1 Chronicles 9

1 So all [every single one, the entire nation] Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] was recorded [enrolled, officially listed] in the genealogies [family histories, records of ancestry] written [inscribed, documented] in the Book [scroll, written document] of the Kings [rulers, monarchs] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob]. But Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] was exiled [carried away, taken captive] to Babylon [the city of confusion, a place of exile] because of their [intentional, willful] unfaithfulness [disloyalty, trespass, sin]. word study 2 Now the first [initial, primary] to resettle [return and reclaim, dwell] their own property [possessions, inheritance] in their cities [towns, urban areas] were Israelites [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], priests [spiritual leaders, mediators], Levites [assistants to the priests, descendants of Levi], and temple servants [Nethinim, helpers in the sanctuary]. word study 3 These were some of the descendants [sons, children] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, son of Jacob], Benjamin [son of the right hand], Ephraim [doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph’s son], and Manasseh [a grandson of Jacob, ancestor of a large tribe] who lived [dwelt, remained, abided] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Palestine]: word study 4 Uthai [a helpful one] son of Ammihud [my kinsman is majesty], the son of Omri [pupil of Jehovah], the son of Imri [exalted], the son of Bani [built], a descendant [from the line of] of Perez [breach] son of Judah [praise]. word study 5 From the Shilonites [inhabitants of Shiloh, a city of rest]: Asaiah [a name shared by several Israelites] the firstborn [holding a special status, the eldest] and his sons [descendants, male offspring]. word study 6 From the [descendants of, sons of] Zerahites [Zerah’s clan]: Jeuel [God sweeps away, an Israelite] and [their relatives, brethren, kin] 690 [six hundred and ninety, a large number] relatives [family members, kinsmen]. word study 7 From the Benjamites [sons of the right hand, descendants of Benjamin]: Sallu [valor, a man of strength] son of Meshullam [given of God, a common Israelite name], the son of Hodaviah [praise ye Jehovah, a name signifying worship], the son of Hassenuah [bristling, a descendant of Levi]; word study 8 Ibneiah [Jehovah builds, a Benjamite] son of Jeroham [showing pity]; Elah [an oak valley] son of Uzzi [strong], the son of Michri [sold]; Meshullam [blessed, or paid] son of Shephatiah [judged of Jehovah], the son of Reuel [friend of God], the son of Ibnijah [whom Jehovah will build up]; word study 9 and 956 of their relatives [brethren, close family members] according to their genealogy [family history, descendants]. All [every single one] these men were heads [chiefs, leaders] of their families [fathers’ houses, households]. word study 10 From [a portion of, belonging to] the priests [spiritual leaders, those who serve God]: Jedaiah [known by Jehovah], Jehoiarib [whom Jehovah will contend for], and Jachin [He will establish, one who is established by God]; word study 11 Azariah [a leader, the son of Hilkiah] son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok [a righteous priest], the son of Meraioth [a rebellious one], the son of Ahitub [my brother is good], the chief official [leader, ruler] of God’s [Elohim, the supreme] temple [house, dwelling place]; word study 12 Adaiah [Jehovah has adorned Himself] son of Jeroham [showing pity], the son of Pashhur [freed by God], the son of Malchijah [my king is Jehovah]; Maasai [work of the Lord] son of Adiel [ornament of God], the son of Jahzerah [whom God leads back], the son of Meshullam [blessed], the son of Meshillemith [recompense of God], the son of Immer [speaking, saying]; word study 13 and 1,760 of their relatives [brethren, close family members], the heads [chiefs, leaders] of their families, able men [mighty, strong warriors] for the work [service, ministry] of the service [worship, devotion] of the house [temple, dwelling place] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. word study 14 From the Levites [descendants of Levi, the priestly tribe]: Shemaiah [heard by God] son of Hasshub [a Merarite Levite], the son of Azrikam [help against the enemy], the son of Hashabiah [Jehovah has considered], a descendant [son, offspring] of Merari [bitter]; word study 15 Bakbakkar [the searcher], Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah [a gift of Jehovah] son of Mica [who is like God], the son of Zichri [memorial, remembrance], the son of Asaph [the gatherer, one who collects and unites]; word study 16 Obadiah [a servant of God] son of Shemaiah [heard by God], the son of Galal [exile, sojourner], the son of Jeduthun [praised]; and Berechiah [blessed by Jehovah] son of Asa [healer, doctor], the son of Elkanah [God has possessed], who lived [to dwell, reside] in the villages [small settlements, towns] of the Netophathites [inhabitants of Netophah, a place of dropping or abundance]. word study 17 These were the gatekeepers [porters, doorkeepers]: Shallum [a personal name, meaning peace], Akkub [a descendant of Levi], Talmon [an oppressor, a temple doorkeeper], Ahiman [a Levite servant], and their relatives [brethren, brothers, close kin]. Shallum [the chief, head, leader] was their chief [head, prince, ruler]; word study 18 he was previously stationed [hitherto waited, up till then] at the King’s [royal, belonging to a king] Gate [entrance, doorway] on the east [direction of sunrise, eastern side] side. These were the gatekeepers [porters, doorkeepers] from the camp [encampments, army] of the Levites [descendants of Levi, Levitical tribe]. word study 19 Shallum [the son of a noble family] son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives [brothers, kin] from the Korahites [descendants of Korah, a Levite] were assigned to guard [watch over, protect] the thresholds [doorways, entrances] of the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling], just as their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] had been assigned to guard [keep, watch over] the entrance [gate, doorway] to the dwelling [house, sanctuary] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 20 In earlier times [in the past, formerly] Phinehas [a priest] son of Eleazar had been in charge [leader, ruler] of the gatekeepers [those who guarded the entrance], and the LORD [Yehovah] was with [together, in companionship] him. word study 21 Zechariah [Jehovah remembers, son of Meshelemiah, a gatekeeper] son of Meshelemiah [a Levite, gatekeeper] was the gatekeeper [porter, responsible for guarding] at the entrance [door, doorway] to the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [appointed time, sacred season]. word study 22 The number [total count] of those chosen [selected, appointed] to be gatekeepers [porters, doorkeepers] at the thresholds [doorways, entrances] was 212. They were registered [reckoned, enrolled] by genealogy [family history, lineage] in their villages [towns, communities]. David [the king, leader] and Samuel [Shemuel, the prophet] the seer [one who sees, a prophet] had appointed [ordained, established] them to their positions [offices, roles] of trust [faithfulness, reliability]. word study 23 So they [as gatekeepers] and their descendants were assigned [given the oversight, placed in charge] to guard [watch over, protect] the gates [entrances, doors] of the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]—the house [place, tabernacle] called [known as, referred to as] the Tent [tabernacle, nomad’s home, ohel]. word study 24 The gatekeepers [porters, doorkeepers] were stationed on the four [a quartet of] sides: east [the direction of sunrise], west [towards the sea], north [Zaphon], and south [Negeb, the southern district]. word study 25 Their [close] relatives [brethren, kinsmen] came from their [surrounding] villages [country places, towns] at fixed times [regularly, from time to time] to serve [assist, help] with them for seven-day [a week, a complete cycle] periods [intervals, times]. word study 26 But the four chief [mighty] gatekeepers, who were Levites [descendants of Levi, a tribe of Israel], were entrusted [in a position of trust, with faithfulness] with the rooms [chambers, storage areas] and the treasuries [storehouses, depositories] of the house [temple, dwelling place] of God [Elohim, the supreme God]. word study 27 They would spend the night stationed [lodged] around [surrounding, encompassing] the house [dwelling place, temple] of God [Elohim, the supreme God], because they were responsible [had the charge, a guard or watch] for guarding [preserving, safekeeping] it and opening [uttering, unlocking] it every morning [morning by morning, daily]. word study 28 Some of them were in charge of the articles [vessels, utensils] used in worship [service, ministry], to count them [by number, with precision] whenever they were brought in [entered, came in] or taken out [removed, carried out]. word study 29 Others [some of them, certain ones] were put in charge of the furnishings [articles, utensils] and other articles [instruments, vessels] of the sanctuary [Holy Place, set-apart area], as well as the fine flour [meal, special flour], wine [fermented wine], oil [olive oil], frankincense [white resin, used for incense], and spices [pleasant smells, sweet perfumes]. word study 30 And some [certain, a portion] of the sons [descendants, offspring] of the priests [spiritual leaders, ministers] mixed [prepared, compounded] the spices [fragrant ointments, sweet perfumes]. word study 31 A Levite [one of the priestly tribe, a descendant of Levi] named Mattithiah [gift of Jehovah], the firstborn [having the right of the firstborn, holding a special status] son of Shallum [a personal name, referring to several Israelites] the Korahite [a descendant of Korah, a Levite], was entrusted [given the office of trust, having the set office] with baking [cooking, making] the bread [flatbread, probably a type of griddle-cake, used in offerings]. word study 32 Some of their Kohathite [descendants of Kohath, a Levite] brothers [male siblings or close relatives] were responsible [in charge, overseeing] for preparing [setting in order, arranging] the rows [lines, piles] of the showbread [holy bread, sacred loaves] every [each, weekly] Sabbath [day of rest, worship]. word study 33 Those who were musicians [singers, skilled in music], the heads [chiefs, leaders] of Levite [descendants of Levi] families, stayed [dwelt, remained] in the temple chambers [rooms, storage rooms] and were exempt [free, unoccupied] from other duties [service, work] because they were on duty [employed, responsible] day [by day, daily] and night [in the darkness, a period of rest]. word study 34 All [these chief fathers] these were heads [leaders, princes] of Levite [descendants of Levi, one of Jacob’s 12 sons] families, chiefs [leaders, rulers] according to their genealogies [family histories, records of descent], and they lived [dwelt, resided] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital city of Palestine]. word study 35 Jeiel [a leader or founder] the father of Gibeon [a Levitical city in Benjamin] lived [dwelt, remained, or abided] in Gibeon [the city, el-Jib]. His wife’s [woman, female partner] name [identity, character] was Maacah [meaning oppression, or press]. word study 36 Abdon [the servant, or ruler] was his firstborn [eldest, or premier] son, then Zur [rock, or stone], Kish [bow, or arch], Baal [lord, or master], Ner [lamp, or light], Nadab [generous, or noble], word study 37 Gedor [a place in Palestine and a Benjamite], Ahio [a son of Jeiel of Gibeon], Zechariah [Jehovah remembers], and Mikloth [a leader in David’s army]. word study 38 Mikloth [a leader in David’s army, son of Jehiel] was the father [to beget, give birth to] of Shimeam [an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin]. They [the family, relatives] too lived [to dwell, remain, abide] alongside [with, together, near] their relatives [brothers, male siblings, close friends] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Palestine] [over against, before, in front of]. word study 39 Ner [an Israelite man, the father of several notable figures] was the father of Kish [a Benjamite, ancestor of Mordecai], Kish [a prominent Israelite] was the father of Saul [Shaul, meaning desired, a Benjamite king], and Saul [the first king of Israel] was the father of Jonathan [Jehonathan, meaning Jehovah has given], Malchishua [my king is wealth, a son of Saul], Abinadab [a brother of King David, meaning father of generosity], and Esh-baal. word study 40 The son [descendant, offspring] of Jonathan: Merib-baal [Baal is my advocate, Mephibosheth], who was the father [to beget, give birth to] of Micah [who is like God, Micaiah]. word study 41 The sons [descendants, offspring] of Micah [Micaiah, who is like God]: Pithon, Melech [king, ruler], Tahrea [cunning, clever], and Ahaz. word study 42 Ahaz [a Benjamite of Saul’s line] was the father of Jarah [son of Ahaz]; Jarah [the father of several sons] was the father of Alemeth [covering], Azmaveth [strong unto death], and Zimri [praised]; and Zimri [a descendant of Judah] was the father of Moza [fountain, a source of life]. word study 43 Moza [a personal name meaning fountain] was the father [to beget, give birth to] of Binea [an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin]. Rephaiah [healed of Jehovah] was his son [a descendant, offspring], Elasah [God has made] his son [a descendant, offspring], and Azel [reserved, set aside] his son [a descendant, offspring]. word study 44 And Azel [a place near Jerusalem, reserved or set aside] had six sons, and these [specifically, the following] were their names: Azrikam [help against the enemy], Bocheru [an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin], Ishmael [God will hear], Sheariah [valued by God], Obadiah [a servant of God], and Hanan [gracious, merciful]. These [the aforementioned individuals] were the sons [descendants, offspring] of Azel [a name meaning reserved or set aside]. word study