Read 1 Chronicles 9
9 All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
The People in Jerusalem
2 Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.
3 Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were:
4 Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.
5 Of the Shelanites:
Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6 Of the Zerahites:
Jeuel.
The people from Judah numbered 690.
7 Of the Benjamites:
Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;
8 Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.
9 The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families.
10 Of the priests:
Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;
11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God;
12 Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer.
13 The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God.
14 Of the Levites:
Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite; 15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah son of Mika, the son of Zikri, the son of Asaph; 16 Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17 The gatekeepers:
Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief 18 being stationed at the King’s Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. 19 Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their ancestors had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the Lord. 20 In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the Lord was with him.21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
22 Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. 23 They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord—the house called the tent of meeting. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. 25 Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods. 26 But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. 27 They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.
28 Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. 29 Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices. 30 But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices. 31 A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread. 32 Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.
33 Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.
34 All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.
The Genealogy of Saul
35 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon.
His wife’s name was Maakah, 36 and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
39 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.
40 The son of Jonathan:
Merib-Baal, who was the father of Micah.
41 The sons of Micah:
Pithon, Melek, Tahrea and Ahaz.
42 Ahaz was the father of Jadah, Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza. 43 Moza was the father of Binea; Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son.
44 Azel had six sons, and these were their names:
Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
Go Deeper
As we near the end of the genealogies in 1 Chronicles, we’re reminded that these lists aren’t just a history book but also a conveyance of the future for the people and tribes coming together to establish Israel again. The Chronicler (historically considered Ezra) ultimately wrote this after the exile to help those returning to Israel to guide the people on how to worship God and walk again in obedience. And although this is a clearly hopeful time, he issues a word of caution at the outset of this chapter, reiterating that the doom of Judah was not a result of warring empires or the geopolitical landscape, but that their exile was a direct result of their unfaithfulness to God.
Of course, the crux of the human condition is our sinful nature conflicting with the perfect, unchanging nature of God is so well described by Paul in Romans 7:15 (“For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do”) and ultimately serves as the major thematic element throughout the Old Testament.
And while this chapter can read as dry or even unimportant, especially as compared to the more emotive and narrative books of the New Testament, it reminds us that God knows each one of His creation individually and personally. We can live in confidence in the fact that who we are and what we do is etched on the heart of God. This book is also a reminder that God is faithful to His people and keeps His promises regardless of our own faithfulness to Him. In the following chapters of 1 Chronicles, we will see the fulfillment of God’s promise to David to become king over Israel.
God cannot tolerate disobedience and must judge us in order to restore our fellowship with Him. When we look at the New Testament, we also find that obedience is also the ultimate desire of Jesus for us. John 15:5-8 says “I am the vine; you are the branches…If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Questions
- Do the consequences of disobedience ever change the course of your decision making?
- How can we see the story of Israel in the perspective of a love story of God’s pursuit rather than our broken, fickle hearts?
- In your life, do you feel like your heart is in more of a state of exile with God or more in a state of unity?
Did You Know?
After the tribes of people come out of exile and resettle in their land, they are all referred to as Israelites in 1 Chronicles 9 to mark the restoration of God’s people.
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2 thoughts on “1 Chronicles 9”
Ezra reveals in v2 that the first to return to their property after exile were these groups: common people, priests, Levites, and temple assistants (not warriors or government leaders). After being carried away into captivity for their unfaithfulness to the Lord, now as a nation they needed to return allegiance to who had made them great in the first place. Worship of the one true God would be the firm foundation to rebuild their nation. This was no small feat, and proves that God was ultimately seeking their hearts and an intimate relationship with his people. The priests and gatekeepers were facilitators of reestablishing true worship to a weary people. Today, as we go about our activities let’s be reminded that our work can become worship when we dedicate it to God and perform it with an awareness of his presence.
We have an amazing church at HC. They have a great number of staff that God is using to implement each service, with all kinds of areas of service that we take for granted. Some are paid, some are volunteer but WE as the body of Christ should be praying for one another and all of the people that serve us not only on Sundays but the rest of the week in various aspects as well. Each of us are a part of the body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. Whether or not you are serving at the “church building” if you are a follower of Christ then you have a part to play as well. PRAY!!! God has tasks for each of us but when and if we do not know then ask (pray). This should be a given but sometimes we need refreshing to know to pray for our pastors, their families, their walks with God, then the musicians, their families, their walks with God, the gatekeepers, ect… You get my drift. We need to be connected to the vine, that is an individual walk but we go to “Church” on Sunday’s and other days to glean from our leadership there but we need to help them by praying for them daily. I believe we as the congregation are prayed for by those leaders daily.
God I lift up Harris Creek leadership. God give them direction as they come before Your people, Let their Holy Spirit Ears hear what You want them to learn, to teach, to lead and to love. God bless their families, their finances, and their homes. God thank You for showing me how I can pray better for them or serve them in any capacity in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!