The Men of Bethel and Ai - Ezra 2:28

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 Netophah and Anathoth and Azmaveth” and “the children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, Beeroth, Ramah and Gaba, and the men of Michmas”,and in chapter two and verse twenty-eight of Ezra, Ezra shared about “the men of Bethel and Ai” where we read,

The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.

The verse reads, “The men of Bethel and Ai, ...” Ezra began with the words, “the men” which means “the male human beings” “of Bethel” or “belonging to Bethel whose name means house of God and was a place in the south country of Judah that is not far from Beersheba and Ziglag” “and Ai” or “and Ai 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”. Ezra mentioned the male human beings from “Bethel” and “Ai” who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubabbel. 

The verse goes on to say, “... two hundred twenty and three.” Ezra continued with the words, “two hundred twenty and three” or “two hundred and twenty three men from Bethel and Ai were among the people who went back to their homeland in Judah”. Ezra shared how there were two hundred and twenty three men who were descendants of “Bethel and Ai” who went back to their homeland in obedience to the commission given by Jehovah God through Cyrus the king of Persia. 

When we consider Ezra's words in this verse, we discover another group of men who left Babylon to return to Jerusalem. This group, who were descendants of “Bethel and Ai”, listened to the directive of Jehovah God through king Cyrus of Persia, and they obeyed Him. God wants everyone to hear and obey Him because He knows what is best for our lives. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us not only a willingness to listen to Him, but also to be obedient to what He has to say. 

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