four of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “Hadid, Zeboim and Neballat” where we read,

Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat

The verse reads, “Hadid, Zeboim, ...” Nehemiah began with the word, “Hadid” which means “sharp and was a town in Benjamin”, “Zeboim” or “speckled and was city and surrounding valley in Benjamin between Jericho and Jerusalem”. Nehemiah shared how “Hadid and Zeboim” were locations within “Benjamin” wherein the people of Judah lived.

The verse goes on to say, “... Neballat ...” Nehemiah continued with the word, “Neballat” which means “hidden folly and was a town of Benjamin reoccupied after the captivity”. Nehemiah shared how “Neballat” or “hidden folly” was also among the towns in which the people of Judah dwelled.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah about another three locations in which the people of Judah were dispersed. God has a place for all of us, and when we yield to His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead three days later, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us who will guide us into the places we are to be and empower us to fulfill His desire for us when we arrive.

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “Lod and Ono”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim - Nehemiah 11:33

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about the groups of the people of Israel and their villages including, “the children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages, and at Ananthoth, Nob and Ananiah, ...”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-three of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim” where we read,

Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim

The verse reads, “ Hazor, Ramah ...” Nehemiah began with the word, “Hazor” which means “castle and was a town north of Jerusalem in which the Benjamites resided after the return from exile”, “Ramah” whose name means “hill” and was “a town in Benjamin on the border of Ephraim about five miles (8 km) from Jerusalem and near to Gibeah”. Nehemiah shared how the villages of “Hazor and Ramah” were among the cities that the people of Benjamin inhabited.

The verse goes on to say, “... and Gittaim, ...” Nehemiah continued with the words, “And Gittaim” whose name means “two winepresses which was a place in Judah whose site is unknown”. Nehemiah said “Gittaim” whose name means two winepresses was also a location where the people of Benjamin lived.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah about three more of the locations where the people of Benjamin lived. “Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim” became the dwelling places of God's chosen people, and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the grave three days later as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and establish us and His people in His desired locations throughout the world.

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “Hadid, Zeboim and Neballat”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Ananthoth, Nob and Ananiah - Nehemiah 11:32

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about the groups of the people of Israel and their villages including, “the children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-two of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “Ananthoth, Nob and Ananiah” where we read,

And at Ananthoth, Nob and Ananiah, ...

The verse reads, “And at Ananthoth, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “at at Ananthoth” which means “and within the villages of Ananthoth whose name means answers to prayer”. Nehemiah shared how some of the people of Judah lived within the villages whose names mean “answers to prayer”.

The verse continues, “... Nob and Ananiah, ” Nehemiah added the word, “Nob” which means “high place which was a priestly city in Benjamin situated on some eminence north but near Jerusalem” “and Ananiah” whose name means “Jehovah clouds and was the ancestor of Azariah who assisted in rebuilding the city wall in the time of Nehemiah”. Nehemiah said some of the people of Judah inhabited “Nob and Ananiah” whose names means “high place and Jehovah clouds”.

When we consider Nehemiah's words in this verse, we discover more of the places that the people of Judah inhabited. “Ananthoth, Nob and Ananiah” whose names mean “answers to prayer, high place and Jehovah clouds” were the locations to which God directed these people. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead three days later, and when we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sin, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us throughout our lives to the location in His Kingdom that He desires for us to be.

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The Children Also of Benjamin Nehemiah 11:31

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjathearba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof. And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet, and at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof. And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof. And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth. Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-one of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the children also of Benjamin” where we read,

The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash,

and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages.

The verse reads, “The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the children also of Benjamin” which means “the offspring and progeny even so and indeed belonging to Benjamin whose name means son of the right hand” “from Geba” which means “from the village of Geba or Geba or Gibeah whose name means hill” “dwelt at Michmash” or “lived, abode and inhabited the village called Michmash whose name means hidden”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of “Benjamin” who were from “Gibeah” lived within the village at “Michmash”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “and Aija” whose name means “heap of ruins and was a city lying east of Bethel and beside Bethaven near Jericho and the second city taken on the invasion of Canaan”, “and Bethel” or “house of God and was a place in south country of Judah, not far from Beersheba and Ziklag”, “and in their villages” which means “and within Aija and Bethel's settled abodes and towns”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of “Benjamin” also occupied the area and towns of “Aija and Bethel”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that the offspring of “Benjamin” who were from “Gibeah” settled in the towns of “Michmash, Aija and Bethel”. Each of these families were living in areas God designed and gave to them, and He does the same for us today. God loves the people of Israel, and He loves us. He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, and He raised Him from the dead three days later so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and establish us in the location He has in mind within His Kingdom.

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “Ananthoth, Nob and Ananiah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Friday, December 5, 2025

Zanoah, Adullam, Lachish, Azekah, Beersheba and Hinnom - Nehemiah 11:30

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjathearba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof. And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet, and at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof. And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof. And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “Zanoah, Adullam, Lachish, Azekah, Beersheba and Hinnom” where we read,

Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof,

at Azekah and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.

The verse reads, “Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, ...” Nehemiah began with the word, “Zanoah” whose name means “cast off and was a city in the low country of Judah”, “Adullam” whose name means “justice of the people which was a town of the Canaanites allotted to Judah and lying in the lowlands”, “and in their villages” or “and within their, Zanoah and Adullam's, towns and settled abodes”, “at Lachish” which means “at the village of Lachish whose name means invincible and was a city lying south of Jerusalem on the boarders of Simeon which belonged to the Amorites until conquered by Joshua and allotted to Judah”, “and the fields thereof” or “and the cultivated land or plains within Lachish”. Nehemiah shared how “Zanoah, Adullam, their fields and the cultivated plains of Lachish” were also places where the people of Judah lived.

The verse continues, “... at Azekah and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.” Nehemiah added the words, “at Azekah” which means “within the village of Azekah whose name means dug over and was a town in the lowlands of Judah” “and in the villages thereof” or “and within the towns and settled abodes belonging to Azekah”. “And they dwelt from Beersheba” which means “and they, the people of Judah, lived, abode and inhabited from the town of Beersheba whose name means well of the sevenfold oath which was a city at the south edge of Israel” “unto the valley of Hinnom” or “to the steep and narrow gorge belonging to Hinnom whose name means lamentation”. Nehemiah shared how “Azekah” and the settled abodes within it was a place where the people of Judah lived, and they inhabited the area from “Beersheba” to the steep, rocky sided and narrow gorge located in “Hinnom”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how “Zanoah, Adullam, their villages, Lachish and the fields within it and Azekah” were all places where the people of Judah scattered to live. Their settled abodes began at “Beersheba” and extended to the narrow gorge of “Hinnom”. Each of these places were known by God, and He orchestrated and oversaw all these locations and people. God loves the people of Israel, and He provided for and protected them when they obeyed Him. He loves us as well, and His desire is to have a personal intimate relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead three days later. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us His Holy Spirit who will lead and guide us to the place we are to be and how we are to serve Him while we are there.

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the children also of Benjamin”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…