Definition: And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, [was] the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Nehemiah 11:17. It's a little bit complex, but we can understand it as a story about how prayers were organized in ancient Israel. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a group of people – Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, and Abda – who were responsible for leading the prayers during a time when the Israelites were praying for help and blessings. They were essentially the organizers and leaders of these communal prayers. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And Mattaniah the son of Micha…” : This tells us we're talking about someone named Mattaniah, who was a son of Micha (a name that means "remember" or "remember"). “…the son of Zabdi…” : Zabdi is another name. “…the son of Asaph…” : Asaph was another name. "[was] the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer:" : This is a key phrase. “Principal” means leader or chief. So, Mattaniah was leading the prayers and setting them into motion. “And Bakbukiah the second among his brethren…” : Bakbukiah was the second person in this group. “…and Abda the son of Shammua…” : Abda was a son of Shammua. Shammua was a place name, and it’s often associated with a specific region, possibly near Jerusalem. "...the son of Galal..." : Galal was another son of Shammua. "...the son of Jeduthun." : Jeduthun was a son of the king. Putting it all together: This verse tells us that these seven people – Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Abda, and the others – were responsible for starting the prayers for God’s blessings and thanks. They were in charge of coordinating these prayers so that they would be offered to Him with sincerity and gratitude. Why is this important? This story shows that people weren't just passively praying; they had a designated group to lead the process, ensuring that their prayers were thoughtfully and respectfully offered. It highlights the importance of organization and leadership in religious practices. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Give you an example of how these people might have done this kind of prayer? Or, perhaps, do you have a specific question about this passage?