The Children of Bebai - Nehemiah 7:16

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 and Binnui”, and in chapter seven and verse sixteen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the children of Bebai”, where we read,

The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.

The verse reads, “The children of Bebai, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Bebai” which means “belonging to Babai whose name means my cavities”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of “Bebai” were also among the people who returned and remained in Jerusalem to the completion of the barrier wall. 

The verse goes on to say, “... six hundred and twenty and eight.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “six hundred” or “six hundred offspring plus” “twenty and eight” which means “twenty eight more”. Nehemiah shared how there were “six hundred and twenty-eight” of the progeny belonging to “Bebai”.

When we meditate upon Nehemiah's words in this verse, we discover how “six hundred and twenty-eight” of the offspring of “Bebai” were enumerated among the people within Jerusalem. This precise number was exactly what God ordered Nehemiah to do. God wants every person to know they count and are important, and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead three days later. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and place a desire within us to be obedient to His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the power and ability to live according to that truth. (See John 16:33; Acts 1:8)

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