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 children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight. The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight”, and in chapter seven and verse forty-six of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the Nethinims:: the children of Ziha, Hashupha and Tabbaoth”, where we read,
The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
The verse reads, “The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the Nethinims” or “the temple servants or slaves who were assigned to the Levites and priests for service in the sanctuary” “the children” which means “the offspring and progeny” “of Ziha” or “belonging to Ziha whose name means parched”. Nehemiah shared how the offspring of servants of the temple were included in his list of Israelite people who returned to Jerusalem and Judah to the completing of the barrier wall.
The verse continues, “... the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth, ...” Nehemiah added the words, “the children” or “the progeny or offspring” “of Hashupha” which means “belonging to Hashupha whose name means stripped”, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Tabbaoth” which means “belonging to Tabbaoth whose name means rings”. Nehemiah added the offspring of “Hashupha and Tabbaoth” to his census of the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that the servants assigned to the “Levites and priests” were included in his census of the people of Jerusalem and Judah. God wants everyone to be included in His list of people who are in Heaven with Him, and this is only possible when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the gifts of His Holy Spirit to use in His Kingdom wherever He deems is best for us to be used. (See Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)
Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the children of Keros, Sia and Padon”, 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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