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Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

1 Chronicles 9:2

And the first people to return to their towns included priests, Levites, temple workers, and other Israelites.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Nethinims;   Thompson Chain Reference - Nethinim;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Gibeonites;   Nethinim;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Chronicles, the Books of;   Ibneiah;   Jeuel;   Levites;   Mikloth;   Nethinim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   Nethinim;   Priests and Levites;   Shelah;   Writing;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Nethinim ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Nethinims;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Nethinim;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Je'uel,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Gibeon;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Nethinim;   Solomon's Servants;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The first to live in their towns on their own property again were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
Hebrew Names Version
Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Yisra'el, the Kohanim, the Levites, and the temple servants.
King James Version
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.
English Standard Version
Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
New Century Version
The first people to come back and live in their own lands and towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and Temple servants.
New English Translation
The first to resettle on their property and in their cities were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
Amplified Bible
Now the first [of the returned exiles] who lived [again] in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim (temple servants).
New American Standard Bible
Now the first inhabitants who lived on their own property in their cities were people of Israel, including the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
World English Bible
Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the chiefe inhabitants that dwelt in their owne possessions, and in their owne cities, euen Israel the Priestes, the Leuites, and the Nethinims.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
Berean Standard Bible
Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
Complete Jewish Bible
The first people to return to their possessions in the cities were the Isra'elim, the cohanim, the L'vi'im and the temple servants.
Darby Translation
And the inhabitants that were first in their possessions in their cities were the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
George Lamsa Translation
Now the first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the proselytes.
Good News Translation
The first to return to their property in the cities included Israelite citizens, priests, Levites, and Temple workers.
Lexham English Bible
Now the first inhabitants who were settled on their property in their cities in Israel were the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
Literal Translation
And the first dwellers who lived in their possessions in their cities were the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the temple slaves.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
euen they yt afore dwelt in their possessions and cities, namely Israel, ye prestes, Leuites and Nethinim.
American Standard Version
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
Bible in Basic English
Now the first to take up their heritage in their towns were: Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Euen the olde inhabiters that dwelt in their owne possessions and cities, the Israelites, the priestes, Leuites, and Nathenei.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
King James Version (1611)
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions, in their cities, were the Israelites, the Priests, Leuits, and the Nethinims.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they that dwelt before in their possessions in the cities of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the appointed ones.
English Revised Version
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli thei that dwelliden first in her citees, and in the possessiouns of Israel, and the preestis, and the dekenes, and Natyneys, dwelliden in Jerusalem.
Update Bible Version
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and those given [to temple service].
Webster's Bible Translation
Now the first inhabitants that [dwelt] in their possessions in their cities [were], the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.
New King James Version
And the first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and the Nethinim.
New Living Translation
The first of the exiles to return to their property in their former towns were priests, Levites, Temple servants, and other Israelites.
New Life Bible
The first ones to live again in their land and in their cities were Israel, the religious leaders, the Levites and the servants of the Lord's house.
New Revised Standard
Now the first to live again in their possessions in their towns were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, the first inhabitants, who were in their possessions, in their cities, were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now the first that dwelt in their possessions, and in their cities, were the Israelites, and the priests, and the Levites, and the Nathineans.
Revised Standard Version
Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
Young's Literal Translation
And the first inhabitants, who [are] in their possession, in their cities, of Israel, [are] the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
THE MESSAGE
The first Israelites to return from exile to their homes and cities were the priests, the Levites, and the temple support staff.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites and the temple servants.

Contextual Overview

1 Everyone in Israel was listed in the official family records that were included in the history of Israel's kings. The people of Judah were taken to Babylonia as prisoners because they sinned against the Lord . 2 And the first people to return to their towns included priests, Levites, temple workers, and other Israelites. 3 People from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh settled in Jerusalem. 4There were six hundred ninety people from the Judah tribe who settled in Jerusalem. They were all descendants of Judah's three sons: Perez, Shelah, and Zerah. Their leaders were Uthai, Asaiah, and Jeuel. Uthai was the son of Ammihud and a descendant of Omri, Imri, Bani, and Perez. Asaiah was a descendant of Shelah; Jeuel was a descendant of Zerah. 7There were also nine hundred fifty-six family leaders from the Benjamin tribe who settled in Jerusalem. They included: Sallu son of Meshullam, grandson of Hodaviah, and great-grandson of Hassenuah; Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi and grandson of Michri; Meshullam son of Shephatiah, grandson of Reuel, and great-grandson of Ibnijah. 10Here is a list of priests who settled in Jerusalem: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jachin; Azariah, who was a temple official, and whose ancestors included Hilkiah, Meshullam, Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub; Adaiah son of Jeroham, whose ancestors included Pashhur and Malchijah; Maasai son of Adiel, whose ancestors included Jahzerah, Meshullam, Meshillemith, and Immer. 13 There was a total of 1,760 priests, all of them family leaders in their clan and trained in the work at the temple.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 3468, bc 536

the first: Ezra 2:70, Nehemiah 7:73, Nehemiah 11:3

the Nethinims: Joshua 9:21-27, Ezra 2:43, Ezra 2:58, Ezra 8:20, Nehemiah 7:60, Nehemiah 7:73, Nehemiah 11:3, Nehemiah 11:21

Reciprocal: Joshua 9:27 - made them 1 Chronicles 9:18 - Who hitherto waited Ezra 6:16 - the children Nehemiah 3:26 - Nethinims Nehemiah 7:46 - Nethinims

Cross-References

Genesis 1:28
God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.
Genesis 2:19
So the Lord took some soil and made animals and birds. He brought them to the man to see what names he would give each of them. Then the man named the tame animals and the birds and the wild animals. That's how they got their names. None of these was the right kind of partner for the man.
Genesis 9:4
But life is in the blood, and you must not eat any meat that still has blood in it.
Genesis 9:8
Again, God said to Noah and his sons:
Genesis 9:20
Noah farmed the land and was the first to plant a vineyard.
Genesis 9:22
Ham entered the tent and saw him naked, then went back outside and told his brothers.
Genesis 9:23
Shem and Japheth put a robe over their shoulders and walked backwards into the tent. Without looking at their father, they placed it over his body.
Genesis 35:5
While Jacob and his family were traveling through Canaan, God terrified the people in the towns so much that no one dared bother them.
Leviticus 26:6
I will bless your country with peace, and you will rest without fear. I will wipe out the dangerous animals and protect you from enemy attacks.
Leviticus 26:22
I'll send wild animals to attack you, and they will gobble down your children and livestock. So few of you will be left that your roads will be deserted.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities,.... Who first returned from Babylon upon the proclamation of Cyrus, and enjoyed their former possessions, and dwelt in the cities they had before, or in such as were allotted them, or they chose:

[were], the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims; the whole body that returned were divided into four classes, as they had been before the captivity; the Israelites were the common people in general, the body politic; the priests, the ecclesiastics, who officiated in sacred things; the Levites, who ministered to them; and the Nethinims were such persons as were "given", as the word signifies, to do servile work for the sanctuary, as, to be hewers of wood and drawers of water; such were the Gibeonites, Joshua 9:27, and such as were appointed by David for such work, see Ezra 8:20.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The first inhabitants - i. e. the first inhabitants of the holy land after the return from the captivity. They are enumerated under four heads:

(1) Israelites, i. e. the mass of the laity, whether belonging to the ten tribes or the two;

(2) priests;

(3) Levites; and

(4) the lowest order of the ministry, the Nethinims.

These last, whose name is derived from a root “to give,” were a sort of sacred slaves - persons “given” to the Levites to perform the more laborious duties of the sanctuary. Some had been “given” as early as the time of Moses Numbers 31:47; and the number afterward increased Joshua 9:23; Ezra 8:20. At the time of the return from the captivity, owing to the small number of Levites who came back Ezra 2:40-42, the services of the Nethinims became very important. They are mentioned under the name of Nethinims only in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Chronicles 9:2. Now the first inhabitants — This is spoken of those who returned from the Babylonish captivity, and of the time in which they returned; for it is insinuated here that other persons afterwards settled at Jerusalem, though these mentioned here were the first on the return from the captivity. Properly speaking, the divisions mentioned in this verse constituted the whole of the Israelitish people, who were, ever since the days of Joshua, divided into the four following classes:

1. The priests.

2. The Levites.

3. The common people, or simple Israelites.

4. The Nethinim, or slaves of the temple, the remains of the Gibeonites, who, having deceived Joshua, were condemned to this service Joshua 9:21, &c. In David's time it is probable that other conquered people were added, as the successors of the Gibeonites were not sufficient to perform all the drudgery of the temple service.


 
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