The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 This is the complete family tree for all Israel, recorded in the Royal Annals of the Kings of Israel and Judah at the time they were exiled to Babylon because of their unbelieving and disobedient lives.
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So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith.
2 The first Israelites to return from exile to their homes and cities were the priests, the Levites, and the temple support staff.
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Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
3 Returning to Jerusalem from the families of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh were the following:
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And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem:
4 Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the line of Perez son of Judah;
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Uthai the son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah.
5 from the Shilonites were Asaiah the firstborn and his sons;
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And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
6 from the family of Zerah there was Jeuel. There were 690 in the Judah group.
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Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their kinsmen, 690.
7 From the family of Benjamin were Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah,
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Of the Benjaminites: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah,
8 and Ibneiah son of Jeroham, and Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Micri, and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.
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Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, Elah the son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah;
9 There were 956 in the Benjamin group. All these named were heads of families.
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and their kinsmen according to their generations, . All these were heads of fathers’ houses according to their fathers’ houses.
10 From the company of priests there were Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;
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Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,
11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, who was in charge of taking care of the house of God;
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and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God;
12 Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; also Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer.
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and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer;
13 The priests, all of them heads of families, numbered 1,760, skilled and seasoned servants in the work of worshiping God.
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besides their kinsmen, heads of their fathers’ houses, 1,760, mighty men for the work of the service of the house of God.
14 From the Levites were Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite;
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Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15 then Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zicri, the son of Asaph;
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and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph;
16 also Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and finally Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
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and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17 The security guards were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers. Shallum was the chief
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The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their kinsmen (Shallum was the chief);
18 and up to now the security guard at the King's Gate on the east. They also served as security guards at the camps of Levite families.
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until then they were in the king’s gate on the east side as the gatekeepers of the camps of the Levites.
19 Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, along with his brothers in the Korahite family, were in charge of the services of worship as doorkeepers of the Tent, as their ancestors had guarded the entrance to the camp of God.
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Shallum the son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his kinsmen of his fathers’ house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance.
20 In the early days, Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the security guards - God be with him!
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And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the chief officer over them in time past; the Lord was with him.
21 Now Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the security guard at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
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Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
22 The number of those who had been chosen to be security guards was 212 - they were officially registered in their own camps. David and Samuel the seer handpicked them for their dependability.
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All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were 212. They were enrolled by genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of trust.
23 They and their sons had the permanent responsibility for guarding the gates of God's house, the house of worship;
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So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, that is, the house of the tent, as guards.
24 the main security guards were posted at the four entrances, east, west, north, and south;
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The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south.
25 their brothers in the villages were scheduled to give them relief weekly - the four main security guards were responsible for round-the-clock surveillance.
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And their kinsmen who were in their villages were obligated to come in every seven days, in turn, to be with these,
26 Being Levites, they were responsible for the security of all supplies and valuables in the house of God.
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for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted to be over the chambers and the treasures of the house of God.
27 They kept watch all through the night and had the key to open the doors each morning.
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And they lodged around the house of God, for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.
28 Some were in charge of the articles used in The Temple worship - they counted them both when they brought them in and when they took them out.
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Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out.
29 Others were in charge of supplies in the sanctuary - flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices.
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Others of them were appointed over the furniture and over all the holy utensils, also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices.
30 And some of the priests were assigned to mixing the oils for the perfume.
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Others, of the sons of the priests, prepared the mixing of the spices,
31 The Levite Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was responsible for baking the bread for the services of worship.
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and Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with making the flat cakes.
32 Some of the brothers, sons of the Kohathites, were assigned to preparing the bread set out on the table each Sabbath.
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Also some of their kinsmen of the Kohathites had charge of the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath.
33 And then there were the musicians, all heads of Levite families. They had permanent living quarters in The Temple; because they were on twenty-four-hour duty,
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Now these, the singers, the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night.
34 they were exempt from all other duties. These were the heads of Levite families as designated in their family tree. They lived in Jerusalem.
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These were heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, according to their generations, leaders. These lived in Jerusalem.
35 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived at Gibeon; his wife was Maacah.
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In Gibeon lived the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, and the name of his wife was Maacah,
36 His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
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and his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
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Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth;
38 Mikloth had Shimeam. They lived in the same neighborhood as their relatives in Jerusalem.
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and Mikloth was the father of Shimeam; and these also lived opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen.
39 Ner had Kish, Kish had Saul, Saul had Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.
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Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40 Merib-Baal was the son of Jonathan and Merib-Baal had Micah.
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And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal fathered Micah.
41 Micah's sons were Pithon, Melech, and Tahrea.
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The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42 Ahaz had Jarah, Jarah had Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; Zimri had Moza,
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And Ahaz fathered Jarah, and Jarah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. And Zimri fathered Moza.
43 Moza had Binea, Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah was his son, and Azel was his son.
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Moza fathered Binea, and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44 Azel had six sons: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan - the sons of Azel.
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Azel had six sons and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025