Importance of geneaology

Ezra Chapter 2


Verses 3 through 58 lists all the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity to Jerusalem and to other towns of Judah. The list is made of of men who were leaders and is divided by cities and families.

A group returned to Jerusalem from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel. This group consisted of the families of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda, a total of 652 people.

Three families of priests- Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, also returned. Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai of Gilead and he had taken her family name. But they had lost their genealogical records, so they were not allowed to serve as priests. The governor would not even let them eat the priest's share of food from the sacrifices until there was a priest who could consult the Lord about the matter by means of sacred lots.

So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah, and in addition there were 7,337 servants, 200 singers, both men and women. And when they arrived at the Temple, some of the family leaders gave generously toward the rebuilding of the Temple on its original site. And so the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Temple servants and some of the common people settled in villages near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to the other towns of Judah from which they had come.


BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Many exiles, however, preferred the comfort and security they had in Babylon to the dangerous trip back to Jerusalem, so they decided to stay in Babylon.

Genealogies were very important credentials to the Hebrew people. If they could not prove they had descended from Abraham, they were not considered true Jews and were excluded from participation in Jewish community life.

The money given was enough to start rebuilding of the Temple. But it would never match the splendor of Solomon's. And some people wept as they remembered the glorious Temple that had been destroyed.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We all have to start over at some time in our lives. These people could have stayed in Babylon, but many preferred to live in the place of their ancestors and worship there. I have a nice bible study friend who must start over again because her house was ravaged by fire last week. Yes, she has insurance, but she probably can never replace some of her keepsakes. One thing she has that the people of Israel never lost, is her faith. Her faith will see her through these hard times. She belongs to a solid church and her church family will help her too. Just as their faith inspired the Israelites, so too can your faith give you the strength to rebuild. Thanks be to God!


Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them.
And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Update on Marthaline Sargent. She lost her battle with health problems and passed away last Tuesday. Our condolences to her son Patrick and daughter Stacey. Continue to pray for her husband Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
Pray for Debbie who lost her home in a fire last week.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.