1 Chronicles9
New American Standard
1So all Israel was enrolled in genealogies; and behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile to Babylon for their infidelity.
2Now the first inhabitants who lived on their own property in their cities were people of Israel, including the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
3Some of the sons of Judah, some of the sons of Benjamin, and some of the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem:
4Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah.
5From the Shilonites were Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6From the sons of Zerah were Jeuel and their relatives, 690 of them.
7From the sons of Benjamin were Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah,
8and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
9and their relatives according to their generations, 956. All these men were heads of fathers’ households according to their fathers’ houses.
10From the priests were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,
11and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God;
12and 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;
13and their relatives, heads of their fathers’ households, 1,760 competent men for the work of the service of the house of God.
14Of the Levites, there were Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal; and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,
16and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the settlements of the Netophathites.
17Now the gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives (Shallum the chief
18being stationed until now at the king’s gate to the east). These were the gatekeepers for the camp of the sons of Levi.
19Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives of his father’s house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, doorkeepers of the tent; and their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance.
20Phinehas the son of Eleazar was supervisor over them previously, and the Lord was with him.
21Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance of the tent of meeting.
22Those who were chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212 in all. They were registered by genealogy in their settlements, those whom David and Samuel the seer appointed in their official capacity.
23So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, the house of the tent, in their divisions of service.
24The gatekeepers were on the four sides, to the east, west, north, and south.
25Their relatives in their settlements were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them;
26for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, served in an official capacity, and were in charge of the chambers and in charge of the treasuries in the house of God.
27They spent the night around the house of God, because the watch was committed to them; and they were in charge of opening it morning by morning.
28Now some of them were in charge of the utensils of the service, for they counted them when they brought them in and when they took them out.
29Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the utensils of the sanctuary, and over the finely milled flour, the wine, the olive oil, the frankincense, and the balsam oil.
30Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the balsam oil.
31Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the responsibility for the baking of cakes in pans.
32Some of their relatives of the sons of the Kohathites were in charge of the showbread to prepare it every Sabbath.
33Now these are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the chambers of the temple free of other duties; for they were engaged in their work day and night.
34These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites according to their generations, chief men who lived in Jerusalem.
35Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and his wife’s name was Maacah,
36and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38Mikloth fathered Shimeam. And they also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem opposite their other relatives.
39Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal fathered Micah.
41The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42Ahaz fathered Jarah, Jarah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri fathered Moza.
43Moza fathered Binea, and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44Azel had six sons whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 9.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Genealogies. (1-44).
vv1-44
—This chapter expresses that one end of recording all these genealogies was, to direct the Jews, when they returned out of captivity, with whom to unite, and where to reside. Here is an account of the good state into which the affairs of religion were put, on the return from Babylon. Every one knew his charge. Work is likely to be done well when every one knows the duty of his place, and makes a business of it. God is the God of order. Thus was the temple a figure of the heavenly one, where they rest not day nor night from praising God, Re 4:8. Blessed be His name, believers there shall, not in turn, but all together, without interruption, praise him night and day: may the Lord make each of us fit for the inheritance of the saints in light.
Key Words
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יָחַשׂ: to enroll by pedigree
כָּתַב: to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
סֵפֶר: properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
גָּלָה: to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
בָּבֶל: Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
מַעַל: treachery, i.e. sin
Cross References
1 Chronicles 9Parallels the listing of first returned inhabitants, priests, Levites, and Nethinims.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Detailed parallel of children of Judah and Benjamin dwelling at Jerusalem after the return.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the historical origin of the Nethinims as temple servants dedicated by Joshua.
Supported by JFB
Explains how children of Ephraim and Manasseh came to be among those returning to Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verifies the covenant with Phinehas, who was ruler over the gatekeepers in time past.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Repeats Saul's genealogy verbatim to transition and introduce the history of Saul's demise.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Lists the Nethinim returning in the first wave under Zerubbabel.
Supported by JFB
Details the courses of the porters and gatekeepers established before the exile.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides historical background on the king's gate and entry into the temple.
Supported by JFB
Reflects the practice of keeping the eastern king's gate closed for royal use.
Supported by JFB
Prescribes the law for preparing the shewbread every Sabbath, done by the Kohathites.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Eleazar as chief ruler of the Levites, a model for Azariah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shows Samuel designated as 'the seer' who ordained the gatekeepers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Describes the chambers and treasuries of the house of God over which they had charge.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Relates to Mattithiah's office over things made in the pans (meat offerings).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the weekly rotation system of priestly and Levitical service remaining into the NT.
Supported by Matthew Henry