1 Chronicles 9NIV
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1 Chronicles9

New International Version

1All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

2Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.

3Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were:

4Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.

5Of the Shelanites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.

6Of the Zerahites: Jeuel. The people from Judah numbered 690.

7Of the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;

8Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.

9The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families.

10Of the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;

11Azariah 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;

12Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, 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.

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

14Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite;

15Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah son of Mika, the son of Zikri, the son of Asaph;

16Obadiah 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.

17The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief

18being stationed at the King’s Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites.

19Shallum 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.

20In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the Lord was with him.

21Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

22Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers 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.

23They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord—the house called the tent of meeting.

24The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south.

25Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods.

26But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God.

27They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.

28Some 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.

29Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices.

30But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices.

31A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.

32Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.

33Those who were musicians, 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.

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

35Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maakah,

36and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,

37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth.

38Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

39Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.

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

41The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melek, Tahrea and Ahaz.

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

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

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

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 9.

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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.

Cross References

1 Chronicles 9
v2Nehemiah 11:3thematic

Parallels the listing of first returned inhabitants, priests, Levites, and Nethinims.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v3Nehemiah 11:4-9thematic

Detailed parallel of children of Judah and Benjamin dwelling at Jerusalem after the return.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Joshua 9:27thematic

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

v20Numbers 25:11-13thematic

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

v2Ezra 2:43thematic

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

v182 Kings 16:18allusion

Provides historical background on the king's gate and entry into the temple.

Supported by JFB

v18Ezekiel 44:2thematic

Reflects the practice of keeping the eastern king's gate closed for royal use.

Supported by JFB

v32Leviticus 24:5-8thematic

Prescribes the law for preparing the shewbread every Sabbath, done by the Kohathites.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Numbers 3:32thematic

Identifies Eleazar as chief ruler of the Levites, a model for Azariah.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v221 Samuel 9:9thematic

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

v31Leviticus 2:5thematic

Relates to Mattithiah's office over things made in the pans (meat offerings).

Supported by Matthew Poole

v25Luke 1:23thematic

Parallels the weekly rotation system of priestly and Levitical service remaining into the NT.

Supported by Matthew Henry