1 Crônicas 9
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Crônicas 9
NJB (LXX versing) People of Jerusalem The Genealogies of Families in Jerusalem After the Exile The People Who Returned From Captivity Jerusalem, the Holy City of Israel 9:1 9:1-2 9:1-2 9:1a 9:1 9:1b-3 9:2-9 Dwellers in Jerusalem 9:2-3 9:3-9 9:3-9 9:4-6 9:4-6 9:7-8 9:7-9 9:9 The Priests at Jerusalem The Priests Who Lived in Jerusalem 9:10-13 9:10-13 9:10-13 9:10-12 (10-12) 9:10-13 9:13 The Levites at Jerusalem The Levites Who Lived in Jerusalem 9:14-16 9:14-16 9:14-16 9:14-16 (14-16) 9:14-16 The Levite Gatekeepers The Temple Guards Who Lived in Jerusalem 9:17-27 9:17-27 9:17-27 9:17-18 9:17-18 9:19-20 9:19-26a 9:21 9:22-27 Other Levite Responsibilities 9:26b-30 9:28-32 9:28-34 9:28-34 9:28-30 9:31-32 9:31-32 9:33-34 9:33 9:33 9:34 9:34 Ancestry and Descendants of Saul The Family of King Saul The Ancestors and Descendants of King Saul The Ancestors of Saul 9:35-44 9:35-44 9:35-44 9:35-38 9:35-38 9:39-43 9:39-44 9:44 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This chapter refers to people who returned from exile, mostly of the southern tribes (Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Levites). It is partially parallel to Nehemiah 11. Note the eyewitness detail of 1 Chr. 9:17-18 in parenthesis. Genealogies were crucial to prove Levitical ancestry prove tribes for land allocation tie the post-exilic people back to the covenant promises of God to the Patriarchs
1 Crônicas 9:1
9:1 "all Israel" This word has several uses. Jacob's name changed to Israel in Gen. 32:28 becomes a corporate designation for the descendants of Jacob (i.e., the covenant people) after the United Kingdom split in 922 B.C., the northern tribes were known as "Israel" and the southern tribes as "Judah" after the decree of Cyrus II in 538 B.C., the covenant people renamed themselves by this collective name again (i.e., all Israel) SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (THE NAME) ▣ "in the Book of the Kings of Israel" This is one of several written records quoted in Chronicles. the Chronicles of King David, 1 Chr. 27:24 the Book of the Kings of Israel, 1 Chr. 9:2; 2 Chr. 20:34 the Book of the Kings of Judah, 2 Chr. 16:11; 25:26; 28:26; 32:32 the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah, 2 Chr. 27:7; 35:27; 36:8 See note at Introduction to Chronicles, IV, F, 2. ▣ "Judah was carried away into exile to Babylon" Nebuchadezzar II had several deportations. 605 B.C. (Daniel, Daniel 1) 597 B.C. (Ezekiel, Jehoiachin, 2 Kgs. 24:24-26) 586 B.C. (almost all taken, including Zedekiah, 2 Kgs. 25:7) 582 B.C. (after the murder of Gedaliah) The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple was in 586 B.C. ▣ "for their unfaithfulness" It was not the power of Marduk (Babylon's chief deity) but the unfaithfulness of the covenant people to the Mosaic covenant (cf. 1 Chr. 5:25; 2 Chr. 36:14) that caused YHWH to send His own people out of Canaan, as He had done earlier to the Canaanite tribes. SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH, AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
1 Crônicas 9:2-9
9:2 There are several categories of temple workers mentioned. priests ‒ 1 Chr. 9:10-13 Levites ‒ 1 Chr. 9:14-16 other temple servants (possibly Nethilim, Jos. 9:23; Ezra 8:20) gatekeepers ‒ 1 Chr. 9:17-27 Levites, over the furniture and utensils ‒ 1 Chr. 9:28-32 singers/musicians ‒ 1 Chr. 9:33-34 ▣ "the first" This could refer to the pre-exilic period or the post-exilic period. I think the latter fits better. 9:3 This lists only the major tribes of the period who inhabited Jerusalem and its villages. Judah Benjamin Ephraim Manasseh Numbers 1 and 2 would represent the southern kingdom after 922 B.C., and numbers 3 and 4 the northern kingdom. The Chronicler was an inclusivist, unlike Ezra and Nehemiah. 9:5 "the Shilonites" In Numbers 26:20 they are called "Shelamites" from "Shelah." However, because the tent of meeting was located for a long period at Shiloh, this may reflect that usage. 9:9 "956" This is very specific. There is a similar number in Neh. 11:8.
1 Crônicas 9:10-13
9:10 These names could be individual or reflect the divisions of Levites in 1 Chr. 24:7-18, where these same names appear. 9:11 "Azariah" In the parallel (or source) in Neh. 11:10-14, this man is called "Seraiah" (Neh. 11:11). ▣ "the chief officer of the house of God" This is one of only three places where a High Priest is called "Nagid" (BDB 617, cf. 2 Chr. 31:13; Neh. 11:11). In Dan. 9:25; 11:22, it is translated "prince" and may refer to the High Priest the royal Messianic prince The offices of High Priest and royal prince are also merged in Psalm 110 and Zeckariah 3-4.
1 Crônicas 9:14-16
9:15 "Zichri" In Neh. 11:17 he is called "Zabdi." 9:16 "Obadiah" In Neh. 11:17 he is called "Abda." ▣ "Shemaiah" In Neh. 11:17 he is called "Shammua." ▣ "the Netophathites" This is a village south of Jerusalem where Levites lived (cf. Neh. 12:28).
1 Crônicas 9:17-27
9:17-18 The parenthesis is an eyewitness detail. This was the gatekeeper of the gate used by the king. This is referred to in Ezekiel's temple (cf. Ezek. 46:1-2). 9:22 "the seer" Samuel was a prophet, priest, and judge! This shows the organization of the Levites may go back to Samuel at Shiloh, as well as David in Jerusalem. SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT) 9:19 "the camp of the Lord" This may refer to the people of the Lord (i.e., Joel 2:11) or the "tent of meeting" (1 Chr. 9:19). 9:24 "the four sides" This is a specialized use of the word ruah (i.e., wind, breath, spirit). It is used of the four points of the compass (i.e., from which the wind blows, cf. Ezek. 42:16-20). SPECIAL TOPIC: BREATH, WIND, SPIRIT (OT) 9:26 "in an office of trust" "in this trusted office" NRSV, NJB "in charge of" "had the final responsibility" "entrusted to be over" "for their trustworthiness" "in a position of trust" "set office" As is obvious from the above options, the word denotes an office a trustworthy person SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH, AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ▣ "chambers" This (BDB 545) could refer to a room for eating ‒ 1 Sam. 9:23 a room where Scripture was read and copied ‒ Jer. 36:10,12,20,21 storerooms ‒ 1 Chr. 9:23; 23:28; 2 Chr. 31:8; Ezra 8:29; Neh. 11:38,39 a room for a person to live in ‒ 1 Chr. 9:33; Ezra 10:6; Neh. 13:5 ▣ "treasurers" This (BDB 69) could refer to storehouse ‒ 1 Chr. 27:25; 28:12; Neh. 13:12,13; Joel 1:17; Mal. 3:10 place for food/drink ‒ 1 Chr. 27:27,28; Neh. 10:39 place for wealth ‒ Jos. 6:19,24; 1 Kgs. 14:26; 2 Kgs. 24:13; 1 Chr. 9:26; 26:20,22,24,26; 2 Chr. 5:1; 16:2; 32:27; Pro. 8:21
1 Crônicas 9:28-32
9:29 "the sanctuary" The JPSOA and NRSV translate "holy" as referring to the items (vessels) in the outer room of the tent called "the holy place." The special place of worship in Jerusalem is called the tent, 1 Chr. 9:19 the tent of meeting, 1 Chr. 9:21 the house of the Lord, 1 Chr. 9:23 the house of the tent, 1 Chr. 9:23 the house of God, 1 Chr. 9:26,27 the chambers of the temple, 1 Chr. 9:33 The tent of meeting was in Shiloh until David brought it to Jerusalem. Only in Solomon's day was the Temple constructed and functioning. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHART OF THE TABERNACLE 9:30 This refers to the mixing of spices for the holy anointing oil (cf. Exod. 30:25,33,35; 37:29). It could also be used for burials (cf. 1 Chr. 16:14; Neh. 3:8). 9:32 "the showbread" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE.
1 Crônicas 9:35-44
9:35-44 This lineage of King Saul is parallel to 1 Chr. 8:29-38. 9:39 "Eshbaal" See note at 1 Chr. 8:33. 9:40 "Merib-baal" See note at 1 Chr. 8:34. 9:41 "Ahaz" Notice it is in italics (i.e., not in the MT), but it does appear in 1 Chr. 8:35. 9:44 "Bocheru" See note at 1 Chr. 8:38.