1 Chronicles 9

The Return After Exile

1 The whole nation of Israel was recorded in family records, and they got written down in the Book of the Kings of Israel. But Judah got exiled to Babylon because they broke faith with God, they rebelled.

2 After the exile, the first folks to return and settle in their hometowns were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

Who Lived in Jerusalem After the Return

3 Some from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh settled in Jerusalem.

4 From Judah: Uthai (son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani), Bani was from Perez, son of Judah.

5 From the Shilonites: Asaiah, the firstborn, and his sons.

6 From Zerah’s family: Jeuel and 690 of his relatives.

7 From the tribe of Benjamin: Sallu (son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah),

8 Ibneiah (son of Jeroham), Elah (son of Uzzi, son of Michri), And Meshullam (son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah).

9 Their relatives, listed by family, totaled 956 warriors. All these were leaders of their family lines.

The Priests in Jerusalem

10 From the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, And Jachin.

11 Azariah (son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub) was the one in charge of the temple of God.

12 Other priests: Adaiah (son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah), Maasai (son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer).

13 All the priests together were 1,760 mighty men, skilled, reliable, and ready to handle the Lord’s temple duties.

The Levites in Jerusalem

14 From the Levites: Shemaiah (son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, from Merari’s clan),

15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, Mattaniah (son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph),

16 Obadiah (son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun), And Berekiah (son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites).

The Gatekeepers, Watchmen of God’s House

17 Gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, And their relatives. Shallum was the chief.

18 These gatekeepers have been on watch since the days of the kings, at the King’s Gate, facing east.

19 Shallum (son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah) and his relatives, the Korahites, were in charge of guarding the entrances of the tent. Their ancestors were in charge of the Lord’s camp, keeping watch at the gate.

20 Back in the day, Phinehas son of Eleazar was their leader, and the Lord had his back.

21 Zechariah (son of Meshelemiah) guarded the entrance to the tent of meeting.

22 Altogether, 212 men were assigned as gatekeepers. They were listed by name in their hometowns. David and the prophet Samuel had put them in charge of guarding the gates.

23 They and their kids guarded the gates of the Lord’s house, that is, the tabernacle.

24 The gatekeepers stood on all four sides, east, west, north, and south.

25 Their relatives from their villages came in shifts to help them out every seven days.

26 The four main gatekeepers were Levites. They were in charge of the temple rooms and treasures of God’s house.

27 They stayed overnight near the temple because they had to guard it and open it up every morning.

Levite Duties and Roles

28 Some Levites were in charge of the holy items, they counted them when they brought them in and counted them when they took them out.

29 Others handled the temple furniture and tools. They made sure everything was clean and in order.

30 Still others were assigned to mix the spices used in the sacred oils.

31 A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of baking the offerings, the bread made on pans.

32 Some of their brothers, from the Kohathites, were responsible for preparing the bread of the Presence, every Sabbath without fail.

The Worship Leaders, Singers in God’s House

33 These are the singers, the heads of the Levite families. They stayed in the temple quarters and were on duty day and night, because that was their full-time job.

34 These Levites were heads of families, solid men of God. They lived in Jerusalem and had authority over their people.

Saul’s Bloodline Repeated

35 Jeiel (father of Gibeon) lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah.

36 His firstborn was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,

37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.

38 Mikloth had Shimeam. They lived close to their relatives in Jerusalem.

39 Ner had Kish. Kish had Saul. Saul had: Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, And Eshbaal.

40 Jonathan’s son was Merib-baal. Merib-baal had Micah.

41 Micah’s sons: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, And Ahaz.

42 Ahaz had Jarah. Jarah had: Alemeth, Azmaveth, Zimri. Zimri had Moza.

43 Moza had Binea, and Binea had Rephaiah. Rephaiah had Eleasah. Eleasah had Azel.

44 Azel had six sons: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, And Hanan. These were Azel’s sons.