1 Chronicles 9: Who lived in Jerusalem, the gatekeepers, and Saul's line again

In plain English: So all Israel were listed by genealogies, and they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience.

The Hebrew word: "Disobedience" is ma'al, which the dictionary gives as "treachery, i.e. sin". It is in 2 verses of 1 Chronicles: here and 10:13, which speaks of Saul's "trespass which he committed against Yahweh".

In plain English: Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites and the temple servants.

The Hebrew word: "Temple servants" is netinim, which the dictionary gives as "the Nethinim, or Temple-servants (as given to that duty)". In 1 Chronicles the word is only in this verse. The dictionary's "given" is the idea in the word.

In plain English: In Jerusalem there lived some of the children of Judah, of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:

In plain English: Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah.

In plain English: Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.

In plain English: Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, six hundred ninety.

In plain English: Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;

In plain English: and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri; and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

In plain English: and their brothers, according to their generations: nine hundred fifty-six. All these men were heads of fathers' households by their fathers' houses.

In plain English: Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,

In plain English: and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of God's house;

In plain English: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah; and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;

In plain English: and their brothers, heads of their fathers' houses: one thousand seven hundred sixty. They were very able men for the work of the service of God's house.

In plain English: Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;

In plain English: and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,

In plain English: and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

In plain English: The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their brothers. Shallum was the chief,

In plain English: who previously (or: until now) served in the king's gate to the east. They were the gatekeepers for the camp of the children of Levi.

In plain English: Shallum was the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers of his father's house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent. Their fathers had been over Yahweh's camp, keepers of the entry.

In plain English: Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and Yahweh was with him.

In plain English: Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the door of the Tent of Meeting.

In plain English: All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the thresholds were two hundred twelve. They were listed by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their office of trust.

The Hebrew word: "Office of trust" is emunah, which the dictionary gives as "literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity". Word for word the verse says "in their faithfulness". The word is in 3 verses of 1 Chronicles, here, verse 26 and verse 31, and this Bible translates all three with "trust".

In plain English: So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of Yahweh's house, the house of the tent, as guards.

In plain English: The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south.

In plain English: Their brothers in their villages were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them,

In plain English: for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in an office of trust. They were over the rooms and over the treasuries in God's house.

In plain English: They stayed around God's house, because that was their duty, and it was their duty to open it morning by morning.

The Hebrew word: The Hebrew says they were "over the key", then "to the morning, to the morning". The dictionary gives maphteach as "an opener, i.e. a key". "To open it morning by morning" is this Bible's way of saying what the key was for.

In plain English: Some of them were in charge of the vessels of service, for these were brought in by count and taken out by count.

In plain English: Some of them were also appointed over the furniture and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense and the spices.

In plain English: Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices.

In plain English: Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things baked in pans.

In plain English: Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath.

In plain English: These are the singers, heads of fathers' households of the Levites, who lived in the rooms and were free from other service, for they were employed in their work day and night.

In plain English: These were heads of fathers' households of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men. They lived at Jerusalem.

In plain English: Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife's name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon.

In plain English: His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,

In plain English: Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth.

In plain English: Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem, near their relatives.

In plain English: Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab and Eshbaal.

Good to know: Verses 35 to 44 give again the family of Gibeon and Saul's line of 8:29 to 8:38, with differences the text does not explain. Verse 35 names the father of Gibeon, Jeiel; 8:29 does not. Verse 36 has Ner between Baal and Nadab; 8:30 does not. Here Micah's son is Tahrea (verse 41) and there Tarea (8:35); the Hebrew of verse 41 ends with Tahrea and has no Ahaz, which this Bible adds. Here Zechariah (verse 37) stands where there is Zecher (8:31), and Mikloth's son is Shimeam (verse 38) where there is Shimeah (8:32). Here Ahaz fathers Jarah (verse 42) and there Jehoaddah (8:36); here Moza's son Binea is followed by Rephaiah (verse 43) and there by Raphah (8:37).

In plain English: The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal became the father of Micah.

In plain English: The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea and Ahaz.

In plain English: Ahaz became the father of Jarah. Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.

In plain English: Moza became the father of Binea, Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.

In plain English: Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.