Some 2,470 years ago, near the Water Gate in Jerusalem, on the first day of Tishrei (Yom Teru’ah/Rosh Hashanah), there was a beautiful Miqra Kodesh (holy convocation). The Jews had just finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah’s leadership, and Ezra the scribe and priest assembled men, women, and all who were able to understand at the Water Gate for the reading of the Sefer Torah, the scroll of the Law.
We can assume with great certainty that a shofar sounded that day, in accordance with the biblical commandment. No doubt this served as a wake-up call to repentance, prompting them to turn their eyes to God and remember their Creator. And this was no short message. Ezra read the scroll from daybreak until noon. What was their reaction? All the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground (Nehemiah 8:6).
But let us not overlook something very special on that day. As Ezra stood on a high wooden platform, built for this very occasion, there were 13 men who stood beside him, 6 on his right and 7 on his left. While we cannot identify them as Levites, they nevertheless had some kind of prominent role, perhaps as assembled leadership.
But the question beckons: why are we given their specific names? We do not know for certain, but the Lord knew who they were, and perhaps He was so touched by their faith and commitment that He made sure their names were written down in His Holy Book.
In the same way, He sees and looks at every believer who stands in faith and proclaims His Word. And that is not all; when you read these names in Hebrew, they carry a message of joy and bliss. Unless we read and understand their names in Hebrew, we lose out on a great blessing. Here are the names and their English renderings:
Mattithiah, the gift of God
Shema, the sound of the Word
Anaiah, God answers
Uriah, God is my light
Hikiah, He is God’s portion
Maaseiah, God’s work
Pedaiah, whom God preserves
Mishael, who is like God
Malchijah, My King is God
Hashum, Ambassador, the one who is rich
Hashbaddanah, wise thinker
Zechariah, whom God remembers
Meshullam, the friend of God
And then there was another group of 13 men. These were designated Levites who read from the Book of the Law, giving meaning to the words so that the people understood. Here is the translation of their names:
Jeshua, Salvation
Bani, the one who builds
Sherebiah, the one who is burning for God
Jamin, the one on His right hand
Akkub, the fighter
Shabbethai, the one who rests
Hodiah, the one who praises
Maaseiah, the one who works for God
Kelita, the sharp one,
Azariah, whom God helps/supports/upholds
Jozabad, whom God remembers and bestows
Hanan, the gracious one
Pelaiah, whom God distinguished, from the word Pele and God
And so we can see the remnant of Israel in these people. These names were given by their parents back in Babylon, who lived with hope and faith in God, and this is reflected in the names they gave their children.
This was this Feast of Yom Teru’ah, when the sound of God’s grace grows louder and louder.