91 And all Israel have reckoned themselves by genealogy, and lo, they are written on the book of the kings of Israel and Judah—they were removed to Babylon for their trespass. 2 And the first inhabitants, who 'are' in their possession, in their cities, of Israel, 'are' the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim. 3 And in Jerusalem dwelt of the sons of Judah, and of the sons of Benjamin, and of the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh: 4 Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, of the sons of Pharez, son of Judah. 5 And of the Shilonite: Asaiah the first-born, and his sons. 6 And of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety. 7 And of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah, 8 and Ibneiah son of Jeroham, and Elah son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah. 9 And their brethren, according to their generations, 'are' nine hundred and fifty and six. All these 'are' men, heads of fathers, according to the house of their fathers. 10 And of the priests: Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin, 11 and Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, leader in the house of God; 12 and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer. 13 And their brethren, heads to the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and sixty, mighty in valour, 'are' for the work of the service of the house of God.
14 And of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hashshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah son of Micah, son of Zichri, son of Asaph; 16 and Obadiah son of Shemariah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah, son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who is dwelling in the villages of the Netophathite. 17 And the gatekeepers 'are' Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren—Shallum 'is' the head; 18 and hitherto they 'are' at the gate of the king eastward; they 'are' the gatekeepers for the companies of the sons of Levi. 19 And Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, 'are' over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, and their fathers 'are' over the camp of Jehovah, keepers of the entrance; 20 and Phinehas son of Eleazar hath been leader over them formerly; Jehovah 'is' with him. 21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah 'is' gatekeeper at the opening of the tent of meeting. 22 All of those who are chosen for gatekeepers at the thresholds 'are' two hundred and twelve; they 'are' in their villages, by their genealogy; they whom David and Samuel the seer appointed in their office. 23 And they and their sons 'are' over the gates of the house of Jehovah, even of the house of the tent, by watches. 24 At four sides are the gatekeepers, east, west, north, and south. 25 And their brethren in their villages 'are' to come in for seven days from time to time with these. 26 For in office 'are' the four chiefs of the gatekeepers, they are Levites, and they have been over the chambers, and over the treasuries of the house of God,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 9:1-26
Chapter Contents
Genealogies.
This chapter expresses that one end of recording all these genealogies was, to direct the Jews, when they returned out of captivity, with whom to unite, and where to reside. Here is an account of the good state into which the affairs of religion were put, on the return from Babylon. Every one knew his charge. Work is likely to be done well when every one knows the duty of his place, and makes a business of it. God is the God of order. Thus was the temple a figure of the heavenly one, where they rest not day nor night from praising God, Revelation 4:8. Blessed be His name, believers there shall, not in turn, but all together, without interruption, praise him night and day: may the Lord make each of us fit for the inheritance of the saints in light.