The Children of Ater of Hezekiah - Nehemiah 7:21

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city. Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this”, and he included “the children of Parosh, Shephatiah, Pahathmoab, Jeshua, Joab, Elam, Zattu, Zaccai, Binnui, Bebai, Azgad, Adonikam, Bigvai and Adin”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty-one of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the children of Ater of Hezekiah”, where we read,

The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

The verse reads, “The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Ater” which means “belonging to Ater whose name means binder” “of Hezekiah” or “pertaining to Hezekiah or Hizkiah or Hizkijah whose name means Jehovah is my strength”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of“Ater” who was the descendant of “Hezekiah” was numbered by him as those among the people who returned to Jerusalem and continued to the rebuilding of the barrier wall.

The verse goes on to say, “... ninety and eight.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “ninety and eight” or “ninety eight offspring”. Nehemiah shared how there were ninety eight progeny of “Ater” who were accounted for by him.

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover another family, “Ater's”, through Nehemiah who went back to Jerusalem and continued to the finishing of the barrier wall. Ninety eight of “Ater's” offspring obeyed Jehovah God when He told them to go back to Jerusalem, and they remained obedient throughout the duration. God invites everyone to receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised three days later to offer forgiveness of sins and everlasting life to everyone who believes and trusts in Him. God loves us, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us eternal life and allow us to live with Him in Heaven forever. 

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the children of Hashum”, 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".