Generations of Returned Exiles
So all Israel was recorded by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken away into exile to Babylon for their unfaithfulness. 2 Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. 3 And some of the sons of Judah, of the sons of Benjamin and of the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem: 4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah.
5 From the Shilonites were Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6 From the sons of Zerah were Jeuel and their relatives, 690 of them.
7 From the sons of Benjamin were Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah,
8 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;
9 and their relatives according to their generations, 956.
All these were heads of fathers’ households according to their fathers’ houses.
10 From the priests were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,
11 and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God;
12 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;
13 and their relatives, heads of their fathers’ households, 1,760 mighty men of valor for the work of the service of the house of God.
14 Of the Levites were Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,
16 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.
17 Now the gatekeepers were Shallum and Akkub and Talmon and Ahiman and their relatives (Shallum the chief
18 being stationed until now at the king’s gate to the east).
These were the gatekeepers for the camp of the sons of Levi.
19 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent; and their fathers had been over the camp of Yahweh, keepers of the entrance. 20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them previously, and Yahweh was with him. 21 Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance of the tent of meeting. 22 All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212. These were recorded by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer established in their office of trust. 23 So they and their sons were over the gates of the house of Yahweh, even the house of the tent, as those who kept watch. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides, to the east, west, north, and south. 25 And their relatives in their villages were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them; 26 for the four chief gatekeepers who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God. 27 And they spent the night all around the house of God, because the watch was committed to them; and they were over opening it morning by morning. 28 Now some of them were over the utensils of service, for they counted them when they brought them in and when they took them out. 29 Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the utensils of the sanctuary and over the fine flour and the wine and the oil and the frankincense and the spices. 30 Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices. 31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things which were baked in pans. 32 Some of their relatives of the sons of the Kohathites were over the showbread to prepare it every sabbath. 33 Now these are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the chambers of the temple free from other service; for they were over them in their work day and night. 34 These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites according to their generations, the heads who lived in Jerusalem.