Journal Through the Bible: Week 98 Tuesday

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Ezra 2:36-63

The list continues of those who returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem and Judah. Today's list includes the priests, Levites, and Nethinims. There were a few men that could not prove that they were actually priests of the tribe of Levi so they were kept from serving until a priest with Urim and Thummim could be consulted.

Does God issue any commands?

• No commands were given specifically in this passage, but God had given instructions in the law concerning who could be priests from the tribe of Levi. When the nation divided into northern and southern kingdoms king Jeroboam from the northern kingdom of Israel installed his own men to be priests of his own religion. After that nation was taken captive by Assyria, many from the north fled to the south to the nation of Judah during the time of Hezekiah. This could be why there was confusion among the children of Barzillai. They could not show their genealogy so they were required to wait for a priest who had Urim and Thummim to consult the LORD. (The Urim and Thummim was located on the priest's breastplate.)

Does God make any promises?

• God did not speak.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• The offices administered by the priests were to be done by those of pure lineage. Jesus was not of the tribe of Levi, but He was chosen by God to be our High Priest (as well as the sacrifice offered by the High Priest) because of His sinless perfection. Jesus is the only Man who truly had a pure lineage.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.