Study Desk

The sons of Issachar:^(a) Tola, Puah,^(b) Jashub and Shimron—four in all.

The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel—heads of their families. During the reign of David, the descendants of Tola listed as fighting men in their genealogy numbered 22,600.

The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Ishiah. All five of them were chiefs.

According to their family genealogy, they had 36,000 men ready for battle, for they had many wives and children.

The relatives who were fighting men belonging to all the clans of Issachar, as listed in their genealogy, were 87,000 in all.

Three sons of Benjamin:^(c) Bela, Beker and Jediael.

The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth and Iri, heads of families—five in all. Their genealogical record listed 22,034 fighting men.

The sons of Beker: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Beker.

Their genealogical record listed the heads of families and 20,200 fighting men.

The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish and Ahishahar.

All these sons of Jediael were heads of families. There were 17,200 fighting men ready to go out to war.

The Shuppites and Huppites were the descendants of Ir, and the Hushites^[a] the descendants of Aher.

The sons of Naphtali:^(d) Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem^[b]—the descendants of Bilhah.

The descendants of Manasseh:^(e) Asriel was his descendant through his Aramean concubine. She gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead.^(f)

Makir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. His sister's name was Maakah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad,^(g) who had only daughters.

Makir's wife Maakah gave birth to a son and named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.

The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead^(h) son of Makir, the son of Manasseh.

His sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer⁽ⁱ⁾ and Mahlah.

The sons of Shemida^(j) were: Ahian, Shechem, Likhi and Aniam.

The descendants of Ephraim:^(k) Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son,

Zabad his son and Shuthelah his son. Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath, when they went down to seize their livestock.

Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.

Then he made love to his wife again, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He named him Beriah,^[c] because there had been misfortune in his family.

His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon^(l) as well as Uzzen Sheerah.

Rephah was his son, Resheph his son,^[d] Telah his son, Tahan his son,

Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,

Nun his son and Joshua his son.

Their lands and settlements included Bethel and its surrounding villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer^(m) and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its villages all the way to Ayyah and its villages.

Along the borders of Manasseh were Beth Shan,⁽ⁿ⁾ Taanach, Megiddo and Dor,^(o) together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.

The sons of Asher:^(p) Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah.

The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malkiel, who was the father of Birzaith.

Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer and Hotham and of their sister Shua.

The sons of Japhlet: Pasak, Bimhal and Ashvath. These were Japhlet's sons.

The sons of Shomer: Ahi, Rohgah,^[e] Hubbah and Aram.

The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh and Amal.

The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,

Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran^[f] and Beera.

The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispah and Ara.

The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel and Rizia.

All these were descendants of Asher—heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders. The number of men ready for battle, as listed in their genealogy, was 26,000.

Benjamin^(b) was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third,

Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth.

The sons of Bela were: Addar,^(c) Gera, Abihud,^[a]

Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,^(d)

Gera, Shephuphan and Huram.

These were the descendants of Ehud,^(e) who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath:

Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who deported them and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.

Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara.

By his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam,

Jeuz, Sakia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families.

By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal.

The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono^(f) and Lod with its surrounding villages),

and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon^(g) and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath.^(h)

Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,

Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,

Michael, Ishpah and Joha were the sons of Beriah.

Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,

Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.

Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi,

Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,

Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.

Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,

Abdon, Zikri, Hanan,

Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,

Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.

Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,

Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham.

All these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.

Jeiel^[b] the father^[c] of Gibeon lived in Gibeon.⁽ⁱ⁾ His wife's name was Maakah,

and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner,^[d] Nadab,

Gedor, Ahio, Zeker

and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

Ner^(j) was the father of Kish,^(k) Kish the father of Saul^(l), and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.^[e](m)

The son of Jonathan:⁽ⁿ⁾ Merib-Baal,^[f](o) who was the father of Micah.

The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melek, Tarea and Ahaz.

Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.

Moza was the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son.

Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.

The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third.

The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons—150 in all. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.^(p)

All Israel^(a) was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon^(b) because of their unfaithfulness.^(c)

The People in Jerusalem^(d)

Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns^(e) were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.^(f)

Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were:

Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.^(g)

Of the Shelanites^[a]: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.

Of the Zerahites: Jeuel. The people from Judah numbered 690.

Of the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;

Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.

The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families.

Of the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;

Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God;

Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur,^(h) the son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer.

The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God.

Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite;

Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah⁽ⁱ⁾ son of Mika, the son of Zikri, the son of Asaph;

Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.^(j)

The gatekeepers:^(k) Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief

being stationed at the King's Gate^(l) on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites.

Shallum^(m) son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their ancestors had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the Lord .

In earlier times Phinehas⁽ⁿ⁾ son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the Lord was with him.

Zechariah^(o) son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers^(p) at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.^(q)

They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord —the house called the tent of meeting.

The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south.

Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day^(r) periods.

But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries^(s) in the house of God.

They would spend the night stationed around the house of God,^(t) because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key^(u) for opening it each morning.

Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out.

Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary,^(v) as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices.

But some^(w) of the priests took care of mixing the spices.

A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.

Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.^(x)

Those who were musicians,^(y) heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.^(z)

All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.

Jeiel^(ab) the father^[b] of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maakah,

and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,

Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth.

Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

Ner^(ac) was the father of Kish,^(ad) Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan,^(ae) Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.^[c](af)

The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal,^[d](ag) who was the father of Micah.

The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melek, Tahrea and Ahaz.^[e]

Ahaz was the father of Jadah, Jadah^[f] was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.

Moza was the father of Binea; Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son.

Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.