The Children of Ater of Hezekiah - Ezra 2:16

In the book of Ezra, Ezra shared about “the children of the province that went up out of the captivity” which included those who came with “Zerubabbel” and were “the children of Zattu, Zaccai, Bebai, Azgad, Adonikam and Adin”,and in chapter two and verse sixteen of Ezra, Ezra shared about “the children of Ater of Hezekiah” where we read,

The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

The verse reads, “The children of Ater of Hezekiah ...” Ezra began with the words, “the children” which means “the offspring and progeny” “of Ater” which means “belonging to Ater whose name means binder and was and exiled descendant, Levite, porter and a chief Israelite who sealed Nehemiah's covenant” “of Hezekiah” or “belonging to Hezekiah whose name means Jehovah is my strength and was the head of a family of returning exiles in the time of Nehemiah”. Ezra shared about the offspring “of Ater of Hezekiah” who also returned to Jerusalem after being exiled in Babylon for seventy years. 

The verse goes on to say, “... ninety and eight.” Ezra continued with the words, “ninety and eight” or “ninety eight offspring” “of Ater of Hezekiah” who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. Ezra listed the ninety eight descendants of “Ater of Hezekiah” who returned to their homeland. 

When we consider Ezra's words in this verse, we learn about another family who went back to Jerusalem with Zerubabbel under the commission of Cyrus the king of Persia. God was assembling all who were willing of the people of Israel, and they were to return to Jerusalem after seventy years of exile in Babylon. God calls everyone to receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind as their “Savior and Lord”, and when we do, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and commission us through His Holy Spirit to fulfill His will in the world and in His Kingdom. 

Next time Ezra shares about, “the children of Bezai”, 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".