The Porters: The Children of Shallum - Nehemiah 7:45

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”, and in chapter seven and verse forty-five of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the porters: the children of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai”, where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “the porters” or “the gatekeepers or janitors” “the children” which means “the offspring and progeny” “of Shallum” or “belonging to Shallum whose name means retribution”, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Ater” which means “belonging to Ater whose name means binder”, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Talmon” which means “belonging to Talmon whose name means oppressor”. Nehemiah numbered the “gatekeepers or janitors” among the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem and Judah which included the offspring of “Shallum, Ater and Talmon”.

The verse goes on to say, “... the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight” Nehemiah continued with the words, “the children” or “the progeny or offspring” “of Akkub” which means “insideous”, “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Hatita” which means “belonging to Hatita whose name means exploring” , “the children” or “the offspring and progeny” “of Shobai” which means “belonging to Shobai whose name means glorious”, “an hundred” or “one hundred offspring plus” “thirty and eight” which means “thirty-eight more”. Nehemiah said there were “one hundred and thirty-eight” offspring of “Akkub, Hatita and Shobai” who were accounted for among the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem and Judah to the completing of the barrier wall after being captives in Babylon. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover how Nehemiah included the offspring of the “gatekeepers and janitors” within his list of the people of Israel who came back to Jerusalem and Judah to the finishing of the barrier wall. These offspring would be used in the ministry of the temple, and because of their efforts, worship to Jehovah God would be available. God uses people in the church in various areas including gatekeeping and janitorial work when they surrender to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead three days later. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and call us into service within His Kingdom with the gifts of His Holy Spirit operating in and through us. (See Romans 11:29) 

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the Nethinims:: the children of Ziha, Hashupha and Tabbaoth”, 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".