What the Rest of the People Gave - Nehemiah 7:72

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah counted the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem to the completion of the barrier wall, and he added, “some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments, And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver”, and in chapter seven and verse seventy-two of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “that which the rest of the people gave” where we read,

And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold,

and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments. 

The verse reads, “And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, …” Nehemiah began with the words, “and that which the rest of the people gave” which means “and the portion that the remainder and remnant of the human beings both male and female granted, entrusted, delivered up and bestowed” “was twenty thousand drams of gold” or “was equivalent to twenty thousand drachma or units of gold metal”. Nehemiah shared how the remnant of the people of Israel contributed “twenty thousand units of gold metal” to the workmanship. 

The verse goes on to say, “... and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “and two thousand pound of silver” or “and maneh, mina or about sixty shekels of silver metal”, “and threescore and seven priest's garments” which means “and sixty seven tunics or outer clothing for the spiritual spokesmen and leaders”. Nehemiah said the remainder of the people of Israel also contributed “two thousand mina of silver metal” and “sixty-seven” tunics for the “priests” to the service and work in Jerusalem. 

When we think through Nehemiah's words in this verse, we see how the remainder of the people of Israel also contributed to the work of the Lord in Jerusalem. Resources are important in the Kingdom of God, and because He owns everything, we are able to follow His example of giving when we return to Him that with which He has entrusted us. God gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross for the sins of the whole world, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a drive to give into His Kingdom so many people will come to know Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”. 

Next time Nehemiah shares what happened, “when the seventh month came”, 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".