In the book of Ezra, Ezra shared about “the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city”and he named the children who, “came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two”, and in chapter two and verse four of Ezra, Ezra shared about “the children of Shephatiah” where we read,
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
The verse reads, “The children of Shephatiah, ...” Ezra began with the words, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Shephatiah” which means “belonging to Shephatiah whose name means Jehovah has judged and was another head of a family of exiles returning from Babylon with Zerubbabel”. Ezra mentioned the offspring of the ancestor of a family who returned to Jerusalem named “Shephatiah”.
The verse continues, “... three hundred seventy and two.” Ezra added the words, “three hundred seventy and two” or “there were three hundred and seventy two people who returned to Jerusalem under Shephatiah”. Ezra accounted for the three hundred and seventy two offspring of “Shephatiah” who returned to Jerusalem.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how the offspring of “Shephatiah” were also included alongside the people with “Zerubbabel” who returned to Jerusalem. One by one Ezra accounted for and named these families who went back to their homeland. God moved in the lives of these people, and they obeyed Him. God moves in the lives of people today by the means of His Holy Spirit to draw them to Himself through His Son Jesus whom He sent into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to be led by Him to go and do as He pleases and wills.
Next time Ezra shares about, “the children of Arah”, 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".
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