CHAPTER 9
So all
Israel
was recorded in the genealogies
written
in
the Book
of the Kings
of Israel.
But Judah
was exiled
to Babylon
because of their unfaithfulness.
Now the first
to resettle
their own property
in their cities
were Israelites,
priests,
Levites,
and temple servants.
These were some
of the descendants
of Judah,
Benjamin,
Ephraim,
and Manasseh
who lived
in Jerusalem:
Uthai
son
of Ammihud,
the son
of Omri,
the son
of Imri,
the son
of Bani,
a descendant
of Perez
son of Judah.
Ibneiah
son
of Jeroham;
Elah
son
of Uzzi,
the son
of Michri;
Meshullam
son
of Shephatiah,
the son
of Reuel,
the son
of Ibnijah;
and 956
of their relatives
according to their genealogy.
All
these
men
were heads
of their families.
Azariah
son
of Hilkiah,
the son
of Meshullam,
the son
of Zadok,
the son
of Meraioth,
the son
of Ahitub,
the chief official
of God’s
temple;
Adaiah
son
of Jeroham,
the son
of Pashhur,
the son
of Malchijah;
Maasai
son
of Adiel,
the son
of Jahzerah,
the son
of Meshullam,
the son
of Meshillemith,
the son
of Immer;
and 1,760
of their relatives,
the heads
of their families,
able
men
for the work
of the service
of the house
of God.
From the Levites:
Shemaiah
son
of Hasshub,
the son
of Azrikam,
the son
of Hashabiah,
a descendant
of Merari;
Obadiah
son
of Shemaiah,
the son
of Galal,
the son
of Jeduthun;
and Berechiah
son
of Asa,
the son
of Elkanah
who lived
in the villages
of the Netophathites.
These were the gatekeepers:
Shallum,
Akkub,
Talmon,
Ahiman,
and their relatives.
Shallum
was their chief;
he was previously stationed at the King’
Gate
on the east side.
These
were the gatekeepers
from the camp
of the Levites.
Shallum
son
of Kore,
the son
of Ebiasaph,
the son
of Korah,
and his relatives
from the Korahites
were assigned to guard
the thresholds
of the Tent,
just as their fathers
had been assigned to
guard
the entrance
to the dwelling
of the LORD.
In earlier times
Phinehas
son
of Eleazar
had been
in charge
of the gatekeepers,
and the LORD
was with him.
The number
of those chosen
to be gatekeepers
at the thresholds
was 212.
They
were registered by genealogy
in their villages.
David
and Samuel
the seer
had appointed
them
to their positions of trust.
So they
and their descendants
were assigned to
guard
the gates
of the house
of the LORD—
the house
called the Tent.
Their relatives
came
from their villages
at fixed times
to serve with
them
for seven-day periods.
But
the four
chief
gatekeepers,
who
were Levites,
were
entrusted with
the rooms
and the treasuries
of the house
of God.
They would spend the night
stationed around
the house
of God,
because
they had
responsibility for guarding it
and opening it
every morning.
Some of
them were in charge of
the articles
used in worship,
to
count them
whenever they were brought in
or taken out.
Others were put
in charge of
the furnishings
and other
articles
of the sanctuary,
as well as the fine flour,
wine,
oil,
incense,
and spices.
A Levite
named Mattithiah,
the firstborn son
of Shallum
the Korahite,
was entrusted
with
baking
the bread.
Some of
their Kohathite
brothers
were responsible for
preparing
the rows
of the showbread
every Sabbath.
Those who were
musicians,
the heads
of Levite
families,
stayed in the temple chambers
and were exempt
from other duties
because they were
on duty
day
and night.
All these
were heads
of Levite
families,
chiefs
according to their genealogies,
and lived
in Jerusalem.
Ner
was the father of
Kish,
Kish
was the father of
Saul,
and Saul
was the father of
Jonathan,
Malchishua,
Abinadab,
and Esh-baal.
Ahaz
was the father of
Jarah;
Jarah
was the father of
Alemeth,
Azmaveth,
and Zimri;
and Zimri
was the father of
Moza.
And Azel
had six
sons,
and these
were their names:
Azrikam,
Bocheru,
Ishmael,
Sheariah,
Obadiah,
and Hanan.
These were
the sons
of Azel.