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Chapter 9[a]

Thus all of Israel was recorded by its generations, for behold, it was inscribed in the book of the kings of Israel.

Judah was carried away into Babylon for its unfaithfulness. The first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the temple slaves.[b]

Among the Judahites who dwelt in Jerusalem along with the Benjaminites, Ephraimites, and Manassehites were: Uthai, the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez, the son of Judah.

From the Shelanites there was Asaiah, the firstborn, and his sons. From the sons of Zerah there was Jeuel and their brethren, six hundred and ninety of them.

From the Benjaminites there were Sallu, the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah, Ibneiah, the son of Jeroham, Elah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah, along with their kinsmen, according to their generations. There were nine hundred fifty-six of them. All of these were leaders of their ancestral clans.

10 From the priests there were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief custodian of the temple. 12 There were also Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai, the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer. 13 Their brethren, who were the leaders of the ancestral clans, included one thousand, seven hundred and sixty men. They were all capable men who were responsible for ministry in the temple of the Lord.

14 From the Levites there were Shemaiah, the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, who was a Merarite. 15 There were Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah, the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph. 16 There were Obadiah, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah, the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah. They lived in the village of the Netophathites.

17 The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brethren. Shallum was their leader. 18 They have been stationed at the king’s gate on the east up to the present day. They were the gatekeepers of the Levites.

19 Shallum, the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren from the ancestral clan of the Korahites were the gatekeepers at the entrance to the tabernacle just as their ancestors had been the gatekeepers to the entrance of the dwelling place of the Lord. 20 In former days, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, had been their leader, and the Lord had been with him.

21 Zechariah, the son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 22 There were two hundred and twelve of those who had been chosen to be gatekeepers. They are registered by their family history in the villages. David and Samuel the seer had assigned them to their responsibilities. 23 They and their children were responsible for guarding the gates of the temple of the Lord (the shrine of the tabernacle) by turns. 24 The gatekeepers served in the four directions of the east, the west, the north, and the south. 25 Their brethren who lived in the villages would come up to join them for a period of seven days from time to time.

26 There were four Levites who held the office of chief gatekeepers. They were responsible for the chambers and the treasuries of the temple of the Lord. 27 They would spend the night stationed around the temple of God because they were responsible for it, and then they would open it each morning.

28 Some of them were responsible for the vessels used in the liturgy, and they would count them when they were brought in and taken out. 29 Others were assigned responsibility for the furniture and all of the other things used in the sanctuary as well as the flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices. 30 Some of the priests were responsible for mixing the spices in the ointments.

31 There was a certain Levite, Mattithiah, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, who was responsible for the baking of the bread. 32 Some of the Korahites, their brethren, were in charge of preparing the shewbread every Sabbath.

33 Those who were singers, the leaders of their ancestral clans of Levites, would stay in the chambers. They were free from other responsibilities, for they were busy working day and night.

34 These were all leaders of the ancestral clans of the Levites, leaders according to their generations, and they dwelt in Jerusalem.

The History of David[c]

35 Genealogy of Saul. Jeiel, the father of Gibeon, dwelt in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah. 36 His firstborn was Abdon, then there were Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.

38 Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They lived near their brethren, their brethren who lived in Jerusalem.

39 Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul.

Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

40 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, who was the father of Micah.

41 The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.

42 Ahaz was the father of Jarah, and Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri.

Zimri was the father of Moza.

43 Moza was the father of Binea, Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.

44 Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. They were the sons of Azel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 9:1 The genealogies end with a description of the population of Jerusalem at the return from Exile. After the Exile the religious restorers will more than ever regard Jerusalem as the holy city; it will become the symbol of the heavenly city that is awaited at the end of time. Other lists are given in Ezek 1; Neh 7; 11.
  2. 1 Chronicles 9:2 The reference is certainly to the descendants of slaves or foreigners who had long since been incorporated into Israel and assigned to subordinate cultic functions.
  3. 1 Chronicles 9:35 The second part of the first Book of Chronicles is devoted entirely to David. The Chronicler takes much of his material from the Books of Samuel, but everything that made David so human and such a vivid personage is passed over in silence; there is nothing here of the lively youth, the friend of Jonathan, the hunted outlaw, the repentant and harshly-tested sinner, the man crushed by family tragedies and the intrigues of his successors. The Books of Samuel portray a heartrending drama; the Chronicler, on the contrary, draws a clear but austere picture. He prefers the serious side and emphasizes fundamental characteristics. Here, then, is, first of all, David as founder of the royal dignity; then David as establisher of the cult in Jerusalem; finally, and above all, David, depository of the divine promises.

All Israel(A) was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon(B) because of their unfaithfulness.(C)

The People in Jerusalem(D)

Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns(E) were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.(F)

Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were:

Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.(G)

Of the Shelanites[a]:

Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.

Of the Zerahites:

Jeuel.

The people from Judah numbered 690.

Of the Benjamites:

Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;

Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.

The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families.

10 Of the priests:

Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;

11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God;

12 Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur,(H) the son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer.

13 The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God.

14 Of the Levites:

Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite; 15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah(I) son of Mika, the son of Zikri, the son of Asaph; 16 Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.(J)

17 The gatekeepers:(K)

Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief 18 being stationed at the King’s Gate(L) on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. 19 Shallum(M) son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their ancestors had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the Lord. 20 In earlier times Phinehas(N) son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the Lord was with him. 21 Zechariah(O) son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

22 Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers(P) at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.(Q) 23 They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord—the house called the tent of meeting. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. 25 Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day(R) periods. 26 But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries(S) in the house of God. 27 They would spend the night stationed around the house of God,(T) because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key(U) for opening it each morning.

28 Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. 29 Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary,(V) as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices. 30 But some(W) of the priests took care of mixing the spices. 31 A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread. 32 Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.(X)

33 Those who were musicians,(Y) heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.(Z)

34 All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.

The Genealogy of Saul(AA)

35 Jeiel(AB) the father[b] of Gibeon lived in Gibeon.

His wife’s name was Maakah, 36 and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

39 Ner(AC) was the father of Kish,(AD) Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan,(AE) Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.[c](AF)

40 The son of Jonathan:

Merib-Baal,[d](AG) who was the father of Micah.

41 The sons of Micah:

Pithon, Melek, Tahrea and Ahaz.[e]

42 Ahaz was the father of Jadah, Jadah[f] was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza. 43 Moza was the father of Binea; Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son.

44 Azel had six sons, and these were their names:

Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 9:5 See Num. 26:20; Hebrew Shilonites.
  2. 1 Chronicles 9:35 Father may mean civic leader or military leader.
  3. 1 Chronicles 9:39 Also known as Ish-Bosheth
  4. 1 Chronicles 9:40 Also known as Mephibosheth
  5. 1 Chronicles 9:41 Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint and 8:35); Hebrew does not have and Ahaz.
  6. 1 Chronicles 9:42 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 8:36); most Hebrew manuscripts Jarah, Jarah