Twenty Basins of Gold - Ezra 8:27

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. We fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us. Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, and weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered. I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-seven of Ezra, Ezra shared about, “twenty basins of gold, of a thousand drams” where we read,

Also twenty basins of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.

The verse reads, “Also twenty basins of gold, of a thousand drams;” Ezra began with the words, “also twenty basins” which means “even and indeed twenty bowls” “of gold” or “made with gold metal” “of a thousand drams” which means “pertaining to one thousand drachma which was a unit of weight and value equal to 128 grains or 4.32 grams”. Ezra shared how he also included “twenty bowls” which were made with gold metal and weighed one thousand “drams”.

The verse continues, “and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.” Ezra added the words, “and two vessels” which means “and two articles, implements or utensils” “of fine copper” which means “pertaining to good, pleasant, agreeable and excellent copper alloy or bronze”, “precious as gold” or “pleasant, goodly and desirable in similar manner to gold metal”. Ezra shared how there were “two implements” made with excellent copper alloy or bronze which was as desirable as “gold metal”. 

When we meditate upon Ezra's words in this verse, we learn about more of the valuable treasures that he entrusted to “Sherbiah and Hasabiah” and their ten relatives. “Twenty golden bowls” which were one thousand “drams” in weight and two implements made with excellent copper alloy or bronze were also among the treasures. Each of these would be used in the worship of Jehovah God within the temple, and God was supplying and placing them in the trustworthy hands of His servants. God wants us to have a personal relationship of trust with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and entrust us with His valuables according to His purpose for our lives. (See Luke 19:17) 

Next time Ezra says, “you are holy unto the LORD”, 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".