1 Chronicles 9

So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.

Every single Israelite was accounted for in their family records. These records were kept in the royal books of Israel and Judah. Sadly, due to their wrongdoings, they were exiled to Babylon.

Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

The first people to settle and call the cities their own were the Israelites, including the priests, Levites, and Nethinims.

And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;

In Jerusalem, the children of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh made their home, living together in unity and harmony.

Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.

Uthai, a descendant of Judah through Pharez, was the son of Ammihud, who was the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani.

And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.

Among the Shilonites, Asaiah was the eldest, a proud father to his sons.

And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.

From the lineage of Zerah came Jeuel, along with their kin, a mighty group of six hundred and ninety strong.

And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,

From the lineage of Benjamin came Sallu, born of Meshullam, who was the offspring of Hodaviah, the child of Hasenuah.

And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

Ibneiah, born of Jeroham, and Elah, Uzzi's son and Michri's grandson, along with Meshullam, the offspring of Shephathiah, Reuel, and Ibnijah, all shared a common lineage.

And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.

Their relatives, listed by their generations, numbered 956. Each one, a respected patriarch in their family lineage.

And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,

Among the priests were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin, each filled with a profound sense of devotion and duty.

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 the house of God;

Azariah, a descendant of Hilkiah, Meshullam, Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub, was the respected leader of God's house.

And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;

Adaiah, a descendant of Jeroham, Pashur, and Malchijah, and Maasiai, who came from the lineage of Adiel, Jahzerah, Meshullam, Meshillemith, and Immer.

And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

Their relatives, leaders of their families, numbered 1,760; highly capable individuals dedicated to serving God's house.

And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;

Among the Levites, there was Shemaiah, a descendant of Hasshub, Azrikam, and Hashabiah, from the lineage of Merari.

And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;

Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah, who was Micah's son, Zichri's grandson, and Asaph's great-grandson, were all deeply intertwined in their lineage.

And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.

Obadiah, the descendant of Shemaiah, Galal, and Jeduthun, along with Berechiah, the offspring of Asa and Elkanah, lived in the small, humble villages of the Netophathites.

And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;

The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, and Ahiman, along with their brothers. Shallum, the most respected among them, was their leader.

Who hitherto waited in the king’s gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.

Those who once patiently stood guard at the eastern entrance of the king's palace, they were the humble gatekeepers, serving among the descendants of Levi.

And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.

Shallum, a descendant of Korah, along with his family, were entrusted with the sacred duty of guarding the entrance to the tabernacle. Their ancestors, too, had served the Lord by protecting His holy place.

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.

In the past, Phinehas, Eleazar's son, was their leader, and he was blessed with God's presence.

And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Zechariah, Meshelemiah's son, faithfully guarded the entrance of the community's sacred tent.

All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.

David and Samuel, the visionary, handpicked 212 gatekeepers from various villages, based on their family lineage. These chosen ones were entrusted with their sacred duty.

So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.

They, along with their children, were entrusted with the sacred duty of guarding the entrances to the Lord's house, the holy tabernacle, with vigilant care.

In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.

Guardians stood watch in all directions - east, west, north, and south, their hearts filled with devotion and eyes alert.

And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.

Their relatives, living in nearby villages, were expected to come in from time to time and serve with them for seven days at a stretch.

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.

These four head Levites, the chief gatekeepers, faithfully served in their assigned roles, overseeing the rooms and wealth of God's house.

And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.

They lived near God's house, burdened with responsibility, tasked with opening it every morning.

And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.

Some of them were entrusted with the sacred vessels, responsible for carefully counting and moving them as needed.

Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.

A few were chosen to care for the sacred items, the sanctuary tools, the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices with great reverence and responsibility.

And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.

Some of the priest's sons lovingly crafted the sacred spice ointment.

And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.

Mattithiah, a Levite and firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was passionately entrusted with overseeing all that was crafted in the pans.

And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.

Their brothers, the Kohathites, lovingly prepared the sacred bread every Sabbath with deep reverence.

And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.

These were the lead singers, the heads of the Levite families, who stayed in their rooms, free from other duties because they were dedicated to their music, working tirelessly, day and night.

These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.

The leading ancestors of the Levites, significant across generations, made their home in Jerusalem.

And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife’s name was Maachah:

In Gibeon, Jehiel, the patriarch of the town, lived with his wife, Maachah, their love and unity radiating throughout their home.

And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab.

Abdon was his cherished firstborn, followed by Zur, then Kish, and Baal. Ner and Nadab completed his lineage, each name a testament of his love.

And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.

Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth - they all held a special place in the grand tapestry of life, each one unique and significant in their own way.

And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.

Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They lived in harmony with their kin in Jerusalem, facing their relatives.

And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

Ner fathered Kish, who in turn became the father of Saul. Saul then had four sons: Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.

Jonathan's son was named Meribbaal, who later became the father of Micah.

And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.

Micah was blessed with four sons, each one unique and special - Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.

And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;

Ahaz fathered Jarah, who in turn became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri then had a son named Moza.

And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

Moza lovingly fathered Binea, who in turn, with great pride, had Rephaiah. Rephaiah, filled with joy, welcomed Eleasah, who later, with a heart full of love, had Azel as his son.

And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.

Azel was blessed with six sons, each a unique gift. They were Azrikam, the strong; Bocheru, the brave; Ishmael, the wise; Sheariah, the compassionate; Obadiah, the faithful; and Hanan, the joyful. These were Azel's pride and joy.