About the Author of the Blogsite, Not the Author of the Bible::

About the Author of the Blogsite, Not the Author of the Bible: I was uncertain of how to accomplish this, mindful of Revelation 22:18-19, which says that nobody is to add to, or to take away from what was written in the Bible. After lots of prayerful contemplation, the Lord had it on my heart that I’m not to change the meaning of what is written in the Bible. He has also shown ways to add to people’s understating of that meaning, without altering the meaning, by putting that info within [brackets]. This is primarily accomplished with the KJV Bible and lots of prayers, but at times, BibleGateway.com, Biblehub.com, NIV Bible, Webster Dictionary, and other internet resources, as needed. Debra Seiling

About Understanding the Bible:

Understanding the Bible: After reading Isaiah 28:10 many times over the years and not totally understanding it, it recently became apparent to me that the Lord God has this passage as the means for understanding the Bible. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. Isaiah 28:10 KJV. Being prayerful about this passage, and looking up 'precept' in the Webster's Dictionary, it gave this passage a whole new meaning, once 'commandment' is substituted for 'precept'. Within brackets are additional words the Lord had on my heart to aid in understanding the meaning. For commandment must be [built up] upon commandment; commandment upon commandment; line upon line, line upon line; [developing understanding] here a little, and there a little.

The Table Format:

The Table Format: I was overwhelmed with how to explain the process for determining if someone had leprosy in Leviticus 13, which seemed very complicated. After praying, "Lord, if this is difficult for me to understand after reading it many times, how can this be explained to others?" The thought the Lord God had on my heart was for me to put it into a vertical chart to visually see the process. This made it much easier for me to follow the progression. After doing so, I prayed, "Lord, how can this be conveyed to readers, so that they can understand this process?" The thought the Lord God had on my heart was to put it within the lines of a table. Being a stiff-necked, stubborn person, as it's often called in the Bible, I prayed, asking the Lord God if He's sure that's really what He wanted me to do? I reluctantly put Leviticus 13 into a table format. When I read this difficult leprosy process within a table format, it suddenly became easier for me to understand. That's because it builds line upon line, as explained in the Understanding the Bible section. Shortly after that, the Lord God had it on my heart, to put all of The Books of the Bible in Smaller Chunks within a table format, to aid in understanding, line upon line.

12/30/2023

Ezra 7:1-28 Ezra’s Genealogy & Funding the Rebuilding of the Lord’s House.

 

Ezra’s Genealogy & Funding the Rebuilding of the Lord’s House.

Ezra 7:1-28      The Book of Ezra in [Smaller Chunks]

After these things, [during] the reign of Artaxerxes, [Persia’] king, [were:] Ezra [was Seraiah’s] son. [Seraiah was Azariah’s] son. [Azariah was Hilkiah’s] son. [Hilkiah was] the son of Shallum. [Shallum was Zadok’s] son.

[Zadok was Ahitub’s] son. [Ahitub was Amariah’s] son. [Amariah was Azariah’s] son. [Azariah was Meraioth’s] son. [Meraioth was Zerahiah’s] son. [Zerahiah was Uzzi’s] son. [Uzzi was Bukki’s] son. [Bukki was Abishua’s] son.

[Abishua was Phinehas’] son. [Phinehas was Eleazar’s] son. [Eleazar was Aaron’s] son, the chief priest [also Aaron was the brother of Moses.] This Ezra [left] Babylon & was a [capable] scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. 

The king granted [Ezra] all [he requested, because] the hand of the Lord, his God, was upon him. [Also,] some of the children [people] of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers [& musicians] & the [gate keepers] & the Nethinims went up to Jerusalem, [during] the 7th year king Artaxerxes [ruled.] 

[Ezra] came to Jerusalem in the 5th month, which was [during] the 7th year of the king. On the 1st day of the 1st month, [Ezra left] Babylon & on the 1st day of the 5th month, [Ezra] came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord & to do it & to teach statutes & judgments in Israel.

Now, this is the copy of the letter king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest & a scribe of the commandments, statutes & words of the Lord to Israel. [From] Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest & a scribe of the Law of perfect peace, at such a time of, the God of heaven. 

[Isaiah 49:8-10 The Lord says [this,] In an acceptable time, I have heard you & in a day of Salvation I have helped you & I will preserve you for a covenant [contract for] My people, to establish the earth & to cause [them] to inherit the desolate [& empty] heritages. That you may say to the prisoners, Go forth; to those [who] are in darkness, Show yourselves.

They shall feed in the [paths] & their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger, nor thirst. Neither shall the heat nor the sun [strike] them. For He, [Who] has mercy on them, shall lead them, even by the springs of water, He shall guide them.] 

I make a decree, [that] all [who are of a mind] of their own free will, of the people of Israel & of His priests & Levites, in my [kingdom may] go up to Jerusalem, with you. [Since,] you are sent [by] the king & his 7 counselors, to [inquire about] Judah & Jerusalem, according to the Law of your God, which is in [Ezra’s] hand. 

Carry the silver & the gold which the king & the counselors have freely offered to the [Lord] God of Israel, Whose habitation is in Jerusalem. And all the silver & gold you can find in all [of] the province of Babylon, the freewill offering of the people & the priests [who offered] willingly for the house of their God in Jerusalem.

[So] you [may quickly] buy with this money: bulls, rams & lambs to offer on the altar of [God’s] house in Jerusalem with their [meat/grain] offerings & drink offerings. Do whatever [seems best] to you & your brethren with the rest of the silver & gold, [according] to the will of your God.

Also, deliver before the God of Jerusalem, the vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God. Out of the king’s treasure house [will be given whatever you shall still need] for the house of your God.

I, king Artaxerxes, do make a decree to all the treasurers beyond the [Euphrates] River, [to speedily give whatever] Ezra, the priest & scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, [might need from] you, [up to] 100 talents of silver, 100 measures of wheat, 100 baths of wine & 100 baths of oil & [an unlimited amount of] salt. 

[Whatever] the [Lord] God of heaven commands, [shall] be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven. For [why] should there be [any anger] against the [kingdom] of the king & his sons? 

We certify [to] you, that it is [unlawful] to impose [a tax,] tribute, or [import taxes upon any] of the priests, Levites, singers [& musicians,] [gate keepers,] Nethinims, or ministers of [God’s] house. 

[According to] the wisdom of your God, [Who] is your [right] hand, Ezra, [Who] [puts law officers,] judges & all [who] know the Laws of your God [to] judge all the people beyond the [Euphrates] River & to teach [those who don’t] know them.

Let judgment be [carried out] speedily, whether [for] death, [exile], imprisonment, or confiscation of goods [from those who won’t] do the Law of your God & the law of the king. 

Blessed be the Lord God of our [forefathers,] which has put [something] such as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the [Lord’s] house in Jerusalem. [The Lord God] has extended mercy to me before the king, his counselors & the king’s mighty princes. As the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, I was strengthened & gathered [leaders] of Israel together to go up with me.

[Ezra 8:18-19 And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, [from the descendants] of Mahli, [Levi’s] son, [from] Israel & Sherebiah, with his sons & brethren, 18. And Hashabiah & with him, Jeshaiah, [from the descendants] of Merari, his brethren & sons, 20.]