The Children of Elam - Nehemiah 7:12

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. The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen”, and in chapter seven and verse twelve of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the children of Elam”, where we read,

The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

The verse reads, “The children of Elam, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Elam” whose name means “belonging to Elam whose name means eternity”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of “Elam” were also numbered among the people who returned to Jerusalem at the commission of Jehovah God. 

The verse continues, “... a thousand two hundred fifty and four.” Nehemiah added the words, “a thousand two hundred” or “twenty two hundred offspring plus” “fifty and four” which means “fifty four more”. Nehemiah said there were twenty-two hundred and fifty four of the offspring of “Elam” who went back to Jerusalem and continued there while the barrier was was completed. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that “Elam's” twenty-two hundred and fifty four offspring were in Jerusalem at the accounting of the people of Israel. One by one each of these families were being recognized as faithful to obey Jehovah God and to remain in their commitment. God wants to have this type of relationship with us through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross and resurrected from the grave three days later. When we receive Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to do as He says and continue in His work throughout all eternity. 

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