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1 Chronicles 9

The chapter records Israel’s households and the trusted duties that sustained worship at God’s house across generations.

Judah has been carried captive to Babylon for disobedience, and the record turns to the people living again in their cities. The writer names Jerusalem’s households and those serving God’s house, then describes duties ranging from guarding gates to preparing bread. These arrangements are linked with earlier generations, including David and Samuel, so the account reaches beyond a single moment. The chapter closes with Saul’s family line, tracing his descendants through Jonathan and onward.

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1So all Israel were listed by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience.
2Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
3In Jerusalem, there lived of the children of Judah, of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:
4Uthai 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.
5Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, six hundred ninety.
7Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;
10Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,
11and 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;
12and 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;
13and 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.
14Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,
16and 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.
17The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief),
18who previously served in the king’s gate eastward. They were the gatekeepers for the camp of the children of Levi.
19Shallum 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 the LORD’s camp, keepers of the entry.
20Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.
22All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the thresholds were two hundred twelve. These were listed by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer ordained in their office of trust.
23So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the LORD’s house, even the house of the tent, as guards.
24On the four sides were the gatekeepers, toward the east, west, north, and south.
25Their brothers, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them,
26for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the rooms and over the treasuries in God’s house.
27They stayed around God’s house, because that was their duty; and it was their duty to open it morning by morning.
28Certain of them were in charge of the vessels of service, for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count.
29Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices.
30Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices.
31Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans.
32Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath.
33These 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.
34These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men. They lived at Jerusalem.
35Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon.
39Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal became the father of Micah.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
1 Chronicles 9:33The singers’ freedom from other duties shows how the community made provision for worship that continued day and night.
1 Chronicles 9:26The chief gatekeepers held an office of trust that included responsibility for the rooms and treasuries of God’s house.
1 Chronicles 9:2After the opening reference to exile, this verse introduces the settled community, including those assigned to temple service.
Where this chapter reaches

Nehemiah and Ezra share the record of a resettled people, with named households and groups assigned to temple service after exile. Numbers and Exodus share the concern for guarding the sanctuary and caring for its furnishings, supplies, and bread, duties given close attention here.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

Which task named in verses 26–33 changes how you think about the work that supports worship?

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What do you notice about the movement from exile to named households and assigned duties?

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Questions people ask about 1 Chronicles 9

Who are the first inhabitants in 1 Chronicles 9:2?

The opening reference to Babylonian captivity frames these inhabitants as the community resettling after exile. The verse names Israel, priests, Levites, and temple servants as residents in their own cities. The following verses focus on Jerusalem, while later descriptions of service also reach back to earlier generations.

What did the gatekeepers do in 1 Chronicles 9?

The gatekeepers guarded entrances to God’s house, serving on all four sides. Their chief officers also oversaw rooms and treasuries. Some stayed near the house and opened it each morning, while others came from their villages for seven-day periods. The chapter calls their responsibility an office of trust.

Why were the singers free from other service in 1 Chronicles 9:33?

The verse explains that the singers were occupied with their work day and night. These Levite household heads lived in rooms associated with God’s house and were released from other service. The text establishes their ongoing responsibility for singing, without describing the schedule or saying each singer worked without rest.

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What the Bible says about worship →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).