HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 734
1 C H RO N I C L ES 9
4 One
family that returned was that of Uthai
son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri,
son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of
Judah.
5 Others returned from the Shilonite clan,
including Asaiah (the oldest) and his sons.
6 From the Zerahite clan, Jeuel returned with
his relatives.
In all, 690 families from the tribe of Judah
returned.
7 From
the tribe of Benjamin came Sallu son
of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of
Hassenuah; 8 Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah
son of Uzzi, son of Micri; and Meshullam
son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of
Ibnijah.
9 These men were all leaders of clans, and
they were listed in their genealogical records.
In all, 956 families from the tribe of Benjamin
returned.
The Returning Priests
10 Among the priests who returned were Jedaiah,
Jehoiarib, Jakin, 11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, son
of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth,
son of Ahitub. Azariah was the chief officer
of the house of God.
12 Other returning priests were 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.
13 In all, 1,760 priests returned. They were heads
of clans and very able men. They were responsible for ministering at the house of God.
The Returning Levites
14 The Levites who returned were Shemaiah
son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son
of Hashabiah, a descendant of Merari;
• Serving
1 CH R O NIC LE S 9 :2 8
Throughout the Scriptures we are
encouraged to care for God’s house—the
Tabernacle, the Temple, the synagogue,
and in these days our own church. We
honor God by caring for the place in
which he is worshiped and his Word is
taught. Ask how you can help care for
the building in which you worship. Some
people actually do the work of caretaking
(23:32); others contribute financially to
ensure that God will be honored through
the upkeep of his house of worship (see
Nehemiah 10:32). Don’t take your church
building for granted.
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15 Bakbakkar;
Heresh; Galal; Mattaniah
son of Mica, son of Zicri, son of Asaph;
16 Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal,
son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa,
son of Elkanah, who lived in the area of
Netophah.
17 The gatekeepers who returned were Shallum,
Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their
relatives. Shallum was the chief gatekeeper.
18 Prior to this time, they were responsible
for the King’s Gate on the east side. These
men served as gatekeepers for the camps of
the Levites. 19 Shallum was the son of Kore,
a descendant of Abiasaph,* from the clan of
Korah. He and his relatives, the Korahites,
were responsible for guarding the entrance
to the sanctuary, just as their ancestors
had guarded the Tabernacle in the camp
of the Lord.
20 Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in
charge of the gatekeepers in earlier times,
and the Lord had been with him. 21 And
later Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was
responsible for guarding the entrance to
the Tabernacle.*
22 In all, there were 212 gatekeepers in those
days, and they were listed according to the genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel
the seer had appointed their ancestors because
they were reliable men. 23 These gatekeepers
and their descendants, by their divisions, were
responsible for guarding the entrance to the
house of the Lord when that house was a tent.
24 The gatekeepers were stationed on all four
sides—east, west, north, and south. 25 Their
relatives in the villages came regularly to share
their duties for seven-day periods.
26 The four chief gatekeepers, all Levites, were
trusted officials, for they were responsible for
the rooms and treasuries at the house of God.
27 They would spend the night around the house
of God, since it was their duty to guard it and to
open the gates every morning.
28 Some of the gatekeepers were assigned to
care for the various articles used in worship.
They checked them in and out to avoid any loss.
29 Others were responsible for the furnishings,
the items in the sanctuary, and the supplies,
such as choice flour, wine, olive oil, frankincense, and spices. 30 But it was the priests who
blended the spices. 31 Mattithiah, a Levite and
the oldest son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread used in the offerings. 32 And some members of the clan of Kohath
were in charge of preparing the bread to be set
on the table each Sabbath day.
33 The musicians, all prominent Levites, lived
at the Temple. They were exempt from other
9:19 Hebrew Ebiasaph, a variant spelling of Abiasaph; compare
Exod 6:24. 9:21 Hebrew Tent of Meeting.