Ezra 8:16

Then I summoned the leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, as well as the teachers Joiarib and Elnathan.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Ezra addresses the exiles camped at the Ahava canal after a three-day wait and a search that revealed no Levites among the group. He acts as the community organizer to remedy this personnel shortage.

The words — The Hebrew verb וָ/אֶשְלְחָ֡/ה (va./'esh.le.Cha/h) literally means "and I sent." The text explicitly names nine leaders and two teachers to carry out this dispatch.

The thread — This targeted dispatch of named officials parallels the structured leadership assignments in 1 Chronicles 12:32 and the gatekeeping allocations of 1 Chronicles 26:14. It follows the same practical response to divine provision outlined in 1 Kings 3:11.

Why it lands — The verse requires readers to observe how communal restoration depends on identifying specific individuals and directing them to secure necessary personnel. It treats spiritual preparation as a matter of concrete organizational steps rather than abstract prayer.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וָאֶשְׁלְחָ֡הva./'esh.le.Cha/hand/ I sent/ !לֶאֱלִיעֶ֡זֶרle./'e.li.'E.zerfor/ Eliezer לַאֲרִיאֵ֡לla./'a.ri.'Elfor/ Ariel לִֽ֠שְׁמַעְיָהLi/sh.ma'.yahfor/ Shemaiah וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֨ןu./le./'el.na.Tanand/ for/ Elnathan וּלְיָרִ֜יבu./le./ya.Rivand/ for/ Jarib וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֧ןu./le./'el.na.Tanand/ for/ Elnathan וּלְנָתָ֛ןu./le./na.Tanand/ for/ Nathan וְלִזְכַרְיָ֥הve./li/z.khar.Yahand/ for/ Zechariah וְלִמְשֻׁלָּ֖םve./li/m.shu.Lamand/ for/ Meshullam רָאשִׁ֑יםra.Shimchiefs וּלְיוֹיָרִ֥יבu./le./yo.ya.Rivand/ for/ Joiarib וּלְאֶלְנָתָ֖ןu./le./'el.na.Tanand/ for/ Elnathan מְבִינִֽים׃me.vi.Nimteachers

King James Version

Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

Cross-references

1 Kings 3:11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice—
1 Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.
1 Chronicles 26:14 The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him.
2 Chronicles 2:12 And Hiram added: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.
Ezra 8:13 from the later descendants of Adonikam, these were their names: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;
Ezra 8:18 And since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men;
Ezra 10:21 From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
Ezra 10:39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 20:5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

People named

ArielEliezerElnathanElnathanElnathanJaribJoiaribMeshullamNathanShemaiahZechariah