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. Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty. Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males”, and in chapter eight and verse eight of Ezra, Ezra shared about, “the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael” where we read,
And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
The verse reads, “And of the sons of Shephatiah;” Ezra began with the words, “of the sons” which means “and pertaining to the male offspring, progeny and family” “of Elam” or “belonging to Shephatiah whose name means Jehovah has judged”. Ezra shared how the male offspring of “Shephatiah” were also among the “chief men” who returned to “Jerusalem” with him.
The verse continues, “Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.” Ezra added the word, “Zebadiah”whose name means “endowment of Jehovah” “the son of Michael” or “the male offspring belonging to Michael whose name means who is like God”, “and with him” which means “and alongside and accompanying him, Michael” “fourscore males” or “eighty male human beings”. Ezra shared how “Zebadiah” and eighty other males went back to “Jerusalem”with him
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra about two more groups of the “chief men” who returned to Jerusalem with him. The male offspring of “Shephatiah, Zebadiah” and eighty other men assembled with Ezra to return to their homeland. God was assembling “chief men” who would care for the rebuilding of the city, His temple, His worship and the ongoing service within the spiritual things. God loves the people of Israel, and for this reason He wanted them to make Him first in their lives. He provided for us as well when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and gather us together to function in His Kingdom according to His perfect plan and will.
Next time Ezra shares about, “the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel”, 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".
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