The Men of Bethel and Ai - Nehemiah 7:32

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, Bezai, Hariph and Gibeon” and “the men of Bethlehem, Netophah, Anathoth, Bethzamaveth, Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, Beeroth, Ramah, Geba and Michmas”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty-two of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the men of Bethel and Ai”, where we read,

The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

The verse reads, “The men of Bethel and Ai, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the men” or “the adult males” “ofBethel” which means “belonging to Bethel whose name means house of God and was a place in south country of Judah, not far from Beersheba and Ziklag” “and Ai” or “Aija or Aiath or Hai” whose name means “heap of ruins”. Nehemiah accounted for the adult males belonging to “Bethel and Ai” and stayed in Jerusalem and Judah. 

The verse goes on to say, “... an hundred twenty and three.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “an hundred” or “one hundred men plus” “twenty and three” which means “twenty three others”. Nehemiah said there were “one hundred and twenty three” adult males who belonged to “Bethel and Ai” who returned to Jerusalem after being captives in Babylon to the completion of the barrier wall. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the male adults belonging to “Bethel and Ai” were included in the census he took of the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem and continued there to the finishing of the barrier wall. The men with the “House of bread” and “heap of ruins” were part of the ones valued by Jehovah God enough to have them counted. God values us as well, and when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of everyone and was raised from the dead three days later, everyone who believes and trusts in Him as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and placed in His “book of life” which will allow us to be Heaven with Him forever. (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 20:12,15)

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the men of the other Nebo”, 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".