Heads of Families Return With Ezra

Ezra 8:1–23
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This chapter contains a list of those who returned with Ezra to Jerusalem (vv. 1-14). This was a much smaller group than the one that had returned with Zerubbabel earlier. Those returning with Ezra totaled 1496 males plus 18 heads of families. It is interesting to see how the names that appear in this list are similar to those that appear in the list of chapter 2. It seems that those who returned under Zerubbabel had left parts of their families behind in Babylon. Now many of these are returning under the leadership of Ezra.

Ezra holds a special gathering of the returning group at the river Ahava (vv. 15-20). At this time he discovers that they have no Levites in the group (v. 15) so he sends several of his leaders to recruit.  The result was that 40 of the Levites responded along with 220 helpers. Before they start out the 900 mile journey Ezra calls the people together for a day of fasting and prayers (vv. 21-23). This was to ask God to give them safety and prosperity on their journey. They were taking with them 650 talents of silver and gold (v. 26) which would be about 25 tons. As you can imagine this was a large amount of treasure to transport through the dangerous territory of robbers. Ezra had portrayed God as mighty and protective to King Artaxerxes so he didn’t want to ask for an army for protection (v. 22).

Application

My journey’s today may not be as difficult and dangerous as Ezra’s but I should recognize my need to ask God for guidance and protection. I should always take time to pray before I get into my car for a journey?