The Children of Hariph - Nehemiah 7:24

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

The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.

The verse reads, “The children of Hariph, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Hariph” which means “belonging to Hariph whose name means a plucking off”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of “Hariph” or “plucking off” was accounted for among the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem and continued to the rebuilding of the barrier wall. 

The verse goes on to say, “... an hundred and twelve.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “and hundred” or “one hundred offspring plus” “and twelve” which means “and twelve more”. Nehemiah said “one hundred and twelve” offspring of “Hariph” were numbered.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah about another family who returned to Jerusalem after being exiled in Babylon for seventy years. These “one hundred and twelve” offspring belonging to “Hariph” were obedient and faithful to God's commission. God wants us to be obedient and faithful to Him, 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 be raised from the grave three days later so we may be saved. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide and help us to continue to be faithful and obedient to Him for all our lives. 

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