1 Chronicles 7-9
Easy-to-Read Version
Issachar’s Descendants
7 Issachar had four sons. Their names were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.
2 Tola’s sons were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Samuel. They were all leaders of their families. Those men and their descendants were strong soldiers. Their families grew. By the time David was king, there were 22,600 men ready for war.
3 Uzzi’s son was Izrahiah. Izrahiah’s sons were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five of them were leaders of their families. 4 Their family history shows they had 36,000 soldiers ready for war. They had a large family because they had many wives and children.
5 The family history shows there were 87,000 strong soldiers in all the tribes of Issachar.
Benjamin’s Descendants
6 Benjamin had three sons. Their names were Bela, Beker, and Jediael.
7 Bela had five sons. Their names were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. They were leaders of their families. Their family history shows they had 22,034 soldiers.
8 Beker’s sons were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. They all were Beker’s children. 9 Their family history shows who the family leaders were. And it also shows they had 20,200 soldiers.
10 Jediael’s son was Bilhan. Bilhan’s sons were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 11 All of Jediael’s sons were leaders of their families. They had 17,200 soldiers ready for war.
12 The Shuppites and Huppites were the descendants of Ir. Hushim was the son of Aher.
Naphtali’s Descendants
13 Naphtali’s sons were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum.
And these are the descendants of Bilhah.[a]
Manasseh’s Descendants
14 These are Manasseh’s descendants: Manasseh’s Aramean slave woman had a son named Asriel. She also bore Makir, the father of Gilead. 15 Makir married a woman from the Huppites and Shuppites. Makir’s sister was named Maacah. The name of the second was Zelophehad, who had only daughters. 16 Makir’s wife Maacah had a son. She named this son Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh. The sons of Sheresh were Ulam and Rakem.
17 Ulam’s son was Bedan.
These were the descendants of Gilead. Gilead was Makir’s son. Makir was Manasseh’s son. 18 Makir’s sister Hammoleketh[b] had Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.
19 Shemida’s sons were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.
Ephraim’s Descendants
20 These were the names of Ephraim’s descendants. Ephraim’s son was Shuthelah. Shuthelah’s son was Bered. Bered’s son was Tahath. 21 Tahath’s son was Eleadah. Eleadah’s son was Tahath. Tahath’s son was Zabad. Zabad’s son was Shuthelah.
Some men who grew up in the city of Gath killed Ezer and Elead. This happened because Ezer and Elead went there to steal cattle and sheep from those men in Gath. 22 Ephraim was the father of Ezer and Elead. He cried for many days because Ezer and Elead were dead. Ephraim’s family came to comfort him. 23 Then Ephraim had sexual relations with his wife. She became pregnant and had a son. Ephraim named this new son Beriah[c] because something bad had happened to his family. 24 Ephraim’s daughter was Sheerah. Sheerah built Lower Beth Horon and Upper Beth Horon and Lower Uzzen Sheerah and Upper Uzzen Sheerah.
25 Rephah was Ephraim’s son. Resheph was Rephah’s son. Telah was Resheph’s son. Tahan was Telah’s son. 26 Ladan was Tahan’s son. Ammihud was Ladan’s son. Elishama was Ammihud’s son. 27 Nun was Elishama’s son. Joshua was Nun’s son.
28 These are the cities and lands where Ephraim’s descendants lived: Bethel and the villages near it, Naaran to the east, Gezer and the villages near it on the west, and Shechem and the villages near it all the way to Ayyah and the villages near it. 29 Along the borders of Manasseh’s land were the towns of Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor, and the small towns near them. The descendants of Joseph lived in these towns. Joseph was the son of Israel.
Asher’s Descendants
30 Asher’s sons were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was named Serah.
31 Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malkiel. Malkiel was Birzaith’s father.
32 Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and of their sister Shua.
33 Japhlet’s sons were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were Japhlet’s children.
34 Shomer’s sons were Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah,[d] and Aram.
35 Shomer’s brother was Helem. Helem’s sons were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
36 Zophah’s sons were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37 Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.
38 Jether’s sons were Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.
39 Ulla’s sons were Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.
40 All these men were descendants of Asher. They were leaders of their families. They were the best men. They were soldiers and great leaders. Their family history shows 26,000 soldiers ready for war.
The Family History of King Saul
8 Benjamin was Bela’s father. Bela was Benjamin’s first son. Ashbel was Benjamin’s second son. Aharah was Benjamin’s third son. 2 Nohah was Benjamin’s fourth son. And Rapha was Benjamin’s fifth son.
3-5 Bela’s sons were Addar, Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.
6-7 These were the descendants of Ehud. They were leaders of their families in Geba. They were forced to leave their homes and move to Manahath. Ehud’s descendants were Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. Gera forced them to leave their homes. He was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
8 Shaharaim divorced his wives Hushim and Baara in Moab. After he did this he had some children with another wife. 9-10 Shaharaim had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, Jeuz, Sakia, and Mirmah with his wife Hodesh. They were leaders of their families. 11 Shaharaim and Hushim had two sons named Abitub and Elpaal.
12-13 Elpaal’s sons were Eber, Misham, Shemed, Beriah, and Shema. Shemed built the towns of Ono and Lod and the small towns around Lod. Beriah and Shema were the leaders of the families living in Aijalon. They forced the people who lived in Gath to leave.
14 Beriah’s sons were Shashak and Jeremoth, 15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha. 17 Elpaal’s sons were Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab.
19 Shimei’s sons were Jakim, Zicri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath.
22 Shashak’s sons were Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zicri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel.
26 Jeroham’s sons were Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zicri.
28 All these men were leaders of their families. They were listed in their family histories as leaders. They lived in Jerusalem.
29 Jeiel was Gibeon’s father. He and his wife, Maacah, lived in the town of Gibeon. 30 His oldest son was Abdon. Other sons were Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zeker, and Mikloth. 32 Mikloth was the father of Shimeah. These sons also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
33 Ner was Kish’s father. Kish was Saul’s father, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki Shua, Abinadab, and Esh Baal.
34 Jonathan’s son was Merib Baal. Merib Baal was Micah’s father.
35 Micah’s sons were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.
36 Ahaz was Jehoaddah’s father. Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was Moza’s father. 37 Moza was Binea’s father. Raphah was Binea’s son. Eleasah was Raphah’s son. And Azel was Eleasah’s son.
38 Azel had six sons. Their names were Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these sons were Azel’s children.
39 Azel’s brother was Eshek. Eshek had some sons. These were Eshek’s sons: Ulam was Azel’s oldest son. Jeush was Eshek’s second son. Eliphelet was Eshek’s third son. 40 Ulam’s sons were strong soldiers who were very good with bows and arrows. They had many sons and grandsons. In all, there were 150 sons and grandsons.
All these men were descendants of Benjamin.
9 The names of all the Israelites were listed in their family histories. Those family histories were put in the book, The History of the Kings of Israel.
The People in Jerusalem
The people of Judah were made prisoners and forced to go to Babylon. They were taken there because they were not faithful to God. 2 The first people to come back and live in their own lands and towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and servants who work in the Temple.
3 These are the people from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem:
4 Uthai was Ammihud’s son. Ammihud was Omri’s son. Omri was Imri’s son. Imri was Bani’s son. Bani was a descendant of Perez. Perez was Judah’s son.
5 The Shilonites who lived in Jerusalem were Asaiah the oldest son and his sons.
6 The Zerahites who lived in Jerusalem were Jeuel and their relatives. There were 690 of them in all.
7 These are the people from the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Jerusalem: Sallu was Meshullam’s son. Meshullam was Hodaviah’s son. Hodaviah was Hassenuah’s son. 8 Ibneiah was Jeroham’s son. Elah was Uzzi’s son. Uzzi was Micri’s son. And Meshullam was Shephatiah’s son. Shephatiah was Reuel’s son. Reuel was Ibnijah’s son. 9 The family history of Benjamin shows there were 956 of them living in Jerusalem. All these men were leaders in their families.
10 These are the priests who lived in Jerusalem: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jakin, and 11 Azariah. Azariah was Hilkiah’s son. Hilkiah was Meshullam’s son. Meshullam was Zadok’s son. Zadok was Meraioth’s son. Meraioth was Ahitub’s son. Ahitub was the important official responsible for God’s Temple. 12 Also there was Jeroham’s son, Adaiah. Jeroham was Pashhur’s son. Pashhur was Malkijah’s son. And there was Adiel’s son, Maasai. Adiel was Jahzerah’s son. Jahzerah was Meshullam’s son. Meshullam was Meshillemith’s son. Meshillemith was Immer’s son.
13 There were 1760 priests. They were leaders of their families. They were responsible for the work of serving in God’s Temple.
14 These are the people from the tribe of Levi who lived in Jerusalem: Hasshub’s son, Shemaiah. Hasshub was Azrikam’s son. Azrikam was Hashabiah’s son. Hashabiah was a descendant of Merari. 15 Also living in Jerusalem were Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah. Mattaniah was Mica’s son. Mica was Zicri’s son. Zicri was Asaph’s son. 16 Obadiah was Shemaiah’s son. Shemaiah was Galal’s son. Galal was Jeduthun’s son. Berekiah was Asa’s son. Asa was Elkanah’s son. Berekiah lived in the small towns near the people of Netophah.
17 These are the gatekeepers who lived in Jerusalem: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was their leader. 18 Now these men stand next to the King’s Gate on the east side. They were the gatekeepers from the tribe of Levi. 19 Shallum was Kore’s son. Kore was Ebiasaph’s son. Ebiasaph was Korah’s son. Shallum and his brothers were gatekeepers. They were from the family of Korah. They had the job of guarding the entrance to the Holy Tent. They did this just as their ancestors had done before them. Their ancestors had the job of guarding the entrance to the area where the Lord lived among the people. 20 In the past, Phinehas was in charge of the gatekeepers. Phinehas was Eleazar’s son. The Lord was with Phinehas. 21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Holy Tent.
22 In all there were 212 men who were chosen to guard the gates of the Holy Tent. Their names were written in their family histories in their small towns. David and Samuel the seer chose these men because they could be trusted. 23 The gatekeepers and their descendants had the responsibility of guarding the gates of the Lord’s house, the Holy Tent. 24 There were gates on the four sides: east, west, north, and south. 25 The gatekeepers’ relatives who lived in the small towns had to come and help them at certain times. They came and helped the gatekeepers for seven days each time.
26 There were four gatekeepers who were the leaders of all the gatekeepers. They were Levites. They had the job of caring for the rooms and treasures in God’s Temple. 27 They stayed up all night guarding God’s Temple, and they had the job of opening God’s Temple every morning.
28 Some of the gatekeepers had the job of caring for the dishes used in the Temple services. They counted them when they were brought in. They also counted these dishes when they were taken out. 29 Other gatekeepers were chosen to care for the furniture and the special dishes. They also took care of the flour, wine, oil, incense, and special oil.[e] 30 But it was the priests who had the job of mixing the special oil.
31 There was a Levite named Mattithiah who had the job of baking the bread used for the offerings. Mattithiah was Shallum’s oldest son. Shallum was from the Korah family. 32 Some of the gatekeepers who were in the Korah family had the job of preparing the bread put on the table every Sabbath.
33 The Levites who were singers and leaders of their families stayed in the rooms at the Temple. They did not have to do other work because they were responsible for the work in the Temple day and night.
34 All these Levites were leaders of their families. They were listed as leaders in their family histories. They lived in Jerusalem.
The Family History of King Saul
35 Jeiel was Gibeon’s father. Jeiel lived in the town of Gibeon. His wife was named Maacah. 36 Jeiel’s oldest son was Abdon. Other sons were Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth was Shimeam’s father. Jeiel’s family lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
39 Ner was Kish’s father. Kish was Saul’s father. And Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki Shua, Abinadab, and Esh Baal.
40 Jonathan’s son was Merib Baal. Merib Baal was Micah’s father.
41 Micah’s sons were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz. 42 Ahaz was the father of Jadah.[f] Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was Moza’s father. 43 Moza was the father of Binea. Rephaiah was Binea’s son. Eleasah was Rephaiah’s son. And Azel was Eleasah’s son.
44 Azel had six sons. Their names were Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. They were Azel’s children.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 7:13 Bilhah Jacob’s slave woman and the mother of Dan and Naphtali. See Gen. 30:4-8.
- 1 Chronicles 7:18 Hammoleketh Or “the woman who ruled” or “queen.”
- 1 Chronicles 7:23 Beriah This is like the Hebrew word meaning “bad” or “trouble.”
- 1 Chronicles 7:34 Jehubbah Or “Hubbah.”
- 1 Chronicles 9:29 special oil Or “perfume.” This might be the oil used to anoint priests, prophets, and kings. See Ex. 30:22-38.
- 1 Chronicles 9:42 Jadah This is from the ancient Greek translation and some Hebrew copies. Most Hebrew copies have “Jarah” for “Jadah” in this verse.
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