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.
Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, another Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders; I also sent for Joiarib and another Elnathan, who were men of wisdom and understanding.
Ezra called together respected leaders and wise men to help him with an important task during the journey back to Jerusalem.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Ezra's leadership of the second major group of Jewish exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem around 458 BC. Ezra had gathered about 1,500 families at the Ahava River but realized there were no Levites (temple workers) among them, so he needed to find spiritual leaders before continuing the dangerous journey home.
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