Introduction
In this chapter we have some genealogies, but the emphasis is more on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the city God has chosen as His city, as it is after the exile. The highlights are the royal tribe of Judah, the priest tribe of Levi and the royal city of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 11, where we find many names from this chapter, proves how difficult it has been to get Jerusalem inhabited again. After the return there had to come order again in Israel and especially in Jerusalem. This order has to some extent been restored. The genealogies played an important role in this. For those who went to live there, it meant that they lived in the direct presence of the King and of the temple.
1 - 2 Jerusalem After the Exile
1 So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was carried away into exile to Babylon for their unfaithfulness. 2 Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities [were] Israel, the priests, the Levites and the temple servants.
We can interpret verse 1 as a kind of conclusion of the previous chapters. In the first part of the verse we read about the enrollment of the whole people in genealogies. Its importance is indicated in the second part of the verse, because there, this enrollment is linked to the carrying away into exile to Babylon.
Verse 1 speaks of “all Israel”, although only a remnant, most of which belongs to the two tribes, has returned to Jerusalem. It shows that God always has the whole people in mind.
“The first who lived in their possessions in their cities” are divided into four groups: Israel, i.e. the normal citizens, the priests, the Levites and the temple servants (verse 2).
3 - 9 Heads of Fathers’ Households
3 Some of the sons of Judah, of the sons of Benjamin and of the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem: 4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah. 5 From the Shilonites [were] Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. 6 From the sons of Zerah [were] Jeuel and their relatives, 690 [of them]. 7 From the sons of Benjamin [were] Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah, 8 and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah; 9 and their relatives according to their generations, 956. All these [were] heads of fathers’ [households] according to their fathers’ houses.
In verse 3, the two and ten tribes are mentioned. There is talk of Judah and Benjamin, the two tribes, and of Ephraim and Manasseh, who represent the ten tribes. We see the whole people of God. We too are bound to live according to the order that applies to all the people of God, which is God’s kingdom as it is now on earth. This must be done according to the instructions of the Lord of that realm which He gives in His Word.
10 - 13 Priests
10 From the priests [were] Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God; 12 and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer; 13 and their relatives, heads of their fathers’ households, 1,760 very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
There is talk of “the chief officer of the house of God” (verse 11). The priests are called “very able men for the work of the service of the house of God” (verse 13). This shows that they did the service in the house of God with the needed ability. To be a priest is one thing; to do priestly service in God’s house needs a God given ability. Here is talk of priests who have grown in their service: they are “very able men”.
14 - 34 Levites, Gatekeepers and Singers
14 Of the Levites [were] Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh and Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph, 16 and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites. 17 Now the gatekeepers [were] Shallum and Akkub and Talmon and Ahiman and their relatives (Shallum the chief 18 [being stationed] until now at the king’s gate to the east). These [were] the gatekeepers for the camp of the sons of Levi. 19 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives of his father’s house, the Korahites, [were] over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent; and their fathers had been over the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entrance. 20 Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them previously, [and] the LORD was with him. 21 Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance of the tent of meeting. 22 All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212. These were enrolled by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer appointed in their office of trust. 23 So they and their sons had charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, [even] the house of the tent, as guards. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides, to the east, west, north and south. 25 Their relatives in their villages [were] to come in every seven days from time to time [to be] with them; 26 for the four chief gatekeepers who [were] Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God. 27 They spent the night around the house of God, because the watch was committed to them; and they [were] in charge of opening [it] morning by morning. 28 Now some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they counted them when they brought them in and when they took them out. 29 Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the utensils of the sanctuary and over the fine flour and the wine and the oil and the frankincense and the spices. 30 Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices. 31 Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the responsibility over the things which were baked in pans. 32 Some of their relatives of the sons of the Kohathites [were] over the showbread to prepare it every sabbath. 33 Now these are the singers, heads of fathers’ [households] of the Levites, [who lived] in the chambers [of the temple] free [from other service]; for they were engaged in their work day and night. 34 These were heads of fathers’ [households] of the Levites according to their generations, chief men, who lived in Jerusalem.
The gatekeepers (verse 17) must ensure that nothing enters God’s house that does not belong there. It is the task of every believer with regard to the present temple, the church of God, to watch over it (cf. Mk 13:34). For example, it means paying attention to what is taught, what kind of gospel is brought, how worship is practiced. The standard of assessment is that “all things” are “done for edification” (1Cor 14:26b).
Although all believers have the task of ensuring that what happens in the church is in accordance with God’s will, this task rests especially on the shoulders of elders or overseers. Besides the fact that the function of gatekeeper is important for the church, the vigilance of the gatekeeper is also important for our body, which is also a temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19). We have to watch what enters our hearts through our eyes and ears.
“The king’s gate” (verse 18; 2Kgs 16:18) is the gate through which the king goes from his palace to the temple. This gate will always have been closed and only opened when the king goes through it to the temple and from the temple back to his palace (Eze 44:2-3). Although there is no king in Israel when the remnant has returned to Israel, this gate is still honored, probably in the hope that sooner or later the scepter will return to David’s house.
Can what is said of Phinehas also be said of us? “The LORD was with him” (verse 20). This can be said of him because he watched over the honor of the LORD and stood up for it at the moment His honor was at stake (Num 25:6-15).
Something is said here about Samuel that we don’t read of him anywhere else (verse 22). Here it appears that he not only as a prophet spoke the Word of God to the conscience of the people, but also contributed to the service in the house of God. After all, he also grew up in the immediate vicinity of the tabernacle and became completely familiar with the service in it. It is not a forgotten aspect of his service, but the Holy Spirit has thought it good to mention it only here. It reminds us that the service in the house of God must be fully in accordance with the Word of God.
Those who serve in the house of God also spend the night close to this house (verse 27). This allows them to start their service as soon as they wake up. It is good for ministers to be close to their work, to the house of God, and to devote themselves fully to it. For us it means that we are constantly aware that we are in God’s house and that our whole daily life takes place there, while it is night in the world around us.
There is diversity and unity in the service of the Levites (verses 28-32). We can learn from this that also in the church each has his or her own task to perform and that this task happens at the same time in unity with others.
The singers are never free (verse 33). They are not with, but in the chambers of the temple and constantly praise God, “day and night”, as He, Who always does good, is due. Here the temple is a picture of heaven, of what is happening there (Rev 4:8). “How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You” (Psa 84:4; Heb 13:15).
35 - 44 Genealogy of the Gibeonites
35 In Gibeon Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived, and his wife’s name was Maacah, 36 and his firstborn son [was] Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. And they also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem opposite their [other] relatives. 39 Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. 40 The son of Jonathan [was] Merib-baal; and Merib-baal became the father of Micah. 41 The sons of Micah [were] Pithon, Melech, Tahrea [and Ahaz]. 42 Ahaz became the father of Jarah, and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza, 43 and Moza became the father of Binea and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 44 Azel had six sons whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru and Ishmael and Sheariah and Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
In verse 35, the historical part of the book begins, and it again begins with mentioning Saul’s genealogy (cf. 1Chr 8:29-40). This is done to show the contrast with David. This is another illustration of the principle that the natural comes first and then the spiritual (1Cor 15:46). We find this throughout the Bible. Thus we also read that God “takes away the first in order to establish the second” (Heb 10:9b).
Saul is the king according to the taste of the people; David is the king according to the heart of God. We can already see a great difference in the activities of both persons at the time of their calling. Saul is searching for donkeys when he is promised the kingship (1Sam 9:3,19-20; 1Sam 10:1); David is taken from behind the sheep to be anointed king (1Sam 16:10-13). God is angry with His people when He gives Saul and even angrier when He takes him away (Hos 13:11).
The kingship itself is according to God’s thoughts (Deu 17:14-20), but that is a kingship according to the wishes of His own heart. God is the King of His people. He wants to give it form in a human being. This man is the Man of His pleasure, His only begotten Son, Who became Man. It is the kingdom of God, but the government over it is laid in the hands of a Man.