Definition: And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezra 8:19. It’s a really important passage in Jewish history! Here's what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse tells us that a group of men from the synagogues of Israel – called “Hashabiah” (which is a Hebrew term for ‘men’) – sent a message to King Josiah of Judah. They were essentially sending a letter or message to him. Let's unpack it further: Ezra: This was a priest and leader who was part of the Jewish community in Jerusalem during the time of King Josiah. 8:19: This is the key part – it’s a specific phrase that's significant. Hashabiah: These are men from various synagogues throughout Israel, including those in Judah (the area now part of modern-day Israel). Think of them as representatives from different Jewish communities. Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari: This is a very important name. "Jeshaiah" was a royal name that belonged to Josiah’s father, King Merari. “The sons of Merari” refers to a specific line of kings and nobles who were close to Josiah's family. It suggests a connection to the royal lineage. His brethren and their sons, twenty: This part tells us there were many men involved – over 20 in total! They sent this message as a group. What was the message? The verse doesn’t explicitly state what they were sending. However, it suggests they were asking Josiah to: Reconcile with God: They believed that Josiah needed to show repentance and forgiveness for the sins of his people – specifically, the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the subsequent exile. Offer a Promise of Restoration: They hoped that Josiah would promise to rebuild the Temple and restore peace and prosperity to Israel. Why is this important? This verse is considered one of the most important pieces of evidence supporting the idea of a return to the covenant with God that Josiah was attempting to establish during his reign. It shows that Josiah was actively trying to address the problems that led to the exile, and the message from these Hashabiah shows he was serious about it. In short: This verse tells us that Jewish men from around Israel sent a message to King Josiah urging him to take steps toward healing and restoring his kingdom through repentance and rebuilding. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific aspect of the verse in more detail? Compare it to another Bible passage?