Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your
Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters
Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to the chapter today Audio Bible.
Speaker 1: I'm John Stanghi, and today we're in Ezra chapter eight,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the English Standard version. These
Speaker 1: are the heads of their father's houses. And this is
Speaker 1: the genealogy of those who went up with me from
Speaker 1: Babylonia in the reign of Artist Xerxes the King, of
Speaker 1: the sons of Phineas Gersham, of the sons of Ithamar Daniel,
Speaker 1: of the sons of David Hattush, of the sons of Shekinaya,
Speaker 1: who is one of the sons of Parosh Zechariah, with
Speaker 1: whom were registered one hundred and fifty men of the
Speaker 1: sons of peihath Moab eliho Nai, the son of Zarahiah,
Speaker 1: and with him two hundred men of the sons of
Speaker 1: Zeti shek Andiah the son of Jahazeel, and with him
Speaker 1: three hundred men of the sons of adin Ibad the
Speaker 1: son of Jonathan, and with him fifty men of the
Speaker 1: sons of Elam Jeshiah the son of Athaliah, and with
Speaker 1: him seventy men of the sons of Shefetaiah Zebediah the
Speaker 1: son of Michael, and with him eighty men of the
Speaker 1: sons of joab Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with
Speaker 1: him two hundred and eighteen men of the sons of
Speaker 1: Boni Selomyth the son of Josephiah, and with him one
Speaker 1: hundred and sixty men of the sons of Bibei Zechariah,
Speaker 1: the son of Bibei, and with him twenty eight men
Speaker 1: of the sons of Asgad Johannan, the son of Hakatan,
Speaker 1: and with him one hundred ten men of the sons
Speaker 1: of Adonaikhi, those who came later, their names being Aliphilet, Jayul,
Speaker 1: and Shamayah, and with them sixty men of the sons
Speaker 1: of Big vi Uthi and Zakor, and with them seventy men.
Speaker 1: I gathered them to the river that runs to Ajava,
Speaker 1: and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the
Speaker 1: people and the priests, I found there none of the
Speaker 1: sons of Levi. Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel Shamayah, Elnathan, Jareb, Elnathan, Nathan,
Speaker 1: Zechariah and Mishulam leading men, and for Joyorib and Elnathan,
Speaker 1: who were men of insight, and sent them to Ido,
Speaker 1: the leading man at the place Cassafia, telling them what
Speaker 1: to say to Ido and his brothers and the temple
Speaker 1: servants at the place Cassafia, namely to send us ministers
Speaker 1: for the house of our God, and by the good
Speaker 1: hand of our God Anna, they brought us a man
Speaker 1: of discretion of the sons of Mali, the son of Levi,
Speaker 1: son of Israel, namely share Abiah with his sons and kinsmen.
Speaker 1: Also Hashebiah, and with him Jeshiah of the sons of Marari,
Speaker 1: with his kinsmen and their sons, twenty besides two hundred
Speaker 1: twenty of the temple servants whom David and his officials
Speaker 1: had set a part to attend the Levites. These were
Speaker 1: all mentioned by name. Then I proclaimed a fast there
Speaker 1: at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before
Speaker 1: our God to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves,
Speaker 1: our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed
Speaker 1: to ask the King for a band of soldiers and
Speaker 1: horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way,
Speaker 1: since we had told the King the hand of our
Speaker 1: God is for good on all who seek him, and
Speaker 1: the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.
Speaker 1: So we fasted and implored our God for this, and
Speaker 1: he listened to our entreaty. Then I set apart twelve
Speaker 1: of the leading priests share Abiah Hashebiah, and ten of
Speaker 1: their kinsmen with them, and I weighed out to them
Speaker 1: the silver and the gold and the vessels the offering
Speaker 1: for the House of our God, that the King and
Speaker 1: his counselors and his lords, and all Israel there present,
Speaker 1: had offered. I weighed out into their hand six hundred
Speaker 1: fifty talents of silver and silver vessels worth two hundred talents,
Speaker 1: and one hundred talents of gold, twenty bowls of gold
Speaker 1: worth one thousand derycks, and two vessels of fine bright bronze,
Speaker 1: as precious as gold. And I said to them, you
Speaker 1: are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy,
Speaker 1: and the silver and the gold are a free will
Speaker 1: offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. Guard
Speaker 1: them and keep them until you weigh them before the
Speaker 1: chief priests and the levi, and the heads of father's
Speaker 1: houses in Israel, at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the
Speaker 1: House of the Lord so the priests and the Levites
Speaker 1: took over the weight of the silver and the gold
Speaker 1: and the vessels to bring them to Jerusalem, to the
Speaker 1: House of our God. Then we departed from the river
Speaker 1: Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to
Speaker 1: go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us,
Speaker 1: and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy
Speaker 1: and from ambushes. By the way we came to Jerusalem,
Speaker 1: and there we remained three days. On the fourth day
Speaker 1: within the House of our God, the silver and the
Speaker 1: gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Merimoth,
Speaker 1: the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eliezer,
Speaker 1: the son of Phineas. And with them were the Levites
Speaker 1: Jozabad the son of Joshua, and Noahdiah, the son of Benui.
Speaker 1: The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of
Speaker 1: everything was rec courted. At that time, those who had
Speaker 1: come from captivity the return to exiles offered burnt offerings
Speaker 1: to the God of Israel twelve bulls for all Israel,
Speaker 1: ninety six rams, seventy seven lambs, and as a sin,
Speaker 1: offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering
Speaker 1: to the Lord. They also delivered the king's commissions to
Speaker 1: the King Satraps and to the governors of the province
Speaker 1: beyond the river, and they aided the people and the
Speaker 1: House of God. Let's pray, Lord, we thank you for
Speaker 1: your word, and we thank you for the privilege of
Speaker 1: being able to look at this portion of scripture today.
Speaker 1: And we thank you Lord that we have the opportunity
Speaker 1: to observe the faith of these people as they traveled
Speaker 1: from Babylonia to Jerusalem. As they were doing so seeking
Speaker 1: to be obedient to You and seeking to establish a
Speaker 1: pattern for worship in Jerusalem like had once existed there
Speaker 1: prior to this captivity. Lord, they came prepared to lead
Speaker 1: in worship. They came prepared to teach your word. And
Speaker 1: the goal was it, ultimately that Jerusalem be a community
Speaker 1: that was focused on You. And we pray Lord that
Speaker 1: that would be the goal of our lives as well,
Speaker 1: that we would be focused on You in worship through
Speaker 1: faith in your son Jesus Christ, who has rescued us
Speaker 1: and redeemed us, and has made it possible for us
Speaker 1: to enter into your presence because of his shed blood
Speaker 1: which was given on our behalf Lord, we're grateful for
Speaker 1: this reality, and we're grateful for all of these scriptures
Speaker 1: which ultimately point to your son, Jesus Christ. And we're grateful,
Speaker 1: Lord that you're present with us today. Lord, we commit
Speaker 1: this day to your care, and we just thank you
Speaker 1: for all of these things in Jesus's name. Amen,