The People who Returned from Captivity

1All the people of Israel were listed according to their families, and this information was recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel.

The people of Judah had been deported to Babylon as punishment for their sins. 29.2–3: Ezra 2.27; Neh 7.73The first to return to their property in the cities included Israelite citizens, priests, Levites, and temple workers. 3People from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh went to live in Jerusalem.

4-6There were 690 families of the tribe of Judah who lived in Jerusalem.

The descendants of Judah's son Perez had as their leader Uthai, the son of Ammihud and grandson of Omri. His other ancestors included Imri and Bani.

The descendants of Judah's son Shelah had as their leader Asaiah, who was the head of his family.

The descendants of Judah's son Zerah had Jeuel as their leader.

7-8The following members of the tribe of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem:

Sallu son of Meshullam, who was the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah

Ibneiah son of Jeroham

Elah, the son of Uzzi and grandson of Michri

Meshullam son of Shephatiah, who was the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.

9There were 956 families of this tribe living there. All the men named above were heads of families.

The Priests who Lived in Jerusalem

10-12The 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.

13The priests who were heads of families totalled 1,760. They were experts in all the work carried on in the Temple.

The Levites who Lived in Jerusalem

14-16The 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.

The Temple Guards who Lived in Jerusalem

17The following temple guards lived in Jerusalem: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, and Ahiman. Shallum was their leader. 18Down to that time members of their clans had been stationed at the eastern entrance to the King's Gate.9.18 King's Gate: The east gate of the Temple, through which the king usually entered. Formerly they had stood guard at the gates to the camps of the Levites.

19Shallum, 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. 20Phinehas son of Eleazar — may the LORD be with him! — had supervised them at one time.

21Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was also a guard at the entrance to the Tent of the LORD's presence.

22In 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. 23They and their descendants continued to guard the gates to the Temple. 24There was a gate facing in each direction, north, south, east, and west, and each had a chief guard. 25These 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. 26The 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. 27They lived near the Temple, because it was their duty to guard it and to open the gates every morning.

The Other Levites

28Other Levites were responsible for the utensils used in worship. They checked them out and checked them back in every time they were used. 29Others were in charge of the other sacred equipment, and of the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices. 30But the responsibility for mixing the spices belonged to the priests.

31A Levite named Mattithiah, eldest son of Shallum, of the clan of Korah, was responsible for preparing the baked offerings.9.31 baked offerings: Thin cakes of flour and olive oil which were baked and then presented as offerings to God (see Lev 2.4–6). 32Members of the clan of Kohath were responsible for preparing the sacred bread9.32 sacred bread: Twelve loaves of bread which were placed on a table in the Temple each Sabbath as an offering to God (see Lev 24.5–9). for the Temple every Sabbath.

33Some 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.

34The men named above were heads of Levite families, according to their ancestral lines. They were the leaders who lived in Jerusalem.

The Ancestors and Descendants of King Saul

(1 Chr 8.29–38)

35Jeiel founded the city of Gibeon and settled there. His wife was named Maacah. 36His eldest son was Abdon, and his other sons were Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth, 38the father of Shimeah. Their descendants lived in Jerusalem near other families of their clan.

39Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul had four sons: Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.9.39 Eshbaal: Called Ishbosheth in 2 Sam 2.8 and elsewhere in 2 Sam. 40Jonathan was the father of Meribbaal,9.40 Meribbaal: Called Mephibosheth in 2 Sam 4.4 and elsewhere in 2 Sam. who was the father of Micah. 41Micah had four sons: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.9.41 Some ancient translations Ahaz (see 1 Chr 8.35); Hebrew does not have this name. 42Ahaz was the father of Jarah, who was the father of three sons: Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza, 43Moza the father of Binea, Binea of Rephaiah, Rephaiah of Eleasah, and Eleasah of Azel.

44Azel had six sons: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan.