1 Chronicles — Chapter 9
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1So all Israel was recorded in the genealogies written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. But Judah was exiled to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
2Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
3Some of the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem:
4Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.
5From the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6From the Zerahites: Jeuel and 690 relatives.
7From 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 Michri; Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
9and 956 of their relatives according to their genealogy. All these men were heads of their families.
10From the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin;
11Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple;
12Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah; Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
13and 1,760 of their relatives, the heads of their families, able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
14From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a descendant of Merari;
15Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;
16Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17These were the gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was their chief;
18he was previously stationed at the King’s Gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the Levites.
19Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives from the Korahites were assigned to guard the thresholds of the Tent, just as their fathers had been assigned to guard the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD.
20In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar had been 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.
22The number of those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds was 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their positions of trust.
23So they and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the Tent.
24The gatekeepers were stationed on the four sides: east, west, north, and south.
25Their relatives came from their villages at fixed times to serve with them for seven-day periods.
26But the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of the house of God.
27They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they were responsible for guarding it and opening it every morning.
28Some of them were in charge of the articles used in worship, to count them whenever they were brought in or taken out.
29Others were put in charge of the furnishings and other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices.
30And some of the sons of the priests mixed the spices.
31A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread.
32Some of their Kohathite relatives were responsible for preparing the rows of the showbread every Sabbath.
33Those who were musicians, the heads of Levite families, stayed in the temple chambers and were exempt from other duties because they were on duty day and night.
34All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs according to their genealogies, and they lived in Jerusalem.
35Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah.
36Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived alongside their relatives in Jerusalem.
39Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
40The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, who was the father of Micah.
41The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42Ahaz was the father of Jarah; Jarah 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, Elasah his son, and Azel his son.
44And Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
1So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.
2Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.
3And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;
4Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.
5And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
6And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.
7And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,
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 brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.
10And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,
11And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
12And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
13And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
14And of the Levites; 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 Micah, 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, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
17And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;
18Who hitherto waited in the king’s gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.
19And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.
20And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the Lord was with him.
21And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
22All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.
23So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.
24In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
25And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.
26For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.
27And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.
28And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.
29Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.
30And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.
31And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.
32And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.
33And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
34These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.
35And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife’s name was Maachah:
36And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
37And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
39And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
40And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal: and Merib-baal begat Micah.
41And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
43And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.
1So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel: and Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their transgression.
2Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
3And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:
4Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah.
5And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the first-born, and his sons.
6And of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.
7And of the sons of Benjamin: 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 brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were heads of fathers` [houses] by their fathers` houses.
10And of the priests: Jedaiah, and 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 ruler 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 brethren, heads of their fathers` houses, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
14And of the Levites: 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, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
17And the porters: Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren (Shallum was the chief),
18who hitherto [waited] in the king`s gate eastward: they were the porters for the camp of the children of Levi.
19And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of his father`s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent: and their fathers had been over the camp of Jehovah, keepers of the entry.
20And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, [and] Jehovah was with him.
21Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tent of meeting.
22All these that were chosen to be porters in the thresholds were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their office of trust.
23So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of Jehovah, even the house of the tent, by wards.
24On the four sides were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
25And their brethren, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them:
26for the four chief porters, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God.
27And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge [thereof] was upon them; and to them pertained the opening thereof morning by morning.
28And certain of them had charge of the vessels of service; for by count were these brought in and by count were these taken out.
29Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.
30And some of the sons of the priests prepared the confection of the spices.
31And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the first-born of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans.
32And some of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every sabbath.
33And these are the singers, heads of fathers` [houses] of the Levites, [who dwelt] in the chambers [and were] free [from other service]; for they were employed in their work day and night.
34These were heads of fathers` [houses] of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men: these dwelt at Jerusalem.
35And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife`s name was Maacah:
36and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
37and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
39And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begat Micah.
41And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, [and Ahaz].
42And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
43and Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.
1Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel.The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
2The first to resettle on their property and in their cities were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
3Some from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim and Manasseh settled in Jerusalem.
4The settlers included: Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, who was a descendant of Perez son of Judah.
5From the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6From the descendants of Zerah: Jeuel. Their relatives numbered 690.
7From the descendants of Benjamin:Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah;
8Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.
9Their relatives, listed in their genealogical records, numbered 956. All these men were leaders of their families.
10From the priests:Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;
11Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub the leader in God’s temple;
12Adaiah 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.
13Their 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.
14From the Levites:Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah a descendant of Merari;
15Bakbakkar; Heresh; Galal; Mattaniah son of Mika, son of Zikri, son of Asaph;
16Obadiah 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.
17The gatekeepers were:Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers. Shallum was the leader;
18he serves to this day at the King’s Gate on the east. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the descendants of Levi.
19Shallum 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. Their ancestors had guarded the entrance to the Lord’s dwelling place.
20Phinehas son of Eleazar had been their leader in earlier times, and the Lord was with him.
21Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the guard at the entrance to the meeting tent.
22All 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 had appointed them to their positions.
23They and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the Lord’s sanctuary (that is, the tabernacle).
24The gatekeepers were posted on all four sides—east, west, north, and south.
25Their relatives, who lived in their settlements, came from time to time and served with them for seven-day periods.
26The four head gatekeepers, who were Levites, were assigned to guard the storerooms and treasuries in God’s sanctuary.
27They would spend the night in their posts all around God’s sanctuary, for they were assigned to guard it and would open it with the key every morning.
28Some of them were in charge of the articles used by those who served; they counted them when they brought them in and when they brought them out.
29Some of them were in charge of the equipment and articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices.
30(But some of the priests mixed the spices.)
31Mattithiah, a Levite, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of baking the bread for offerings.
32Some of the Kohathites, their relatives, were in charge of preparing the bread that is displayed each Sabbath.
33The musicians and Levite family leaders stayed in rooms at the sanctuary and were exempt from other duties, for day and night they had to carry out their assigned tasks.
34These were the family leaders of the Levites, as listed in their genealogical records. They lived in Jerusalem.
35Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived in Gibeon. His wife was Maacah.
36His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
39Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40The son of Jonathan:Meribbaal, who was the father of Micah.
41The sons of Micah:Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42Ahaz was the father of Jarah, and Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza,
43and Moza was the father of Binea. His son was Rephaiah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel.
44Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
1So all Israel were listed by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience.
2Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
3In Jerusalem lived of the children of Judah, of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:
4Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah.
5Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
6Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, six hundred ninety.
7Of the sons of Benjamin: 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 brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred fifty-six. All these men were heads of fathers’ households by their fathers’ houses.
10Of the priests: 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 ruler of God’s house;
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 brothers, heads of their fathers’ houses, one thousand seven hundred sixty; very able men for the work of the service of God’s house.
14Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15and Bakbakkar, Heresh, 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 villages of the Netophathites.
17The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief),
18who previously served in the king’s gate eastward. They were the gatekeepers for the camp of the children of Levi.
19Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent. Their fathers had been over Yahweh’s camp, keepers of the entry.
20Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and Yahweh was with him.
21Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the door of the Tent of Meeting.
22All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the thresholds were two hundred twelve. These were listed by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer ordained in their office of trust.
23So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of Yahweh’s house, even the house of the tent, by wards.
24On the four sides were the gatekeepers, toward the east, west, north, and south.
25Their brothers, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them:
26for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the rooms and over the treasuries in God’s house.
27They stayed around God’s house, because that duty was on them; and to their duty was its opening morning by morning.
28Certain of them were in charge of the vessels of service; for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count.
29Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices.
30Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices.
31Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans.
32Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath.
33These are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the rooms and were free from other service; for they were employed in their work day and night.
34These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men. These lived at Jerusalem.
35Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon with
36his firstborn son Abdon, Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, near their brothers.
39Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40The son of Jonathan was Merib Baal. Merib Baal became the father of Micah.
41The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42Ahaz became the father of Jarah. Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.
43Moza became the father of Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
44Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
Summary
The chapter opens by noting Israel's exile to Babylon for unfaithfulness before listing those who resettled Jerusalem after the return: laypeople from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh (vv. 1-9), followed by the priests and their genealogies (vv. 10-13). The Levites are detailed next, including the singers, gatekeepers, and those responsible for the tabernacle's vessels, storerooms, and daily provisions such as the showbread and incense (vv. 14-34). The chapter closes by repeating the genealogy of Gibeon's family down to Saul and his sons (vv. 35-44), setting up the account of Saul's death in the following chapter.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Largely parallels 1-2 Samuel geographically. Jerusalem (Zion/City of David) is the theological and political center.
- Key sites: Hebron (David's first capital, 7 years), the threshing floor of Ornan/Araunah (future Temple site, ch.21).
- Chapters 1-9 (genealogies) contain tribal allotments but minimal narrative geography.
Places on this map
- JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
- HebronHebron, West BankThe highest town in the Judean hills at about 3,000 feet, 19 miles south of Jerusalem. Abraham bought a burial cave here, and David reigned from it for seven years before moving north, so it carries both the patriarchal and the royal claim to the land. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes that this chapter represents the "payoff" of the genealogies — proving that the returned community was legitimate Israel, with proper priests, proper Levites, and proper worship structures. He notes that the detailed Temple service descriptions show the Chronicler's conviction that worship order matters to God.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 1 Chronicles -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Exile Explained, Restoration Begun (vv.1-2) — The chapter names unfaithfulness as the reason for exile, then immediately turns to describe the first families to resettle the land. Where in your life have you seen God turn the consequences of past failure into a fresh start you didn't earn?
- Priests Numbered and Named First (vv.10-13) — Before any other group, the returning priests are counted and described as able for the service of God's house. When you're rebuilding something in your life, is worship and service to God the first piece you put back in place, or an afterthought?
- Every Gatekeeper's Role Recorded (vv.17-27) — The Chronicler carefully lists gatekeepers, their assigned posts, and their trusted watch over the Temple's entrances. Do you treat the unglamorous responsibilities God has given you with the same seriousness as the visible ones?
- Offices Traced Back to David and Samuel (v.22) — These gatekeeping positions are shown to be set offices of trust, established generations earlier by David and Samuel and still honored at the time of writing. What has proving trustworthy in small, repeated duties over years earned you in the eyes of those who lead you?
- Singers Set Free for Round-the-Clock Ministry (v.33) — The temple singers are released from other duties so they can devote themselves entirely to worship, day and night. Do you view wholehearted, undistracted devotion to God as a legitimate calling worth making room for in your own life?