The Levites - Ezra 2:40

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” among whom were “the men of Michmas, Bethel and Ai, and the children of Nebo, Magbish, the other Elam, Harim, Lod, Hadid, Ono, Jericho, Senaah and the priest's children of Jedaiah, the house of Jeshua, Immer, Pashur and Harim”,and in chapter two and verse forty of Ezra, Ezra shared about, “the Levites” where we read,

The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.

The verse reads, “The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, ...” Ezra began with the words, “the Levites” which means “the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to”: “the children” which means “the offspring and progeny” “of Jeshua” or “belonging to Jeshua whose name means he is saved and was the head of a Levitical house which returned from captivity in Babylon” “and Kadmiel” which means “and Kadmiel whose name means God is the ancient one and was a Levite, descendant of Hodaviah, and head of a family of returning exiles; also oversaw the work on the temple and also was one of the leaders of the people who led the people in the public confession”, “of the children” or “pertaining to the offspring and progeny” “of Hodaviah” which means “belonging to Hodaviah whose name means praise you Jehovah and was a Levite who seems to have given his name to an important family in the tribe”. Ezra referred to the “Levites'” offspring from “Jeshua, Kadmiel” belonging to “Hodaviah” went back to Jerusalem after being exiled in Babylon for seventy years. 

The verse goes on to say, “... seventy and four.” Ezra continued with the words, “seventy and four” or “seventy four members of the family of Jeshua and Kadmiel who were the offspring of Hodaviah went back to their homeland in Jerusalem”. Ezra included the “Levitical” families of “Jeshua and Kadmiel” who were descendants of “Hodaviah” in his accounting for the people who returned to their homeland. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Ezra about the “Levites” who returned to Jerusalem at the commission of Jehovah God through Cyrus the king of Persia. The “Levites” were originally responsible for the physical care of the tabernacle and temple of Jehovah God, so it is no wonder they were among the group of exiles who went back to Jerusalem. God was bringing His people back to their homeland, and He desires the same for us today. He wants a personal intimate relationship with all of us through His Son Jesus who was sent into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we believe 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 so we are able to respond to His desire and will for our lives. 

Next time Ezra shares about, “the singers”, 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".