Sunday 2021.11.14
Today's Passages:
Ezra 7:1 - 10:44 RSV (123 verses)
Acts 17:1 - 19:41 NIV (103 verses)
During the reign of King Artaxerxes 1 of Persia, the scribe Ezra ben Seraiah was granted permission by the king to return to his homeland Judah, to the city of Jerusalem with a group of priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants to restore the worship of God Almighty according to the Law of Yehovah.
King Artaxerxes 1 decreed in a letter given to Ezra that Ezra be given silver and gold to make freewill offerings to his God in the Temple in Jerusalem.
In Ezra chapter 7 verses 1 to 5, a genealogy Ezra ben Seraiah is recorded tracing his ancestors all the way back to Aaron the first priest of Israel.
- Ezra 7:1 - 5 RSV Revised Standard Version
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1Now after this, in the reign of Ar-ta-xerx'es king of Persia,
Ezra the son of Serai'ah,
son of Azari'ah,
son of Hilki'ah,
2son of Shallum,
son of Zadok,
son of Ahi'tub,
3son of Amari'ah,
son of Azari'ah,
son of Mera'ioth,
4son of Zerahi'ah,
son of Uzzi,
son of Bukki,
5son of Abishu'a,
son of Phin'ehas,
son of Elea'zar,
son of Aaron the chief priest —
Verse 6 in the same chapter tells us that Ezra the scribe was skilled in the Law of Moses, that the hand of God was with him, causing King Artaxerxes to grant him all that he asked for. In verse 10, we read that Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of Yehovah, to do it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances to the children of Israel.
- Ezra 7:6 RSV
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6this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of
Moses which the LORD the God of Israel had given; and the king granted him
all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.
10For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Finally, after leaving Babylon on the 1st day 1st month, in the 7th year of the reign of King Artaxerxes, Ezra and his contingent of priests, Levites, and temple servants came to Jerusalem on the 1st day 5th month . The journey had taken them altogether four months. (Ezra 7:9).
Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us follow the example of Ezra ben Seraiah to study the Law of Yehovah, to do it and to teach it to one another.
Today I have read a total of one hundred and twenty-three verses from the Old Testament and a hundred and three verses from the New Testament. I have finished reading the Book of Ezra. Tomorrow I will begin reading the Book of Nehemiah while I continue with chapter 20 of the Acts of Apostles.
