Old/New Testament
25 David and the heads of the Levites, also known as the commanders of the army, selected for the service some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. These men were expected to serve in the temple by prophesying with lyres, harps, and cymbals. These are the singers who performed these duties in order of their descent. 2 The sons of Asaph (Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah) were directed by Asaph who prophesied because the king appointed him that duty. 3 The six sons of Jeduthun (Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah) were directed by their father Jeduthun who used the harp to prophesy, as well as to testify about the Eternal. 4-5 The 14 sons of Heman the king’s prophet were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. His many sons and three daughters gave Heman prominence before God. 6-7 All these were directed by their father to sing with cymbals, harps, and lyres in the temple of the Eternal. These three families, 288 of whom were musically skilled, worked in the temple singing to the Eternal, but they served the king.
8 All of these men, the weak and the mighty, the students and the teachers, used a system of lots to determine their duties. These are the singers who performed in the temple in order of their duties: 9-31 Joseph (son of Asaph) drew the first lot; and the other singers drew lots in this order, second through 24th: Gedaliah, Zaccur, Izri, Nethaniah, Bukkiah, Jesharelah, Jeshaiah, Mattaniah, Shimei, Azarel, Hashabiah, Shubael, Mattithiah, Jeremoth, Hananiah, Joshbekashah, Hanani, Mallothi, Eliathah, Hothir, Giddalti, Mahazioth, and finally, Romamti-ezer. Each man who drew a lot represented 12 men, including his sons, his brothers, and himself, and these 24 groups served in the temple two weeks each year as the Levites did.
26 The duties of the Levite gatekeepers were performed by the Korahites, specifically by the descendants of Meshelemiah (Kore’s son, of the sons of Asaph).
One of the most interesting and indeed essential observations from these tribal and ancestry lists is the organic and symbiotic nature of the Israelite community. Every person in every tribe has his or her responsibility for the community as a whole. If certain persons are not guarding the various gates of the city, then marauders and bandits can easily attack. If certain persons are not playing instruments or singing, then the community is without leadership in corporate worship and praise of the Lord and His many benevolent and redemptive acts toward Israel. In the following sections, the specific lists of persons indicate roles both in the worship ethic and in the military life of Israel.
2 Meshelemiah fathered sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Johanan the sixth, and Eliehoenai the seventh.
4-5 God blessed Obed-edom, another gatekeeper, with sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth. 6 Obed-edom’s son Shemaiah fathered sons who ruled their family, for they were mighty warriors. 7 They were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers (Elihu and Semachiah) were valiant men. 8 These and their relatives were the lineage of Obed-edom; all were capable men with strength for the service in the temple, and 62 from this family served.
9 Meshelemiah had other sons and relatives, 18 valiant men.
10 Hosah (one of the sons of Merari) fathered sons who served as gatekeepers: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn son, his father made him the primary inheritor), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. These sons plus Hosah’s other brothers numbered 13.
12 All these divisions of gatekeepers, the chief men, performed specific duties (similar to their relatives’ duties) when ministering in the temple of the Eternal. 13 Like the other divisions, the weak and the mighty, the students and the teachers, used a system of lots to determine which gates they would guard according to their family lineage.
14 The eastern gate went to the family of Shelemiah. Since his family was larger than Obed-edom’s and Shuppim’s, Shelemiah’s son Zechariah also drew lots for control of a gate. Zechariah, a prudent counselor, received control of the northern gate. 15 Obed-edom received control of the southern gate, and his sons went to work the temple storehouse within the gates. 16 Shuppim and Hosah were together given the western gate (which is near the gate of Shallecheth, on the ascending road). The guards stood side by side at their posts. 17 Each day six Levites guarded the east side, four guarded the north, and four guarded the south. The storehouses were guarded in shifts, two by two. 18 At the Parbar, a building adjacent to the temple on the western side, four guarded the highway and two guarded the Parbar itself. 19 These were the duties of the Korahite and Merarite gatekeepers.
20 Other Levites, relatives of the Korahites and Merarites, were[a] over the treasury—both the temple’s treasures and the sacred treasures. 21 The sons of Ladan (son of Gershon), specifically the Jehielites, were the leaders of the families descended from Ladan the Gershonite. 22 Jehieli’s sons, Zetham and Joel his brother, were in charge of the treasures in the temple of the Eternal. 23 The Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites performed other duties in the temple. 24 Shebuel (son of Gershom, the son of Moses), was the ruler of the treasures. 25 His relative, Eliezer, had five sons in the service of the treasury: Rehabiah, Jeshaiah, Joram, Zichri, and Shelomoth. 26 Shelomoth and his relatives were in charge of all the dedicated treasures which King David, the tribal leaders, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army had dedicated after their battles. 27 Part of their spoils won in battles were used to repair the house of the Eternal, which was the congregation tent at that time. 28 Others who dedicated spoils to the treasury included Samuel the seer, Saul (son of Kish), Abner (son of Ner), and Joab (son of Zeruiah). All of the holdings of dedicated gifts in the treasury were cared for by Shelomoth and his relatives.
29 The Izharites acted as officers and judges throughout Israel. Chenaniah and his sons were given the duty of protecting the people outside of the temple.
30 The Hebronites oversaw Israel’s duties east and west of the Jordan River. Hashabiah and his relatives—1,700 capable men—performed such duties for the Eternal and in the service of the king to the west of the river. 31 The Hebronites who were led by Jerijah were evaluated according to their lineage during David’s 40th year as king. Many of them were deemed great men, especially those at Jazer of Gilead. 32 Jerijah and his relatives, these capable men, numbered 2,700 and were the leaders of their families. Because of their exceptional abilities, King David made them overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, all located east of the Jordan River, watching how these tribes behaved toward their God and king.
27 These are the Israelites (the families’ leaders, the commanders of hundreds and thousands) and their officers who performed their duties for the king on a monthly rotation (one division for each month of the year).
The Levites are not the only leaders in David’s government. While they do perform some duties outside of the temple, most secular work is done by the other tribes.
Each division had 24,000 men: 2-3 Jashobeam (son of Zabdiel, a Perezite) was the leader of all the commanders of the army and the leader of the first division during the first month. 4 Dodai the Ahohite and his division led the division for the second month under Mikloth, their chief officer. 5 Benaiah (son of Jehoiada, the priest) led the third division in the third month. 6 He was a powerful man, in charge of his thirty. Ammizabad (Benaiah’s son) led his father’s division. 7 Asahel (brother of Joab) and Zebadiah his son after him led the fourth division in the fourth month. 8 Shamhuth the Izrahite led the fifth division in the fifth month. 9 Ira (son of Ikkesh, the Tekoite) led the sixth division in the sixth month. 10 Helez (the Pelonite of the Ephraimites) led the seventh division in the seventh month. 11 Sibbecai (the Hushathite of the Zerahites) led the eighth division in the eighth month. 12 Abiezer (the Anathothite of the Benjaminites) led the ninth division in the ninth month. 13 Maharai (the Netophathite of the Zerahites) led the tenth division in the tenth month. 14 Benaiah (the Pirathonite of the Ephraimites) led the eleventh division in the eleventh month. 15 Heldai (the Netophathite of Othniel) led the twelfth division in the twelfth month.
16 Each of the tribes of Israel had leaders from within their families: the leader of the Reubenites was Eliezer (son of Zichri); for the Simeonites was Shephatiah (son of Maacah); 17 for the Levites was Hashabiah (son of Kemuel); for the Aaronites (a part of the Levite clan) was Zadok; 18 for the Judahites was Elihu (one of King David’s brothers); for the Issacharites was Omri (son of Michael); 19 for the Zebulunites was Ishmaiah (son of Obadiah); for the Naphtalites was Jeremoth (son of Azriel); 20 for the Ephraimites was Hoshea (son of Azaziah); for the half-tribe of the Manassehites was Joel (son of Pedaiah); 21 for the portion of the half-tribe of Manassehites that was separated from the others in Gilead was Iddo (son of Zechariah); for the Benjaminites was Jaasiel (son of Abner); 22 for the Danites was Azarel (son of Jeroham). These men were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
23 When David conducted the census, he did not count anyone 20 years of age and younger because the Eternal had said He would make the population of Israel innumerable, like the stars of heaven. 24 Joab (son of Zeruiah) intended to count them, but he did not finish. It was because Joab attempted to count the innumerable that God was angry at Israel and punished them. Because the census angered God so much, its results are not recorded in the chronicles of King David.
The exile takes a toll not just on the lives of the Jews, but also on Israel herself. The chronicles of King David are among several historical documents stored in the royal archives. When the Babylonians attack Jerusalem and destroy Solomon’s temple, those official records are lost as well. Israel loses significant portions of the nation’s written history, so that history remains only in the oral traditions of the people. Because of this loss of history, the chronicler writes this book for the Jews—so that their descendants will have a testament to the early history and the greatness of the Israelites before they are forgotten.
25 These are other officials in David’s government: Azmaveth (son of Adiel) managed the king’s own storehouses. Jonathan (son of Uzziah) managed the storehouses that did not belong directly to the king in the country, cities, villages, and towers. 26 Ezri (son of Chelub) managed the farmhands who tilled the soil. 27 Shimei (the Ramathite) managed the vineyards, and Zabdi (the Shiphmite) managed the grapes and wine stored in the wine cellars. 28 Baal-hanan (the Gederite) managed the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah, and Joash managed oil stored in the storehouses. 29 Shitrai (the Sharonite) managed the cattle grazing in Sharon, and Shaphat (son of Adlai) managed the cattle grazing in the valleys. 30 Obil (the Ishmaelite) managed the camels. Jehdeiah (the Meronothite) managed the donkeys. 31 Jaziz (the Hagrite) managed the flocks. These men were the managers of King David’s property.
32 Jonathan (David’s uncle) was a counselor, a discerning man, and a scribe. Jehiel (son of Hachmoni) was a companion of and attendant for the king’s sons. 33-34 Ahithophel was counselor to the king, and he was succeeded by Jehoiada (son of Benaiah) and Abiathar. Hushai (the Archite) was the king’s confidant. Joab was the leader of the king’s army.
John and many people in his community are Jews. As a son of Abraham, his criticism of certain Jewish leaders is not a criticism of a whole people. He’s not stereotyping or making generalizations. “The Jews” he remembers in this passage are a corrupt group of power brokers who conspire against Jesus with the Romans to have Him crucified and who later have John’s own followers expelled from the synagogue. Their behavior may be compared to the behavior of those Israelites condemned by Old Testament prophets. Prophets have the duty—Jeremiah said he had “a fire in his bones” (20:9)—to speak for God and condemn hypocrisy and unbelief wherever it is found, especially when it’s found close to home. That’s what John’s doing when recalling this event.
9 While walking along the road, Jesus saw a man who was blind since his birth.
Disciples: 2 Teacher, who sinned? Who is responsible for this man’s blindness? Did he commit sins that merited this punishment? If not his sins, is it the sins of his parents?
Jesus: 3 Neither. His blindness cannot be explained or traced to any particular person’s sins. He is blind so the deeds of God may be put on display. 4 While it is daytime, we must do the works of the One who sent Me. But when the sun sets and night falls, this work is impossible. 5 Whenever I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.
6 After He said these things, He spat on the ground and mixed saliva and dirt to form mud, which He smeared across the blind man’s eyes.
Jesus (to the blind man): 7 Go, wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.
Siloam means “sent,” and its name reminded us that his healing was sent by God. The man went, washed, and returned to Jesus, his eyes now alive with sight. 8 Then neighbors and others who knew him were confused to see a man so closely resembling the blind beggar running about.
Townspeople: Isn’t this the man we see every day sitting and begging in the streets?
Others: 9 This is the same man.
Still Others: This cannot be him. But this fellow bears an uncanny resemblance to the blind man.
Formerly Blind Man: I am the same man. It’s me!
Townspeople: 10 How have your lifeless eyes been opened?
Formerly Blind Man: 11 A man named Jesus approached me and made mud from the ground and applied it to my eyes. He then said to me, “Go, wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.” I went and washed, and suddenly I could see.
Townspeople: 12 Where is this man who healed you?
Formerly Blind Man: I don’t know.
13-14 The townspeople brought the formerly blind beggar to appear before the Pharisees the same day Jesus healed him, which happened to be on the Sabbath Day. 15 The Pharisees began questioning him, looking for some explanation for how he could now see.
Formerly Blind Man: He smeared mud on my eyes, and I washed; now I see.
Some Pharisees: 16 God can’t possibly be behind this man because He is breaking the rules of the Sabbath.
Other Pharisees: How can such a lawbreaking scoundrel do something like this?
The Pharisees were at odds with one another about Jesus and could not agree whether His power came from God or the devil.
Pharisees (to the formerly blind man): 17 What do you say about this man, about the fact He opened your eyes so you could see?
Formerly Blind Man: I have no doubt—this man is a prophet.
18 Some of the Jews suspected the whole situation was a charade, that this man was never blind. So they summoned the man’s parents to testify about his condition.
Pharisees: 19 Is this man your son? Do you testify that he has been blind from birth? How therefore does he now see?
Parents: 20 We can tell you this much: he is our son, and he was born blind. 21 But his new sight is a complete mystery to us! We do not know the man who opened his eyes. Why don’t you ask our son? He is old enough to speak for himself.
22 The man’s parents were a bit evasive because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. It had been rumored that anyone who spoke of Jesus as the Anointed One would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 So they deferred the thorny question to their son,
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.