In this chapter, a few of the tribes of Israel (Jacob) begin to return to the Promised Land. It highlights the names of several families and individuals who returned from exile, and the role the Levites played in this return. The chapter begins, “All Israel was listed in the genealogical record in The Book of the Kings of Israel.
The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they were unfaithful to the Lord. The first to return to their property in their former towns were common people. With them came some of the priests, Levites, and Temple assistants. People from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh came and settled in Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 9:1-3)
690 families from the tribe of Judah returned to the land God had promised them; 956 families from the tribe of Benjamin returned; and 1,760 priests returned. Those priests were responsible for ministering at the house of God.
The Returning Levites
Many families of the Levites returned and some of them were assigned as gatekeepers. “The gatekeepers who returned were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was the chief gatekeeper. Prior to this time, they were responsible for the King’s Gate on the east side. These men served as gatekeepers for the camps of the Levites.
Shallum was the son of Kore, a descendant of Abiasaph, from the clan of Korah. He and his relatives, the Korahites, were responsible for guarding the entrance to the sanctuary, just as their ancestors had guarded the Tabernacle in the camp of the Lord.
Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers in earlier times, and the Lord had been with him. And later Zechariah son of Meshelemiah had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the Tabernacle.
In all, there were 212 gatekeepers in those days, and they were listed by genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed their ancestors because they were reliable men.
These gatekeepers and their descendants, by their divisions, were responsible for guarding the entrance to the house of the Lord, the house that was formerly a tent. The gatekeepers were stationed on all four sides – east, west, north, and south.
From time to time, their relatives in the villages came to share their duties for seven-day periods.
The four chief gatekeepers, all Levites, were in an office of great trust, for they were responsible for the rooms and treasuries at the house of God. They would spend the night around the house of God, since it was their duty to guard it. It was also their job to open the gates every morning.
Some of the gatekeepers were assigned to care for the various utensils used in worship. They checked them in and out to avoid any loss. Others were responsible for the furnishings, the items in the sanctuary, and the supplies such as choice flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices. But it was the priests who prepared the spices and incense. Mattithiah, a Levite and the oldest son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread used in the offerings. And some members of the clan of Kohath were in charge of preparing the bread to be set on the table each Sabbath day.
The musicians, all prominent Levites, lived at the Temple. They were exempt from other responsibilities there since they were on duty at all hours. All these men lived in Jerusalem. They were the heads of Levite families and were listed as prominent leaders in their tribal genealogy.” (1 Chronicles 9:17-34)
The remainder of the chapter discusses Saul’s family tree, identifying his great grandfather, Jeiel, who was the founder of Gibeon, his grandfather, Ner, and father, Kish.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for always loving us unconditionally and accepting us back, even when we don’t deserve it. Lord, we love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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