The Children of Bezai - Nehemiah 7:23

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, Adin, Ater of Hezekiah and Hashum”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty-three of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the children of Bezai”, where we read,

The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.

The verse reads, “The children of Bezai, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Bezai” which means “belonging to Bezai whose name means conqueror”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of “Bezai” were among the people who returned to Jerusalem and endured to the completing of the barrier wall. 

The verse goes on to say, “... three hundred twenty and four.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “three hundred” or “three hundred offspring plus” “twenty and four” which means “twenty four more”. Nehemiah shared how there were three hundred and twenty-four progeny of “Bezai” who were included in his census.

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover through Nehemiah that “three hundred and twenty-four” offspring of “Bezai” were included in his accounting of the people who were in Jerusalem. Each of these families, even “conqueror's”, family were known and numbered accurately so the obedient ones would be counted. God knows and loves us in this same manner. His desire is to have us receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of the world and was resurrected from the grave three days later so we may be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and be counted as His family for all eternity. Let all who read these words receive Jesus and be counted within His Kingdom. 

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