A Genealogy of the Returned Exiles

So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And (A)Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith. (B)Now the first to (C)dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the (D)temple servants. And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem: Uthai the son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, from the sons of (E)Perez the son of Judah. And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons. Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their kinsmen, 690. Of the Benjaminites: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah, Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, Elah the son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah; and their kinsmen according to their generations, (F)956. All these were heads of fathers' houses according (G)to their fathers' houses.

10 (H)Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the (I)chief officer of the house of God; 12 and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer; 13 besides their kinsmen, heads of their fathers' houses, 1,760, mighty men for the work of the service of the house of God.

14 (J)Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph; 16 and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

17 The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their kinsmen (Shallum was the chief); 18 until then they were (K)in the king's gate on the east side as the gatekeepers of the camps of the Levites. 19 Shallum the son of Kore, son of (L)Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his kinsmen of his fathers' house, the (M)Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance. 20 And (N)Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the chief officer over them in time past; the Lord was with him. 21 (O)Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 22 All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were 212. They were enrolled by genealogies in their villages. (P)David and Samuel (Q)the seer established them in their office of trust. 23 So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, that is, the house of the tent, as guards. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south. 25 And their kinsmen who were (R)in their villages were obligated to come (S)in every seven days, in turn, to be with these, 26 for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted to be over (T)the chambers and the treasures of the house of God. 27 And they lodged around the house of God, for on them lay the duty of watching, and (U)they had charge of opening it every morning.

28 Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out. 29 Others of them were appointed over the furniture and over all the holy utensils, also over the (V)fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. 30 Others, of the sons of the priests, (W)prepared the mixing of the spices, 31 and Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of (X)Shallum the (Y)Korahite, was entrusted with (Z)making the flat cakes. 32 Also some of their kinsmen of the Kohathites had (AA)charge of the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath.

33 Now these, the (AB)singers, the heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night. 34 These were heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, according to their generations, leaders. These lived in Jerusalem.

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So all Israel was listed in the official records of Israel’s kings.

Restored Jerusalem community

Judah was carried into exile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. The first to resettle their property in their towns were the Israelite people, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. Those settling in Jerusalem included some from Judah, some from Benjamin, and some from Ephraim and Manasseh:

Judah and Benjamin

Uthai son of Ammihud son of Omri son of Imri son of Bani from the family of Perez, Judah’s son.

From the Shilonites: Asaiah the oldest son and his family.

From Zerah’s family: Jeuel and their relatives—690 in all.

From Benjamin’s family: Sallu son of Meshullam son of Hodaviah son of Senaah;[a] Ibneiah, Jeroham’s son; Elah son of Uzzi son of Michri; Meshullam son of Shephatiah son of Reuel son of Ibnijah; and their relatives in their line of descent—956 in all. All of these were heads of their households.

Priests and Levites

10 From the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and Azariah son of Hilkiah son of Meshullam son of Zadok son of Meraioth son of Ahitub the leader of God’s house; 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, heads of their households, 1,760 capable men for the religious work of God’s house.

14 From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub son of Azrikam son of Hashabiah, from Merari’s family; 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.

Gatekeepers

17 The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, and Ahiman. Their brother Shallum was the leader, 18 stationed until now in the King’s Gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the Levites’ camp.

19 Shallum, Kore’s son, Ebiasaph’s grandson, and Korah’s great-grandson, and his relatives belonging to his household, the Korahites, served as gatekeepers at the tent’s entrances, as their ancestors had been gatekeepers at the entrance to the Lord’s camp.

20 Phinehas, Eleazar’s son, the Lord be with him, was their leader in former times.

21 Zechariah, Meshelemiah’s son, was gatekeeper at the meeting tent’s entrance.

22 All those selected as gatekeepers at the entrances were two hundred twelve. They were listed in the family records by their settlements. David and Samuel the seer assigned them to their trusted position. 23 So they and their descendants were the gatekeepers guarding the Lord’s house, that is, the tent.[b] 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north, and south. 25 Their relatives came in from their settlements, from time to time, to assist them for a period of seven days. 26 Due to their trustworthiness, the four master gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in charge of the rooms and the treasuries of God’s house. 27 They would spend the night patrolling God’s house since they had guard duty and were responsible for unlocking it every morning. 28 Some of them were responsible for the worship objects; they counted them when they were brought in and taken out. 29 Others were appointed over the furniture, the holy equipment, the flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices. 30 Some of the priests blended the ointment for the spices; 31 and Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the oldest son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the flat cakes. 32 Also some of their Kohathite relatives were responsible for preparing the stacks of bread for each Sabbath. 33 The singers were the heads of the households of the Levites. They lived in temple rooms and were free from other service because they were on duty day and night. 34 These were the heads of the households of the Levites, according to descent. They lived in Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 9:7 LXX; MT Hassenuah
  2. 1 Chronicles 9:23 Or house of the tent