American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
1 Chronicles 9
1
So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.
Reference
2
Now the first inhabitants that dwelled in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezra 2:58
Ezra 2:43
Ezra 8:20
Nehemiah 7:60
References Israel
Nehemiah 7:73
Ezra 2:70
3
And in Jerusalem dwelled of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;
Reference
References Jerusalem
Nehemiah 11:1
4
Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.
Reference
People
7
And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,
People
8
And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
People
9
And their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.
10
And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Nehemiah 12:19
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 the house of God;
Reference
People
References God
Nehemiah 11:11
12
And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
People
13
And their brothers, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and three score; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
14
And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
People
15
And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Nehemiah 11:22
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, that dwelled in the villages of the Netophathites.
People
17
And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brothers: Shallum was the chief;
People
18
Who till now waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.
19
And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.
People
20
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.
21
And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Reference
People
22
All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 9:9
23
So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.
24
In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
25
And their brothers, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.
Reference
26
For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.
27
And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was on them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.
28
And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.
29
Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 23:29
30
And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.
31
And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.
Reference
People
32
And other of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every sabbath.
33
And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
34
These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelled at Jerusalem.
35
And in Gibeon dwelled the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:
36
And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab.
37
And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38
And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelled with their brothers at Jerusalem, over against their brothers.
39
And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 13:22
40
And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.
41
And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 8:35
42
And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 8:36
43
And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 8:37
44
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.
Summary of 1 Chronicles 9
This chapter serves as a bridge between Israel's genealogical history and the restored community after the Babylonian exile. The chapter begins by explaining that Judah was carried away to Babylon because of its unfaithfulness. After the exile, Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants returned to the land and began rebuilding their communities. Jerusalem once again became an important center of Jewish religious and national life.
The chapter identifies people from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem. It then gives particular attention to the priests and Levites. The priests included members of established priestly families, while the Levites performed many different responsibilities within the restored temple.
A major section describes the gatekeepers. Their responsibility was to protect the entrances of the temple and control access to its sacred areas. The gatekeepers were organized into groups serving at the eastern, western, northern, and southern entrances. Some also guarded the temple chambers and treasuries. Their duties were considered highly important because the temple contained sacred vessels and valuable offerings.
Other Levites handled the temple vessels, flour, wine, oil, spices, incense, and showbread. The singers had their own dedicated responsibilities and lived in the temple chambers because their musical service was continuous. This demonstrates how carefully worship was organized in the restored community.
The final section returns to the genealogy of Saul. Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan. Jonathan's son Merib-baal and his descendants are then traced through several generations. This prepares the reader for the death of Saul described in Chapter 10.
Historically, the chapter reflects the period following the Babylonian exile, particularly the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple. Babylon fell to Persia in 539 BC, and the Second Temple was completed around 516 BC.
The chapter identifies people from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem. It then gives particular attention to the priests and Levites. The priests included members of established priestly families, while the Levites performed many different responsibilities within the restored temple.
A major section describes the gatekeepers. Their responsibility was to protect the entrances of the temple and control access to its sacred areas. The gatekeepers were organized into groups serving at the eastern, western, northern, and southern entrances. Some also guarded the temple chambers and treasuries. Their duties were considered highly important because the temple contained sacred vessels and valuable offerings.
Other Levites handled the temple vessels, flour, wine, oil, spices, incense, and showbread. The singers had their own dedicated responsibilities and lived in the temple chambers because their musical service was continuous. This demonstrates how carefully worship was organized in the restored community.
The final section returns to the genealogy of Saul. Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan. Jonathan's son Merib-baal and his descendants are then traced through several generations. This prepares the reader for the death of Saul described in Chapter 10.
Historically, the chapter reflects the period following the Babylonian exile, particularly the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple. Babylon fell to Persia in 539 BC, and the Second Temple was completed around 516 BC.