Old Testament

And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,

Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, Reflection This verse is part of a genealogical and organizational list in Ezra, recording the names of men who were involved in the restoration and reform of Israel after the Babylonian exile. Though brief, it reflects the meticulous attention to detail in Scripture regarding God’s people and their roles in covenant faithfulness. […]

Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,

And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,

And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. Reflection This verse appears spare—three names, no description—yet it sits within one of Scripture’s most searching moments of communal repentance. Recorded in the reforms led by Ezra, the list bears witness to accountability made public. Names matter here because repentance is not abstract; it is personal, specific, and remembered. What Is […]

Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.

All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.

Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.

The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.

The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.

The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.

The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.

The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.

The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.

The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.