Nisan 9 – Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava…

April 17, 2024

Nisan 9, 5784; from sunset April 16, 2024, to sunset April 17, 2024

This is the name “Ezra” (עֶזְרָא) the Scribe as seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls; written by a scribe over two thousand years ago.

Yesterday we remembered Ezra and the time he gathered the people together who were returning to the Promised Land with him. After making a headcount, he realized they were missing the Levites. He sent word to Iddo at Casiphia to send servants for the House of God. We pick up where we left off…

Now I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And I looked among the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there. Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. And I gave them a command for Iddo the chief man at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia– that they should bring us servants for the house of our God.

Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding,

of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men;

and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men; also of the Nethinim, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim. All of them were designated by name.

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

One wonders if they…Sherebiah and his sons and brothers, Hashabiah, Jeshaiah and his brothers and their sons, and the Nethinim…were they already planning to pack up and leave with Ezra? Or was this a last-minute thing? Were they just going about their daily lives – not even thinking about this opportunity to return to the Promised Land? Did something spark in them when someone came along and said, “Hey, we need you.” Did they respond with an enthusiastic “Yes! Count me in!” Or were they reluctant to leave Casiphia – the place of silver, the place of treasure? Sounds like a nice place to live, doesn’t it?

Perhaps we can apply these questions to our own daily lives. We may not wake up one morning and have someone offer us the opportunity of a physical journey to the Promised Land to serve in the temple. But now, we are the temple, and, according to Simon Peter, we are called to serve in a holy priesthood and offer spiritual sacrifices.

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 2:5

Is someone asking for our help? Can we even be bothered to pray? Whether it involves volunteering our time, our “kesef” (silver, wealth), or maybe even our knowledge in the way of service to the LORD. In the days of Moses, the children of Israel – all those with a willing heart – donated their time, talent, and treasure to bring together everything needed to build the tabernacle. It’s no different in our days. Our Father has given us all gifts and talents. Are we using them to build a place for Him to dwell? Are we using them in His service? How do we respond when someone says, “Hey, I need you.”

To read all of our posts about Ezra, please click on the image above.