The Children of Gazzam, Uzza and Phaseah - Nehemiah 7:51

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.” Nehemiah included the children of many of the people of Israel in his census, and he added several of the men such as “the men of the other Nebo, the other Elam” and “the children of Harim, Jericho, Lod, Hadid, Ono and Senaah.” He also counted, “the priests, the Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and the children of Hodevah seventy and four” and “the singers, the porters” and “the Nethinims: the children of Ziha, Hashupha, Tabbaoth, Keros, Sia and Padon, Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai, Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, Rezin and Nekoda ...”, and in chapter seven and verse fifty-one of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the children of Gazzam, Uzza and Phaseah”, where we read,

The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,...

The verse reads, “The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the children”which means “the offspring and progeny” “of Gazzam” or “belonging to Gazzam whose name means devouring”, “the children” which means “the offspring and progeny” “of Uzza” or “belonging to Uzza whose name means strength”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of “Gazzam and Uzza” were among the “Nethinims” of Israel who returned to Jerusalem and Judah to the completion of the barrier wall. 

The verse goes on to say, “... the children of Phaseah, ...” Nehemiah continued with the words, “the children” or “the progeny or offspring” “of Phaseah” which means “belonging to Phaseah whose name means limper”. Nehemiah also added the offspring of “Phaseah” or “limper” to the list of the “Nethinims” who returned to Jerusalem.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah about the offspring belonging to “Gazzam, Uzza and Phaseah” who went back to Jerusalem and were to become the servants to the Levites and priests within the temple. It is interesting to note that there are seemingly more of these “servant” names than any other group, and perhaps because everyone is important to God regardless of their position or status, He included more of them in His list. God loves everybody, and He desires to have an eternal, personal and intimate relationship with all of us. This was made possible when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised him from the dead three days later. When we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life, write our names in the “book of life” (See Philippians 4:3; Revelation 21:27) and allow us to live in Heaven with Him forever. 

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the children of Besai, Meunim and Nephishesim”, 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".