We Asked Their Names - Ezra 5:10

In the book of Ezra, Ezra shared how “Tatnai, Shetharboznai and their companions” asked the elders of Israel, “Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?”, and in chapter five and verse ten of Ezra, Ezra shares how “Tatnai, Shetharboznai and their companions” wrote in their letter, “we asked their names also, to certify you”where we read,

We asked their names also, to certify you, 

that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

The verse reads, “We asked their names also, to certify you, ...” Ezra began with the words, “we asked the names also” which means “we, Tatnia, Shetharboznai and their companions, inquired and question the even so and indeed”, “to certify you” which means “to inform, cause to know and communicate with you, Darius”. Ezra shared how “Tatnai, Shetharboznai and their companions” wrote in their letter how they inquired of the “names” of the people who were rebuilding the temple and barrier walls in Jerusalem so they could inform “Darius” about what the Jewish people were doing. 

The verse goes on to say, “... that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.” Ezra continued with the words, “that we might write the names” or “so we, Tatnai, Shetharboznai and their companions, could inscribe and engrave the titles, designations and labels” “of the men” which means “belonging to the male human beings”, “that were the chief of them” or “who existed as the heads and leaders belonging to the Jewish people of Israel”. Ezra shared how “Tatnai, Shetharboznai and their companions” gathered the “names” of the heads belonging to the Jewish people so they could inform “Darius” about who their leaders were. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how “Tatnai, Shetharboznai and their companions” told “Darius the king of Persia” how they gathered the “names” of the elders and chiefs in Israel so he would be informed as to who was responsible for rebuilding the temple and barrier walls located in Jerusalem. The adversaries of Israel were developing their plan to stop Israel from building once again, and we shall see the response in our next few verses. God had a plan for the people of Israel, and He was working it out. Although they had opposition, God would come to their rescue, and He will do the same for us. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the ability to withstand the onslaughts of the enemy even when they take down our “names”.

Next time Ezra says, “they returned us answer”, 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".