Those Reckoned by Genealogy - Ezra 2:62

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 children of Delaiah, Tobiah, Nekoda, and of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name”,and in chapter two and verse sixty-two of Ezra, Ezra shared about the children of the priests who, “sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy” where we read,

These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

The verse reads, “These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found:”Ezra began with the words, “these sought their register” which means “the offspring of Habaiah, Kos and Barzillai were searched for within their, the priests', genealogical records” “among those that were reckoned by genealogy” which means “in the midst or middle of the priests who were registered according to their genealogy”, “but they were not found” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover they, the genealogical records of Habaiah, Kos and Barzillai were in no way discovered”. Ezra shared how the “priests” searched for the genealogical records of these families, but they were in no way discovered. 

The verse goes on to say, “therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.” Ezra continued with the words, “therefore were they” or “wherefore, then and on this account they, Habaiah, Kos and Barzillai, existed”, “as polluted”which means “similar and in likeness to desecrated and stained”, “put from the priesthood” or “separated and apart from the priest's office”. Ezra shared how the men of “Habaiah, Kos and Barzillai” were considered defiled, desecrated and separated from the priestly office. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how important the genealogical record was when it comes to the priests. Because “Habaiah, Kos and Barzillai” were not discovered in the records, they were unable to be “priests”. God has His order, and there were standards that needed to be met to continue as a “priest”. The same is true for His Son Jesus who is the “Savior and Lord” of the world. God sent Jesus into the world as a pure sacrifice who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we surrender to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and purify and cleanse us for use in His Kingdom and in the world. (See 1 John 1:9)

Next time Ezra shares how, “the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim”, 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".