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, and Beeroth”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the men of Ramah and Geba”, where we read,
The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.
The verse reads, “The men of Ramah and Geba, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the men” or “the adult males” “ofRamah” which means “belonging to Ramah whose name means hill and was a town in Benjamin on the border of Ephraim about five miles (8 km) from Jerusalem and near to Gibeah” “and Geba” or “Gaba or Gibeah whose name also means hill and was a city in Benjamin, modern 'Jeba', which stands on the top of a steep terraced hill, six miles or ten kilometers north east of Jerusalem and three miles or five kilometres from Gibeah, on the edge of the Wadi Suweinit looking northward to the opposite village of ancient Michmash, modern Mukhmas”. Nehemiah shared how the adult males belonging to “Ramah and Geba” were accounted for by Nehemiah.
The verse goes on to say, “... six hundred twenty and one.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “six hundred” or “six hundred males plus” “twenty and one” which means “twenty one others”. Nehemiah said there were “six hundred and twenty-one” “men” who belonged to “Ramah and Geba” that were numbered among the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem and Judah to the finishing of the barrier wall.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah about another group of male adults who were part of his census. “Six hundred and twenty” “men” from “Ramah and Geba” joined the others who returned to Jerusalem and Judah to the completion of the barrier wall. One by one and group by group Nehemiah was accounting for them, and all of them together would be the people whom God would use to continue His plan of salvation for the world. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He rose from the grave three days later, He made the way for everyone who puts their faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and counted for all eternity as being part of His family in Heaven.
Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the men of Michmas”, 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".
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