Whosoever Would Not Come - Ezra 10:8

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem”, and in chapter ten and verse eight of Ezra, Ezra said what would happen to, “whosoever would not come within three days”, where we read,

And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

The verse reads, “And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, ...” Ezra began with the words, “and that whosoever” or “and that whatever person among the people of Israel”“would not come within three days” or “would in no way or manner enter and be enumerated within three sunrises to sunsets”, “according to the counsel” which means “in keeping with the advice and purpose” “of the princes and the elders” or “belonging to the rulers, leaders, chieftains and official as well as the aged, older and senior men” the following would occur. Ezra said the proclamation given to the people of Israel included a warning to every person who “would not come within three days” in keeping with the advice and directives of the leaders and aged men were to have the following happen to them. 

The verse goes on say, “... all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.” Ezra continued with the words, “all his substance” which means “each, every, the whole and everything within his, the person's, property, goods and possessions” “should be forfeited” or “were to exist as completely destroyed, exterminated and put under a ban”, “and himself separated” which means “and his, the person's, own self will be set apart and divided into parts” “from the congregation” or “separate and apart from the assembly, company and convocation” “of those that had been carried away” which means “belonging to the people who were exiled and held in captivity”. Ezra said everything owned by the people of Israel who would not assemble was to be put under a ban and exterminated, and their own selves would be set apart from those within Israel who were held in captivity in Babylon.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra that the warning given to the people of Israel who would not assemble in Jerusalem was that everything they possessed would be destroyed, and they would be set apart from the ones who were held in captivity in Babylon. God was working His plan, and the people of Israel and their leaders were a part of it. God wants to save everyone through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a willingness and desire to follow His lead as believers in Him. 

Next time Ezra says, “all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together”, 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".