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So all Israel were listed by genealogies; and behold,[a] they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience. Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. In Jerusalem lived of the children of Judah, of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh: Uthai 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. Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons. Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, six hundred ninety. Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah, and 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; and their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred fifty-six. All these men were heads of fathers’ households by their fathers’ houses.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and 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; 12 and 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; 13 and 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.

14 Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph, 16 and 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.

17 The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief), 18 who previously served in the king’s gate eastward. They were the gatekeepers for the camp of the children of Levi. 19 Shallum 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. 20 Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and Yahweh was with him. 21 Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the door of the Tent of Meeting. 22 All 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. 23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of Yahweh’s house, even the house of the tent, as guards. 24 On the four sides were the gatekeepers, toward the east, west, north, and south. 25 Their brothers, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them: 26 for 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. 27 They stayed around God’s house, because that duty was on them; and to their duty was its opening morning by morning. 28 Certain of them were in charge of the vessels of service; for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count. 29 Some 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.

30 Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices. 31 Mattithiah, 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. 32 Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath. 33 These 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. 34 These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men. These lived at Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. 9:1 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

After the Exile

All Israel was registered in the genealogies that are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. But Judah was exiled(A) to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. The first(B) to live in their towns on their own property again were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.(C)

These people from the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh settled in Jerusalem:

Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, a descendant[a] of Perez son of Judah;

from the Shilonites:

Asaiah the firstborn and his sons;

and from the descendants of Zerah:

Jeuel and their relatives—690 in all.

The Benjaminites: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah;

Ibneiah son of Jeroham;

Elah son of Uzzi, son of Michri;

Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah;

and their relatives according to their family records—956(D) in all. All these men were heads of their ancestral families.[b]

10 The priests:(E) Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jachin;

11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief official(F) of God’s temple;

12 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 and their relatives, the heads of their ancestral families—1,760 in all. They were capable men employed in the ministry of God’s temple.

14 The Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah of the Merarites;

15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah, son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph;

16 Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun;

and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah who lived in the settlements of the Netophathites.

17 The gatekeepers:(G) Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives.

Shallum was their chief; 18 he was previously stationed at the King’s Gate on the east side.(H) These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the Levites.

19 Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah and his relatives from his ancestral family, the Korahites, were assigned to guard the thresholds of the tent.[c] Their ancestors had been assigned to the Lord’s camp as guardians of the entrance.(I) 20 In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar had been their leader, and the Lord was with him.(J) 21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(K)

22 The total number of those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds was 212. They were registered by genealogy in their settlements. David and the seer Samuel had appointed them(L) to their trusted positions. 23 So they and their sons were assigned as guards to the gates of the Lord’s temple, which had been the tent-temple. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north, and south. 25 Their relatives came from their settlements(M) at fixed times to be with them seven days,(N) 26 but the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of God’s temple.(O) 27 They spent the night in the vicinity of God’s temple, because they had guard duty and were in charge of opening it every morning.(P)

28 Some of them were in charge of the utensils used in worship. They would count them when they brought them in and when they took them out. 29 Others were put in charge of the furnishings and all the utensils of the sanctuary,(Q) as well as the fine flour,(R) wine, oil, incense, and spices. 30 Some of the priests’ sons mixed the spices.(S) 31 A Levite called Mattithiah, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread.[d] 32 Some of the Kohathites’ relatives were responsible for preparing the rows of the Bread of the Presence(T) every Sabbath.

33 The singers,(U) the heads of the Levite families, stayed in the temple chambers and were exempt from other tasks because they were on duty day and night.(V) 34 These(W) were the heads of the Levite families, chiefs according to their family records; they lived in Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. 9:4 Lit Bani, from the sons
  2. 9:9 Lit the house of their fathers, also in vv. 13,19
  3. 9:19 = the temple
  4. 9:31 Lit with things prepared in pans