Those Who Came with Zerubbabel - Nehemiah 7:7

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”, and in chapter seven and verse seven of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about those who, “came with Zerubbabel”, where we read,

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 verse reads, “Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, ...”Nehemiah began with the words, “who came with Zerubbabel” or “that entered and were enumerated alongside and accompanying Zerubbabel whose name means sown in Babylon and was the grandson of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon”, “Jeshua” whose name means “he is saved”, “Nehemiah” or “Jehovah comforts”, “Azariah” whose name means “Jehovah has helped”, “Raamiah” or “Reelaiah whose name means thunder of Jehovah”, “Nahamani” whose name means “merciful and was a chief man among the exiles who returned from Babylon”, “Mordecai” or “little man or worshipper of Mars”, “Bilshan” whose name means “in slander”. Nehemiah shared how “Jeshua, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai and Bilshan” returned to Jerusalem and Judah alongside him and with “Zerubbabel”.

The verse continues, “... Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;” Nehemiah added the word, “Mispereth” or “number”, “Bigvai” whose name means “in my bodies”, “Nehum” or “comfort”, “Baanah” whose name means “in affliction”. “The number” or “the amount or tale”, “I say” which means “I, Nehemiah, utter, declare and proclaim”, “of the men” or “pertaining to the male human beings” “of the people of Israel”which means “belonging to the human beings from Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “was this” or “existed as the following”. Nehemiah began to account for the names of the people who returned to Jerusalem and Judah which included “Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah” and the people in the following verses.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Nehemiah was obedient to God's directive to account for the people of Israel who returned to “Jerusalem and Judah” with Him. One by one he listed their name, and each of them were of importance to Jehovah God. God loves everyone, and He proved His love toward us when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. He was resurrected from the dead three days later so all who believe and trust in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and taught the value of every person and name in the world. 

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