In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “Now these are 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 in chapter two and verse two of Ezra, Ezra shared about the children,“which came with Zerubabbel” where we read,
Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
The verse reads, “Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah.” We refer to Ezra's words in our last verse, “now these are the children” or “here is a list of the progeny and offspring”, and began this verse with Ezra's words, “which came with Zerubabbel” which means “who accompanied Zerubabbel whose name means sown in Babylon and was the grandson of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon”: “Jeshua” whose name means “he is saved” and was “head of a Levitical house which returned from captivity in Babylon”, “Nehemiah” whose name means “Jehovah comforts” and was one of the twelve heads of the people who returned from exile with Zerubbabel”, “Seraiah” whose name means “Jehovah is ruler” and was “a priest or Levite who returned from exile with Zerubbabel”, “Reelaiah” whose name means “bearer of Jehovah”, “Mordecai” whose name means “little man or worshiper of Mars”, “Bilshan” whose name means “in slander”, “Mispar” whose name means “number”, “Bigvai” whose name means “in my bodies” and was “perhaps the head of a family”, “Rehum” whose name means “compassion” and was “a Levite of the family of Bani who assisted in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem”, “Baanah” whose name means “in affliction” and was “the head of a family of exiles returning with Zerubabbel”. Ezra began to share the names of the people who returned to Jerusalem with “Zerubbabel” who served as the political leader of them.
The verse goes on to say, “... The number of the men of the people of Israel:” Ezra continued with the words, “the number of the men” or “the tale, count or accounting pertaining to the male human beings” “of the people” which means “pertaining to the human beings” “of Israel” or “belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Ezra initiated an accounting of the tale of the males from “Israel” who were returning to their homeland.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra the names of the people who were returning to “Jerusalem”. They accompanied “Zerubabbel” who was the grandson of king Jehoiachin and the leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon. “Nehemiah” was “the son of Hachaliah, cupbearer to king Artaxerxes, who became governor of Judah after the return from exile”. Each of these names and people were known and acknowledged by Jehovah God, and perhaps there is a message within the meanings of their names: Sown in Babylon, he is saved, Jehovah comforts, Jehovah is ruler, bearer of Jehovah, little man, in slander, number, in my bodies, compassion, in affliction. Regardless we know this, Jehovah God knows our names as well, and He considered us so important and valuable that He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us an understanding of how important every name and person is to Him. (See John 3:16)
Next time Ezra shares about, “the children of Parosh”, 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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