They Which Went Up from Telmelah - Ezra 2:60

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 “ these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel”,and in chapter two and verse sixty of Ezra, Ezra shared about, “the children of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda” where we read,

The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.

The verse reads, “The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, ….” Ezra began with the words, “the children” which means “the offspring and progeny” “of Delaiah” which means “belonging to Delaiah or Dalaiah whose name means Jehovah has drawn and was the head of an exilic family, of uncertain pedigree, claiming to be Israelites in the time of Zerubbabel”, “the children” whose name means “the offspring and progeny” “of Tobiah” or “belonging to Tobiah whose name means Jehovah is good and was the head of a family who returned from exile with Zerubbabel but who were unable to prove their connection with Israel”, “the children” whose name means “the offspring and progeny” “of Nekoda” or “belonging to Nekoda whose name means distinguished and was the head of a family of exiles who were from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer and who could not identify their father's house or their genealogy being of Israel and who returned with Zerubbabel”. Ezra identified the offspring belonging to “Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda” to be among the people who were unable to identify their connection to Israel and returned to Jerusalem. 

The verse goes on to say, “... six hundred fifty and two.” Ezra continued with the words, “six hundred fifty and two” or “there were six hundred and fifty two offspring of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda who went back to Jerusalem”. Ezra said there were “six hundred and fifty two” people who were part of the families of “Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda” that went back to Jerusalem at the commission of Jehovah God. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra about three of the families who were unable to clearly identify their connection to “Israel” and yet went back to Jerusalem. God moved in the hearts and minds of these people to go back to Jerusalem, and even though they could not show their identity, they wanted to be a part of the return from exile. God's invitation of salvation is to everyone, everywhere, and because He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and bring us into His Kingdom to serve and be with Him for all eternity. 

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