The Priests' Children of Harim - Ezra 2:39

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 and Pashur”,and in chapter two and verse thirty-nine of Ezra, Ezra shared about another family among the priests, “the children of Harim” where we read,

The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

The verse reads, “The children of Harim, ...” Ezra began with the words, “the children” which means “the offspring and progeny” “of Harim” which means “belonging to Harim whose name means dedicated and was head of a family of exiles who returned with Zerubbabel”. Ezra shared about the offspring of “Harim” who were among the priests and returned to Jerusalem. 

The verse continues, “... a thousand and seventeen.” Ezra added the words, “a thousand and seventeen” or “one thousand and seventeen members of the family of Harim among the priest went back to their homeland in Jerusalem”.Ezra accounted for the one thousand and seventeen descendants of “Harim” who returned to Jerusalem at the commission of Jehovah God through Cyrus the king of Persia. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra about another family from the priesthood who went back to Jerusalem after being captives in Babylon for seventy years. The offspring of “Harim” numbered to one thousand and seventeen, a large group of people, who traveled back to their homeland in obedience to God. God loves the people of Israel, and He had a plan for them. He has a plan for us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to be among those who hear His voice and obey Him in whatever He says. 

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