Verse:
Nehemiah 7:16 · "the descendants of Ater, through Hezekiah, 98;"

Context and Background:
The Book of Nehemiah is a historical account focusing on the period of the Jewish return from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, is granted permission to lead this effort. Chapter 7 of Nehemiah is particularly significant as it lists the genealogies of those who returned to Jerusalem, emphasizing the continuity and restoration of the Jewish community.

Analysis:
Nehemiah 7:16 is part of a larger genealogical record that Nehemiah compiles. This verse specifically mentions the descendants of Ater, through Hezekiah, numbering 98. The inclusion of these genealogies serves several purposes:

1. Historical Continuity: The genealogies affirm the continuity of the Jewish people, linking the post-exilic community to their ancestral roots. This connection to the past was crucial for maintaining cultural and religious identity.

2. Covenantal Faithfulness: By listing the families and their numbers, the text underscores God's faithfulness in preserving His people despite the exile. It reflects the fulfillment of divine promises to restore Israel.

3. Community Organization: The detailed record-keeping was essential for organizing the community, ensuring that land and resources were distributed according to ancestral lines. This was vital for re-establishing societal order and religious practices.

4. Spiritual Significance: The mention of specific families, such as the descendants of Ater, highlights the importance of each individual's contribution to the collective mission of rebuilding and renewing the covenant community.

Theological Implications:
The genealogies in Nehemiah, including the descendants of Ater, serve as a reminder of God's providence and the importance of faithfulness to His covenant. They illustrate the theme of restoration and hope, as God brings His people back to their homeland and re-establishes them as a nation. This passage encourages believers to trust in God's promises and to recognize their role in His redemptive plan.

Conclusion:
Nehemiah 7:16, while seemingly a simple record of names and numbers, is a testament to the enduring legacy of God's people and His unwavering commitment to them. It invites readers to reflect on their own place within the broader narrative of faith and to participate actively in the life of their spiritual community.628 (1 Occurrence)

Nehemiah 7:16
The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight.
(See NAS NIV)

628 (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance 628 (1 Occurrence). Nehemiah 7:16 The children
of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight. (See NAS NIV). ...
/num/628.htm - 6k

Indeed (628 Occurrences)
... Its meaning is not intrinsic or fixed, but depends largely on the form of expression
which it accompanies. Multi-Version Concordance Indeed (628 Occurrences). ...
/i/indeed.htm - 34k

623 (1 Occurrence)

/num/623.htm - 6k

642 (1 Occurrence)

/num/642.htm - 6k

Jeremiah (141 Occurrences)
... qv), a priest of Anathoth (Jeremiah 1:1; 32:6). He was called to the prophetical
office when still young (1:6), in the thirteenth year of Josiah (BC 628). ...
/j/jeremiah.htm - 75k

Bebai (3 Occurrences)
... 623 returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem (Ezra 2:11; 1 Esdras 5:13; Nehemiah
7:16 gives the number 628); some of these had married "strange wives" (Ezra 10:28 ...
/b/bebai.htm - 8k

Code (6 Occurrences)
... the Code: When Professor Meissner published, in 1898, some fragments of cuneiform
tablets from the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (668-628 BC), he ...
/c/code.htm - 40k

Hammurabi
... the Code: When Professor Meissner published, in 1898, some fragments of cuneiform
tablets from the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (668-628 BC), he ...
/h/hammurabi.htm - 47k

Psychology
... He is animal as possessing anima, but he is a reasoning animal, which distinguishes
him from the brute" (Bavinck, German Dogm., II, 628). ...
/p/psychology.htm - 38k

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