Ezra 8:18

16 Then I summoned the leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, as well as the teachers Joiarib and Elnathan.

17 And I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, with a message for him and his kinsmen, the temple servants at Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.

And since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men;

19 also Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, 20 men.

20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants, all designated by name. David and the officials had appointed them to assist the Levites.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men;
KJV
And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
WEB
According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;
ASV
And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
DARBY
And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely, Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
BLB
And they brought to us by the good hand of our God upon us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, Sherebiah, and his sons and his brothers, eighteen;
ÅB
Og da Gud holdt sin gode hånd over oss, sendte de oss en forstandig mann som hette Serebja, en etterkommer av Mahli, som var sønn av Israels sønn Levi, og hans sønner og hans brødre, atten i tallet,
OTB
Fordi vår Guds gode hånd var over oss, brakte de oss Serebja, en innsiktsfull mann, fra etterkommerne til Mahli, sønn av Levi, sønn av Israel, og Serebjas sønner og brødre, 18 i alt;
B1930
Og da Gud holdt sin gode hånd over oss, sendte de oss en forstandig mann som hette Serebja, en efterkommer av Mahli, som var sønn av Israels sønn Levi, og hans sønner og hans brødre, atten i tallet,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezra 7:28

    and who has shown me favor before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officials. And because the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, I took courage and gathered the leaders of Israel to return with me.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 2:8

    And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 3:15

    Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 6:19

    The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:

    Read in context
  • Ezra 7:6

    this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 1:20

    In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

    Read in context
  • Ezra 8:22

    For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 14:20

    Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

    Read in context