The Chief of Israel's Fathers - Ezra 8:1

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. And has extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me”, and in chapter eight and verse one of Ezra, Ezra said, “these are now the chief of their fathers” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon,” Ezra began with the words, “these are now” which means “the following exists as” “the chief of their fathers”which means “the the tip top, upper, choicest, best and head male human beings belonging to their, the children of Israel's, male progenitors, ancestors and progenitors”, “and this is the genealogy” or “and the following exists as the family tree or kindred record” “of them that went up with me” which means “pertaining to the chief men who departed and ascended”“from Babylon” or “separate and apart from Babylon or Babel whose name means confusion (by mixing) and was the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates River”. Ezra began to share the kindred record of the heads of the men of Israel who returned to “Jerusalem” alongside of him from “Babylon”.

The verse goes on to say, “in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.” Ezra added the words, “in the reign” which means “within the royal power, kingdom, sovereign power and dominion” “of Artaxerxes the king” or “belonging to Artaxerxes whose name means I will make the spoiled to boil or I will stir myself (in) winter and was son and successor of Xerxes as emperor of Persia, 465-424 BC who was the royal ruler and leader of Persia”. Ezra mentioned the sovereign power belonging to “Artaxerxes” who was the royal ruler of Persia. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Ezra began to account for the “chief men” and their “genealogies” whom he assembled from the people of Israel to return to “Jerusalem” alongside him. These men were to be used by God to reestablish the city, the temple, the worship and the law of God among the people of Israel. God loves the nation of Israel, and He supplied the personnel who would carry out His will for their lives. God loves us, and He provided His Son Jesus who died 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 assemble whomsoever He wills to come alongside us to establish His Kingdom in this world. 

Next time Ezra shares about, “the sons of Phinehas, Gershom, Ithamar; Daniel, David and Hattush”, 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".