Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
1 Chronicles 9
All Israel was enrolled by genealogy, and look, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. Judah was taken into exile to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
The first inhabitants to return to their holdings in their towns were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
In Jerusalem some from the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived:
Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, from the descendants of Perez son of Judah;
and from the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons;
and from the descendants of Zerah: Jeuel and their kin, six hundred and ninety;
and from the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah;
and Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibneiah.
Their kin, according to their genealogies, numbered nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men were heads of ancestral houses.
From the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jakin;
and Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, leader of the house of God;
and Adaiah 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.
Their kin, heads of their ancestral houses, numbered one thousand seven hundred and sixty—mighty men of strength for the work of the service of the house of God.
From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, from the descendants of Merari;
Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zikri, son of Asaph;
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.
The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their kin. Shallum was their chief.
Until now they have been at the king’s gate on the east. They were the gatekeepers for the camps of the descendants of Levi.
Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his kin from his ancestral house—the Korahites—were responsible for the work of the service, guarding the thresholds of the tent. Their ancestors had been over the camp of the LORD, guarding the entrance.
Phinehas son of Eleazar had formerly been their leader; the LORD was with him.
Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
All those selected as gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered two hundred and twelve. They were enrolled by genealogy in their settlements. David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of trust.
They and their descendants were responsible for guarding the gates of the house of the LORD—the house of the tent.
The gatekeepers were stationed at the four directions: east, west, north, and south.
Their kin who lived in their settlements were to come in with them for seven days at a time.
For the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of the house of God.
They spent the nights around the house of God, because the guard duty was theirs; they were responsible for opening it morning by morning.
Some of them were responsible for the utensils of the service, for they brought them in by count and took them out by count.
Others of them were appointed over the vessels and all the holy utensils, and over the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices.
Some of the priests’ descendants prepared the ointment of spices.
Mattithiah, one of the Levites—the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite—was entrusted with the work of preparing the baked offerings.
Some of the Kohathites, from among their kin, were responsible for the bread set out in rows, preparing it Sabbath by Sabbath.
These were the singers, heads of ancestral houses of the Levites. They lived in the rooms and were free from other duties, because the work was upon them day and night.
These were heads of ancestral houses of the Levites, according to their generations—chiefs. They lived in Jerusalem.
In Gibeon lived Jeiel, the father of Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah,
and his firstborn son was Abdon; then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, and Nadab,
Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
Mikloth fathered Shimeam. They also lived near their kin in Jerusalem, alongside their kin.
Ner fathered Kish, and Kish fathered Saul; Saul fathered Jonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
Jonathan’s son was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal fathered Micah.
The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, and Tahrea.
Ahaz fathered Jarah, and Jarah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri fathered Moza.
Moza fathered Binea; his son was Rephaiah, his son Eleasah, and his son Azel.
Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.