Gathered to the River - Ezra 8:15

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king” among whom were Gershom, Daniel, Hattush, Shechaniah, Pharosh, Zechariah, Pahathmoab, Elihoenai, Zerahiah, Shechaniah, Jahaziel, Adin, Ebed, Jonathan, Elam; Jeshaiah, Athaliah, Shephatiah, Zebadiah, Michael, Joab, Obadiah, Jehiel, Shelomith, Josiphiah, Azgad, Johanan, Hakkatan, Adonikam, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud” as well as hundreds of other men with them, and in chapter eight and verse fifteen of Ezra, Ezra said, “I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava” where we read,

And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

The verse reads, “And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava;” Ezra began with the words, “and I gathered them together” which means “and I, Ezra, assembled them, the chief men, with one another “to the river” or “to the stream” “that runs to Ahava” which means “that enters or comes into Ahava whose name means I shall subsist and was a river of Babylonia”. Ezra shared how he assembled the “chief men” who were returning to “Jerusalem” with him to the stream that enters into the “Ahava” river of Babylon. 

The verse continues, “and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.” Ezra added the words, “and there abode we” which means “and by the stream that runs into the river Ahava we, Ezra, and the chief men encamped” “in the tents three days” or “within collapsable shelters or temporary dwelling places for three sunrises to sunsets”; “and I viewed the people” which means “and I, Ezra, considered, discerned, regarded and observed the country-men, compatriots and kinsmen”, “and the priests” or “and the spiritual spokesmen and leaders”, “and found there” which means “and discovered within the place Ezra and the chief men stayed” “none of the sons of Levi” or “not one or any of the offspring and progeny belonging to the descendants of Levi whose name means joined to and were specially set aside by God for His service”. Ezra shared how he and the “chief men” lodged in “collapsable shelters” for three sunrises to sunsets, and while he was there, he observed the “people and priests” and noticed there were no “Levites” among them. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra about his movement toward Jerusalem along with the “chief men” who accompanied him. They settled for “three days” to the stream that flows toward the “Ahava” river in Babylon, and while they were there, Ezra began to observe the crowd. He noticed the people and the “priests”, however, there were not any of the “Levites” among them. These laborers within the temple would be necessary to carry out the daily activities, and their work was essential for the reestablishing of the worship of Jehovah God. God uses anyone who will yield to His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and employ us in His service according to His Divine purpose and plan.

Next time Ezra says, “then sent I for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan and Jarib”, 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".