Definition: Then stood Jeshua [with] his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, [with] their sons and their brethren the Levites.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezra 3:9. It’s a really important passage about rebuilding and restoring a temple – think of it as a story of getting things back on track! Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: Ezra was facing a problem with the people of Judah after a period of chaos and rebellion. He tasked some people – specifically, sons of Henadad and their descendants – to rebuild parts of the temple God had built for them before. This wasn’t just about building a beautiful structure; it was about restoring a sacred space dedicated to God. Let's unpack the details: “Ezra stood…” : This tells us we’re looking at a moment in time when Ezra was leading this effort. “…with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah…” : This identifies the people involved – it's primarily the descendants of Judah, who were part of the tribe of Benjamin, and they are being called upon to participate in the rebuilding. "...together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God…" : This is the key phrase. “Set forward” means to start or begin something. So, they're forming a team – a group of people – to work on this project. "House of God" refers to the temple itself. “…the sons of Henadad, [with] their sons and their brethren the Levites.” : This is where it gets a little more specific. “Henadad” was a powerful leader in Judah who had been exiled. The verse says that he and his descendants (his sons and his brothers) were specifically chosen to lead this rebuilding effort. The "Levites" are priests and religious officials who were responsible for maintaining the temple. In short, it’s about a group of people – descendants of Judah – coming together to rebuild the temple as God instructed. What does this verse tell us about the past? This verse highlights several important things: Responsibility: It shows that God entrusted these responsibilities to specific groups. Faith and Commitment: The act of working together demonstrates a commitment to following God’s will. Restoration: It's a step towards restoring something that had been lost or damaged – the temple. Do you want me to: Explain any of these words in more detail? Connect this verse to a larger story about the rebuilding of the Temple?