1 Chronicles 9:1-26

9:1 Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel.

Exiles Who Resettled in Jerusalem

The people of Judah ¹  were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. 9:2 The first to resettle on their property and in their cities were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants. ²  9:3 Some from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim and Manasseh settled in Jerusalem. ³ 

9:4 The settlers included: ⁴  Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, who was a descendant of Perez son of Judah.

9:5 From the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.

9:6 From the descendants of Zerah: Jeuel.

Their relatives numbered 690.

9:7 From the descendants of Benjamin:

Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah; 9:8 Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.

9:9 Their relatives, listed in their genealogical records, numbered 956. All these men were leaders of their families. ⁵ 

9:10 From the priests:

Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin; 9:11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub the leader in God’s temple; 9:12 Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer.

9:13 Their relatives, who were leaders of their families, numbered 1,760. They were capable men who were assigned to carry out the various tasks of service in God’s temple. ⁶ 

9:14 From the Levites:

Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah a descendant of Merari; 9:15 Bakbakkar; Heresh; Galal; Mattaniah son of Mika, son of Zikri, son of Asaph; 9:16 Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived among the settlements of the Netophathites.

9:17 The gatekeepers were:

Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers. Shallum was the leader; 9:18 he serves to this day at the King’s Gate on the east. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the descendants of Levi.

9:19 Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his relatives from his family (the Korahites) were assigned to guard the entrance to the sanctuary. ⁷  Their ancestors had guarded the entrance to the Lord’s dwelling place. ⁸  9:20 Phinehas son of Eleazar had been their leader in earlier times, and the Lord was with him. 9:21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the guard at the entrance to the meeting tent.

9:22 All those selected to be gatekeepers at the entrances numbered 212. Their names were recorded in the genealogical records of their settlements. David and Samuel the prophet ⁹  had appointed them to their positions. ¹⁰  9:23 They and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the Lord’s sanctuary (that is, the tabernacle). ¹¹  9:24 The gatekeepers were posted on all four sides – east, west, north, and south. 9:25 Their relatives, who lived in their settlements, came from time to time and served with them for seven-day periods. 9:26 The four head gatekeepers, who were Levites, were assigned to guard the storerooms and treasuries in God’s sanctuary. ¹² 

[9:1]  ¹ tn The Hebrew text has simply “Judah,” though the verb הָגְלוּ (hoglu, “carried away”) is plural.

[9:2]  ² tn Heb “and the inhabitants, the first who [were] in their property in their cities, Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.”

[9:3]  ³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[9:4]  ⁴ tn The words “the settlers included” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[9:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “and all these men were heads of fathers for the house of their fathers.”

[9:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “capable [for] the work of the task of the house of God.”

[9:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “and his brothers belonging to the house of his father, the Korachites, to the work of the task, guardians of the threshold of the tent.”

[9:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “and their fathers to the camp of the Lord, guardians of the entrance.” Here “fathers” is used in a more general sense of “forefathers” or “ancestors” and is not limited specifically to their fathers only.

[9:22]  ⁹ tn The Hebrew term is רֹאֶה (ro’eh, “seer”), an older word for נָבִיא (navi’, “prophet”).

[9:22]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “they – David appointed, and Samuel the seer, in their position.”

[9:23]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and they and their sons to the gates of the house of the Lord, of the house of the tent, [were assigned] as guards.”

[9:26]  ¹² tn Heb “in the house of God.”