Through the Bible – Day 171

₃₈And so, a firm agreement was made that had the official approval of the leaders, the Levites, and priests.

₁As governor, I signed the agreement together with Zedekiah and the following priests: _2-8Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.

₉The Levites who signed were: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui from the clan of Henadad, Kadmiel, ₁₀Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, ₁₁Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, ₁₂Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, ₁₃Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

₁₄The leaders who signed were: Parosh, Pahath Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, ₁₅Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, ₁₆Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, ₁₇Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, ₁₈Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, ₁₉Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, ₂₀Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, ₂₁Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, ₂₂Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, ₂₃Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, ₂₄Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, ₂₅Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, ₂₆Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, ₂₇Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

₁The nation's leaders and their families settled in Jerusalem. But there was room for only one out of every ten of the remaining families, and so they asked God to show them who would live there. ₂Then everyone else asked God to bless those who were willing to live in Jerusalem.

₃Some of the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple workers, and the descendants of Solomon's servants lived on their own property in the towns of Judah. But the leaders of the province lived in Jerusalem with their families.

_4-6From the Judah tribe, two leaders settled in Jerusalem with their relatives. One of them was Athaiah son of Uzziah. His ancestors were Zechariah, Amariah, Shephatiah, Mahalalel, and Perez, the son of Judah. From the descendants of Perez, four hundred and sixty-eight of the best men lived in Jerusalem.

The other leader from Judah was Maaseiah the son of Baruch. His ancestors were Colhozeh, Hazaiah, Adaiah, Joiarib, Zechariah, and Shelah, the son of Judah.

_7-8From the Benjamin tribe, three leaders settled in Jerusalem. The first was Sallu son of Meshullam, and the others were Gabbai and Sallai. Sallu's ancestors were Joed, Pedaiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Ithiel, and Jeshaiah. Altogether, there were nine hundred and twenty-eight men of the Benjamin tribe living in Jerusalem. ₉Joel son of Zichri was their leader, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command.

₁₀Four priests settled in Jerusalem. The first was Jedaiah; he was the son of Joiarib and the uncle of Jachin.

₁₁The second priest to settle there was Seraiah son of Hilkiah. His ancestors were Meshullam, Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub, who had been a high priest. ₁₂Altogether, there were eight hundred and twenty-two from his clan who served in the temple.

The third priest to settle there was Adaiah son of Jeroham. His ancestors were Pelaliah, Amzi, Zechariah, Pashhur, and Malchijah. ₁₃Altogether, there were two hundred and forty-two clan leaders among his relatives.

The fourth priest to settle there was Amashsai son of Azarel. His ancestors were Ahzai, Meshillemoth, and Immer. ₁₄Altogether, there were one hundred and twenty-eight brave warriors from their clans, and their leader was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.

₁₅Several Levites settled in Jerusalem. First, there was Shemaiah son of Hasshub. His ancestors were Azrikam, Hashabiah, and Bunni.

₁₆Next, there were Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were in charge of the work outside the temple.

₁₇Then there was Mattaniah son of Mica. His ancestors were Zabdi and Asaph. Mattaniah led the temple choir in the prayer of praise. Bakbukiah, who also settled in Jerusalem, was his assistant.

Finally, there was Abda son of Shammua; his grandfather was Galal, and his great-grandfather was Jeduthun.

₁₈Altogether, two hundred and eighty-four Levites settled in the holy city.

₁₉One hundred and seventy-two temple guards settled in Jerusalem; their leaders were Akkub and Talmon.

₂₀The rest of the Israelites, including priests and Levites, lived on their own property in the other towns of Judah. ₂₁But the temple workers lived in the section of Jerusalem known as Ophel, and the two men in charge of them were Ziha and Gishpa.

₂₂Uzzi son of Bani was the leader of the Levites in Jerusalem. His grandfather was Hashabiah, his great-grandfather was Mattaniah, and his great-great-grandfather was Mica. He belonged to the Asaph clan that was in charge of the music for the temple services, ₂₃though the daily choice of music and musicians was decided by royal decree of the Persian king.

₂₄The people of Israel were represented at the Persian court by Pethahiah son of Meshezabel from the Zerah clan of the Judah tribe.

₂₅Some of the people of Judah lived in the following towns near their farms: Kiriath-Arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, ₂₆Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-Pelet, ₂₇Hazar-Shual, Beersheba, ₂₈Ziklag, Meconah, ₂₉Enrimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, ₃₀Zanoah, Adullam, Lachish, and Azekah. In fact, they settled the towns from Beersheba in the south to Hinnom Valley in the north.

₃₁The people of Benjamin lived in the towns of Geba, Michmash, Aija, Bethel with its nearby villages, ₃₂Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, ₃₃Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, ₃₄Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, ₃₅Lod, and Ono, as well as in Craft Valley. ₃₆Several groups of Levites from the territory of Judah were sent to live among the people of Benjamin.

₂₃just as we read in the Scriptures. But these words were not written only for Abraham. ₂₄They were written for us, since we will also be accepted because of our faith in God, who raised our Lord Jesus to life. ₂₅God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God.