Definition: And these [were] they which went up [also] from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their fatherĆ¢ĀĀs house, nor their seed, whether they [were] of Israel.
Explanation: Okay, letās break down this verse from Nehemiah 7:61. Itās a fascinating piece of history that highlights a really unusual situation! Here's the explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Story: This verse tells us about a group of people who went up to a specific place ā Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer ā from a location called āTel.ā They were trying to find something important, but they couldnāt reveal the identity or history of their fatherās home or family. Let's unpack it piece by piece: "And these [were] they which went up [also] from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer:" This identifies them as a group of people ā likely religious leaders or officials ā who were traveling to this location. āTelmelah,ā āTelharesha,ā āCherub,ā āAddonā, and āImmerā are all different names for a specific place. "but they could not shew their fatherās house, nor their seed, whether they [were] of Israel." This is the crucial part. They tried to find information about their ancestor's home ā their family history and legacy ā but they couldnāt. āTheir fatherās houseā: This refers to a specific, important place that was connected to their lineage. āTheir seedā: This means their descendants or family line. "Whether they were of Israel" : This is the key part ā it implies they weren't of Israel. It suggests this group was involved in a religious ritual or activity that specifically connected them to the land of Israel. What does this all mean? This verse paints a picture of a secretive and perhaps even somewhat secretive group of people. They were seeking something important, but they weren't willing to share their history or lineage with anyone. It suggests there might have been a conflict or a tradition where revealing family history was considered a sacred or forbidden act. In essence, itās about a hidden past and the difficulty of uncovering long-held traditions. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you a historical context for the story? Discuss what this passage might symbolize?