Also of the Levites - Ezra 10:23

In the book of Ezra, Ezra began to name the offspring of the children of Israel who put away their strange wives by listing, “the sons of Immer; Hanani and Zebadiah; the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah; the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-three of Ezra, Ezra added “also of the Levites”, where we read,

Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, 

(the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

The verse reads, “Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita) ...” Ezra began with the words, “also of the Levites” or “even so and indeed belonging to the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service”; “Jozabad” which means “Jehovah has endowed”, “and Shimei”whose name means “renowned” “and Kelaiah” which means “Jehovah has dishonored”, “(the same is Kelita)” or “the identical and aforementioned one exists as Kelita whose name means crippled”. Ezra shared more of the names of the men who put away their pagan wives, and they belonged to the “Levites”.

The verse continues, “... Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.” Ezra added the word, “Pethahiah” whose name means “freed by Jehovah”, “Judah” or “praised”, “and Eliezer” which means “God is help”. Ezra shared how “freed by God, praised and God is help” were among the “Levites” who put away the strange wives they had married. 

When we meditate upon Ezra's words in this verse, we learn more of the names who were men of Israel who married pagan women and chose to put them away. God's plan of salvation is for everyone who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us into everlasting life and put within us a desire to keep and obey His word at all times. 

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".