“[Amashsai son of Azarel]….the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, and his associates, who were men of standing—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.”
Nehemiah 11:13b – 14
Last time we saw the final descendants of our priest, reminding ourselves of God’s faithfulness when life tears us to pieces. We also looked at an associate, Amashai, and began a journey into his lineage, glad for our burden-bearing Savior.
Today we pick up with Amashai’s grandfather, Ahzai, whose name means “Yah has grasped.” This is the only occurrence of the name which comes from Yah and achaz – to grasp, take hold, take possession, attach, caught, drawn, fastened, gripped, hold, hold fast, seized, take possession, trapped, be affrighted, take portion.
My husband was describing a frustration with me this week by saying, “It just didn’t seem like he was willing to reach out and help.” It matters to us, doesn’t it? That someone would care enough to catch us and hold fast when we’re about to fall or feel trapped. May we take hold of one another in an interconnected, healthy way that grips our relationships with love when life makes us afraid. After all, the One Who connects us will never let go.
Ahzai’s father is Meshillemoth, which comes from our familiar word shalam – to make amends, to be complete or sound, make an end, finish, full, give again, to be safe, be at peace, make restitution, restore. We cannot seem to get away from this definition, can we? Perhaps because we continue to mess up, needing to make amends, requiring asking and extending forgiveness until eternity. Jesus, make shalam our hearts, what flows out of us because of all You’ve made at peace within us.
Our final descendant in this family is Immer which likely means “talkative” from amar – to utter, say, address, answer, command, intend, give order. That someone in our associate’s lineage’s name means talkative makes me smile. How do you picture Jesus, God-in-skin, when you read the Gospels? Is He talkative or more withdrawn? Quiet or compelling – or both? I picture Him as the perfect blend of both, and I’m grateful that when He has something to say, it comes straight from His Father.
I like this next section in our verse, which describes the associates helping our priests as men of standing. In the Hebrew it is something of a redundancy, literally meaning mighty men of valor. That might and valor are both mentioned forces us to pay attention, so let’s start with “mighty.” It comes from gibbor meaning strong, mighty, champion, great, helper, heroes, valiant, excel, giant; from gabar – become, conduct arrogantly, exert, magnify, prevail, act insolently.
Uh oh. Lots of ways to fall off the rails on this one, huh? From being a hero or giant in our own eyes, to conducting ourselves arrogantly or insolently, living out this word requires wisdom. So what does strength, greatness, magnificence and prevailing look like in someone who seeks to honor Christ?
I’d say it is someone willing to admit weakness and repent. Someone who takes their commitments seriously and serves rather than looking for a champion’s medal. Someone who pours out their strength on behalf of others that they may come to know the Source of their excellence. Someone whose life produces fruit that looks like Jesus.
Keeping that in mind, let’s look at [men] of standing or valor. The word here is chayil, which in recent years has become more well known because of the praise in Proverbs 31, eshet chayil, woman of valor. It means something similar to gibbor, namely “strength, wealth, valor, army, able, capable, excellent, substance, worthy;” from chul – to be firm, strong, endure, prosper.
The parts of the definition which most struck me were those from the root word, chul: to endure, stay firm. As in, if this is what godly strength looks like, keep on in that strength. Be firm against what others or the world might tell you strength looks like. Consciously reject anything of less substance, something less worthy, to base your life upon. Stand firm in Christ as a solider in the army of the God Who has all the hosts of heaven to do His bidding. Find your wealth, your legacy, your endurance in Him.
I hope that is how these associates of Yahweh’s Temple sought to live their lives in Jerusalem. Their commitment to stay and serve shows their desire to move that direction. May we all seek to be people of God, mighty in Him, enduring to the end.
After recognizing this lineage, and that there were 128 mighty men of valor, we see the chief officer of them, Zabdiel. His name means “my gift is God” from el and zebed – endowment, dowry, gift.
Don’t you like that these synonyms point to being given something rather than earning it? If you receive a gift, you can’t take credit for it. If you’re endowed with a certain trait, it implies a Creator Who supplied it. If you acquire a dowry you cannot take credit for what the woman, and her family, brought to the marriage.
In short, what we have to offer is from God. What we have to offer is God. My gift is God.
To finish this particular section, we find that Zabdiel is listed as “the son of one of the great men.” In the English translation, that is capitalized as a man’s name, Haggedolim. But the word itself is from gadol – great, bitter, exceedingly, deep, hard, noble, screamed, elder, high thing, insolent, violent; from gadal – to grow up, become great, advanced, arrogant, rich, boast, educated, enlarged, magnify, promoted, exceed, give.
Sometimes that’s all there is, huh? Just a prodding, then a decision, to grow up. To take what we’ve learned, refuse to continue going the way we know is not best, and going the right way. To let go of violence, bitterness, hardness of heart, arrogance. To accept we’re broken and move forward anyway. To choose the only worthy High Thing in our pursuit of all the high things that might deliver. To let the lessons we’ve been educated in life stick and magnify the One Who taught us on many a field trip.
To be a child of the Great One is our royal right. May we live like it.