Bani, and Binnui and Shemei - Ezra 10:38

In the book of Ezra, Ezra began to name the offspring of the children of Israel who put away their strange wives by listing, “the sons of Immer; Harim and Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah; Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer; Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; and of the sons of Elam; and of the sons of Zattu; of the sons also of Bebai; the sons of Bani; the sons of Pahathmoab; the sons of Harim; the sons of Hashum” and “the sons of Bani”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty eight of Ezra, Ezra added “Bani, and Binnui and Shemei”, where we read,

And Bani, and Binnui, Shemei

The verse reads, “and Bani” Ezra began with the words, “and Bani” whose name means “built”. Ezra made mention of another man named “Bani” who was among the men of Israel who intermarried with foreign wives. 

The verse continues, “and Binnui, Shemei”. Ezra added the words, “and Binnui” whose name means “built up”, “Shemei” or “Shimhi” whose name means “renowned”. Ezra added “Binnui and Shemei” to the list of the men of Israel who forsook their pagan foreign wives at the command of Jehovah God through him. 

When we consider Ezra's words in this verse, we discover more of the names of the men of Israel who married foreign wives and subsequently put them away at the commission of God. “Bani, Binnui and Shemei” obeyed God's directive and aligned with His way rather than their own. God wants us to turn from the ways of this world to follow Him, and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a willingness to stay in keeping with His ways throughout our lives. 

Next time Ezra includes, “Shelemiah and Nathan, and Adaiah”, 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".