1 Chronicles 9:10-34

10 The following priests lived in Jerusalem: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin Azariah son of Hilkiah (the chief official in the Temple), whose ancestors included Meshullam, Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub Adaiah son of Jeroham, whose ancestors included Pashhur and Malchijah Maasai son of Adiel, whose ancestors included Jahzerah, Meshullam, Meshillemith, and Immer
13 The priests who were heads of families totaled 1,760. They were experts in all the work carried on in the Temple.
14 The following Levites lived in Jerusalem: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, whose ancestors included Azrikam and Hashabiah, of the clan of Merari Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal Mattaniah son of Mica, whose ancestors included Zichri and Asaph Obadiah son of Shemaiah, whose ancestors included Galal and Jeduthun Berechiah, the son of Asa and grandson of Elkanah, who lived in the territory that belonged to the town of Netophah
17 The following Temple guards lived in Jerusalem: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, and Ahiman. Shallum was their leader.
18 Down to that time members of their clans had been stationed at the eastern entrance to the King's Gate. Formerly they had stood guard at the gates to the camps of the Levites.
19 Shallum, the son of Kore and grandson of Ebiasaph, together with his fellow members of the clan of Korah, was responsible for guarding the entrance to the Tent of the Lord's presence, just as their ancestors had been when they were in charge of the Lord's camp.
20 Phinehas son of Eleazar - may the Lord be with him! - had supervised them at one time.
21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was also a guard at the entrance to the Tent of the Lord's presence.
22 In all, 212 men were chosen as guards for the entrances and gates. They were registered according to the villages where they lived. It was King David and the prophet Samuel who had put their ancestors in these responsible positions.
23 They and their descendants continued to guard the gates to the Temple.
24 There was a gate facing in each direction, north, south, east, and west, and each had a chief guard.
25 These guards were assisted by their relatives, who lived in the villages and who had to take turns at guard duty for seven days at a time.
26 The four chief guards were Levites and had the final responsibility. They were also responsible for the rooms in the Temple and for the supplies kept there.
27 They lived near the Temple, because it was their duty to guard it and to open the gates every morning.
28 Other Levites were responsible for the utensils used in worship. They checked them out and checked them back in every time they were used.
29 Others were in charge of the other sacred equipment, and of the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices.
30 But the responsibility for mixing the spices belonged to the priests.
31 A Levite named Mattithiah, oldest son of Shallum, of the clan of Korah, was responsible for preparing the baked offerings.
32 Members of the clan of Kohath were responsible for preparing the sacred bread for the Temple every Sabbath.
33 Some Levite families were responsible for the Temple music. The heads of these families lived in some of the Temple buildings and were free from other duties, because they were on call day and night.
34 The men named above were heads of Levite families, according to their ancestral lines. They were the leaders who lived in Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 9:10-34 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 9

The genealogies of the several tribes being given, according as they were written in the books of the kings of Israel, 1Ch 9:1, an account follows of those who first settled in Jerusalem after their return from the Babylonish captivity; of the Israelites, 1Ch 9:2-9, of the priests, 1Ch 9:10-13 of the Levites, and of the charge and offices of several of the priests and Levites, 1Ch 9:14-34, and the chapter is concluded with a repetition of the genealogy of the ancestors and posterity of Saul king of Israel, 1Ch 9:35-44.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. king's gate: [The east gate of the Temple, through which the king usually entered.]
  • [b]. baked offerings: [Thin cakes of flour and olive oil which were baked and then presented as offerings to God (see Lv 2.4-6).]
  • [c]. sacred bread: [Twelve loaves of bread which were placed on a table in the Temple each Sabbath as an offering to God (see Lv 24.5-9).]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.