Definition: And there went up [some] of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezra 7:7. It’s a really important passage about a significant event in Jewish history! Here's what it means, explained simply: “And there went up [some] of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.” Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And there went up…” : This means a group of people – likely leaders or representatives – were traveling to Jerusalem. It's like a delegation going on a mission. “…some” : This is important. It doesn’t mean every single person of the children of Israel was going. It just means there was a specific group being sent. “of the children of Israel” : This refers to the Israelites, who were the people God gave to Abraham and his descendants. They were in a difficult situation at this time. “…and of the priests” : This includes high-ranking officials within the temple, like priests and priestesses. “…and the Levites” : This is the group of musicians, singers, and performers who supported the temple. They were crucial to the religious life. “…and the singers” : These were people who sang in the Temple. “…and the porters” : These were people responsible for carrying important items and people through the city. “…and the Nethinims” : This is a more obscure term, but it refers to servants or attendants. They were likely involved in helping the priests and other officials. “unto Jerusalem” : This tells us they were going to Jerusalem – their destination. “in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king” : This is where it gets really important. "Artaxerxes" was King of Persia (modern-day Iran) and he ruled over a vast empire. The "seventh year" refers to the seventh year of his reign when he was in charge. So, what’s the big deal? This verse describes a gathering of religious leaders and musicians heading to Jerusalem to plead for their freedom from King Artaxerxes. They were essentially asking him to stop persecuting them. It's part of a larger story about a time when Jewish people were facing challenges and needing help from their leaders. In essence, it’s a historical record showing a group of religious figures seeking a resolution to a conflict. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the context behind this passage (like why it's important in Jewish history)? Answer any specific questions you have about it?