Ezra 8:19 — Meaning and Application

And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, {and} to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. {I told...: Heb. I put words in their mouth}

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;

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

Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.