1 Chronicles 4-6
New International Reader's Version
Other Family Groups of Judah
4 The family line of Judah included
Perez, Hezron, Karmi, Hur and Shobal.
2 Reaiah was the son of Shobal and the father of Jahath. Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the family groups of the people of Zorah.
3 The sons of Etam were
Jezreel, Ishma and Idbash. Their sister was named Hazzelelponi. 4 Penuel was the father of Gedor. Ezer was the father of Hushah.
These people belonged to the family line of Hur. He was the oldest son of Ephrathah and the father of Bethlehem.
5 Ashhur was the father of Tekoa. Ashhur had two wives. Their names were Helah and Naarah.
6 Naarah had Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari by Ashhur. They belonged to the family line of Naarah.
7 The sons of Helah were
Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan 8 and Koz. Koz was the father of Anub and Hazzobebah. He was also the father of the family groups of Aharhel. Aharhel was the son of Harum.
9 Jabez was more respected than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez. She had said, “I was in a lot of pain when he was born.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel. He said, “I wish you would bless me. I wish you would give me more territory. Let your power protect me. Keep me from harm. Then I won’t have any pain.” God gave him what he asked for.
11 Kelub was the brother of Shuhah and the father of Mehir. Mehir was the father of Eshton. 12 Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of Ir Nahash. These were the men of Rekah.
13 The sons of Kenaz were
Othniel and Seraiah.
The sons of Othniel were
Hathath and Meonothai. 14 Meonothai was the father of Ophrah.
Seraiah was the father of Joab.
Joab was the father of Ge Harashim. Ge Harashim was called by that name because all its people were skilled workers.
15 The sons of Caleb were
Iru, Elah and Naam. Caleb was the son of Jephunneh.
The son of Elah was
Kenaz.
16 The sons of Jehallelel were
Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel.
17 The sons of Ezrah were
Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon.
One of Mered’s wives had Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah by him. Ishbah was the father of Eshtemoa. 18 These were the children of Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah. Mered had married her.
His wife from the tribe of Judah had Jered, Heber and Jekuthiel by him. Jered was the father of Gedor. Heber was the father of Soko. Jekuthiel was the father of Zanoah.
19 Hodiah’s wife was the sister of Naham. Her sons were
the father of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maakathite.
20 The sons of Shimon were
Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan and Tilon.
The family line of Ishi included
Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.
21 Shelah was the son of Judah. The sons of Shelah were
Er and Laadah. Er was the father of Lekah. Laadah was the father of Mareshah. He was also the father of the family groups of the linen workers who lived in Beth Ashbea.
22 Other sons of Shelah were Jokim, Joash, Saraph and the men of Kozeba. Moab and Jashubi Lehem were ruled by sons of Shelah. The records of all these matters are very old. 23 Some of Shelah’s sons were potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah. They stayed there and worked for the king.
The Family Line of Simeon
24 The family line of Simeon included
Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah and Shaul. 25 Shallum was Shaul’s son. Mibsam was Shallum’s son. Mishma was Mibsam’s son.
26 The family line of Mishma included Hammuel. Hammuel was Mishma’s son. Zakkur was Hammuel’s son. Shimei was Zakkur’s son.
27 Shimei had 16 sons and six daughters. But his brothers didn’t have many children. So their whole family group didn’t have as many people as Judah had. 28 Shimei’s family group lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim. These were their towns until David became king. 32 Five of the villages around these towns were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token and Ashan. 33 The territory of all the villages around these towns reached all the way to Baalath. These were their settlements.
The tribe of Simeon kept its own family history.
34 Simeon’s family line included Meshobab, Jamlech and Joshah. Joshah was the son of Amaziah.
35 Simeon’s family line also included Joel and Jehu. Jehu was the son of Joshibiah. Joshibiah was the son of Seraiah. Seraiah was the son of Asiel.
36 And the family line included Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah,
Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah
37 and Ziza. Ziza was the son of Shiphi. Shiphi was the son of Allon. Allon was the son of Jedaiah. Jedaiah was the son of Shimri. And Shimri was the son of Shemaiah.
38 The men whose names are listed above were leaders of their family groups.
Their families greatly increased their numbers. 39 They spread out all the way to the edge of Gedor east of the valley. They looked for grasslands for their flocks. 40 They found grasslands that were rich and good. The land had plenty of room. It was peaceful and quiet. Some of the people of Ham had lived there before.
41 The men whose names are listed lived at the time when Hezekiah was king of Judah. They came and attacked the Hamites in their homes. They also attacked the Meunites who were there. And they completely destroyed them. What happened to them is clear even to this day. The men of Simeon made their homes where the Meunites had lived. That’s because in that place there were enough grasslands for their flocks. 42 Five hundred of these men came into the hill country of Seir and attacked it. They were led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel. These four men were the sons of Ishi. 43 They killed the rest of the Amalekites who had escaped. And they still live there to this day.
The Family Line of Reuben
5 Reuben was the oldest son of Israel. But he slept with his father’s concubine. By doing that, he made his father’s bed “unclean.” That’s why his rights as the oldest son were given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel. So Reuben isn’t listed in the family history as the one who had the rights of the oldest son. 2 Judah also did not have the rights of the oldest son. Judah didn’t have them even though he was the leader among his brothers. And a ruler came from his family line. But the rights of the oldest son belonged to Joseph. 3 Reuben was the oldest son of Israel. Reuben’s sons were
Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.
4 The family line of Joel includes
his son Shemaiah. Gog was the son of Shemaiah.
Shimei was the son of Gog. 5 Micah was the son of Shimei.
Reaiah was the son of Micah. Baal was the son of Reaiah.
6 And Beerah was the son of Baal. Beerah was a leader of the people of Reuben. Tiglath-Pileser took Beerah as a prisoner to another country. Tiglath-Pileser was the king of Assyria.
7 Here are the relatives of the family groups of Reuben. They are listed in their family history.
They include Chief Jeiel, Zechariah 8 and Bela. Bela was the son of Azaz. Azaz was the son of Shema. Shema was the son of Joel.
All of them made their homes in the area from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon. 9 To the east they made their homes in the land up to the edge of the desert. That desert reaches all the way to the Euphrates River. They made their homes there because their livestock had increased in Gilead.
10 While Saul was king, the people of Reuben went to war against the Hagrites. They won the battle over them. Then they lived in the houses of the Hagrites. The people of Reuben lived in the entire area east of Gilead.
The Family Line of Gad
11 The people of Gad lived next to the people of Reuben in Bashan. They spread out all the way to Salekah.
12 Joel was their chief. Shapham was next. Then came Janai and Shaphat in Bashan.
13 Here are their relatives family by family. They included
Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jakan, Zia and Eber. The total number of them was seven.
14 These were the sons of Abihail. Abihail was the son of Huri. Huri was the son of Jaroah. Jaroah was the son of Gilead. Gilead was the son of Michael. Michael was the son of Jeshishai. Jeshishai was the son of Jahdo. And Jahdo was the son of Buz.
15 Ahi was the leader of some of the families of Gad. Ahi was the son of Abdiel. Abdiel was the son of Guni.
16 The people of Gad lived in the land of Gilead. They lived in the villages of Bashan. They also lived on all the grasslands of Sharon as far as they reached.
17 All these names were written down in the family history. They were written during the time when Jotham was king of Judah and Jeroboam was king of Israel.
18 The tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men able to serve in the army. Each one was able to handle a shield and sword. Each was also able to use a bow. Each was trained for battle. 19 They went to war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. 20 God helped his people fight against the Hagrites and all who were helping them. He handed over all those enemies to his people. That’s because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 21 They captured the livestock of the Hagrites. They captured 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and 2,000 donkeys. They also took 100,000 people as prisoners. 22 Many others were killed, because God won the battle over them. His people lived in the land until they themselves were taken as prisoners to other countries.
The Family Line of Half of the Tribe of Manasseh
23 The people in half of the tribe of Manasseh became a very large group. They made their homes in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon. Baal Hermon is also called Senir. Another name for it is Mount Hermon.
24 Here are the leaders of their families. They included Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave fighting men. They were also famous and were leaders of their families. 25 But they weren’t faithful to the God of their people. They joined themselves to the gods of the nations of the land and worshiped them. God had destroyed those nations to make room for his people. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul. He was king of Assyria. He was also called Tiglath-Pileser. He took the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh to other countries as his prisoners. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan. And that’s where they still are to this day.
The Family Line of Levi
6 The sons of Levi were
Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
2 The sons of Kohath were
Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
3 Aaron, Moses and Miriam
were born into the family line of Amram.
The sons of Aaron were
Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
4 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas.
Phinehas was the father of Abishua.
5 Abishua was the father of Bukki.
Bukki was the father of Uzzi.
6 Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah.
Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.
7 Meraioth was the father of Amariah.
Amariah was the father of Ahitub.
8 Ahitub was the father of Zadok.
Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.
9 Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah.
Azariah was the father of Johanan.
10 Johanan was the father of Azariah.
Azariah served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.
11 Azariah was the father of Amariah.
Amariah was the father of Ahitub.
12 Ahitub was the father of Zadok.
Zadok was the father of Shallum.
13 Shallum was the father of Hilkiah.
Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.
14 Azariah was the father of Seraiah.
And Seraiah was the father of Jozadak.
15 Jozadak was taken away from his own land. The Lord took the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the land of Babylon. He used Nebuchadnezzar to take them there as prisoners.
16 The sons of Levi were
Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
17 The names of the sons of Gershon were
Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath were
Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
19 The sons of Merari were
Mahli and Mushi.
Here are the members of the family groups of the Levites. They are listed under the names of their fathers.
20 Gershon was the father of Libni.
Jahath was Libni’s son.
Zimmah was Jahath’s son.
21 Joah was Zimmah’s son.
Iddo was Joah’s son.
Zerah was Iddo’s son.
And Jeatherai was Zerah’s son.
22 The family line of Kohath included his son Amminadab.
Korah was Amminadab’s son.
Assir was Korah’s son.
23 Elkanah was Assir’s son.
Ebiasaph was Elkanah’s son.
Assir was Ebiasaph’s son.
24 Tahath was Assir’s son.
Uriel was Tahath’s son.
Uzziah was Uriel’s son.
And Shaul was Uzziah’s son.
25 The family line of Elkanah included his son Amasai.
Amasai was the father of Ahimoth.
26 Elkanah was Ahimoth’s son.
Zophai was Elkanah’s son.
Nahath was Zophai’s son.
27 Eliab was Nahath’s son.
Jeroham was Eliab’s son.
Elkanah was Jeroham’s son.
And Samuel was Elkanah’s son.
28 The sons of Samuel were
his first son Joel
and his second son Abijah.
29 The family line of Merari included his son Mahli.
Libni was Mahli’s son.
Shimei was Libni’s son.
Uzzah was Shimei’s son.
30 Shimea was Uzzah’s son.
Haggiah was Shimea’s son.
And Asaiah was Haggiah’s son.
The Levites Who Were in Charge of the Music
31 Here are the Levites David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord. He did it after the ark was placed there. 32 The men used their music to serve in front of the holy tent, the tent of meeting. They served there until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They did their work according to the rules they had been given.
33 Here are the men who served. The list also includes their sons.
The family line of Kohath included
Heman. He led the music.
He was the son of Joel.
Joel was the son of Samuel.
34 Samuel was the son of Elkanah.
Elkanah was the son of Jeroham.
Jeroham was the son of Eliel.
Eliel was the son of Toah.
35 Toah was the son of Zuph.
Zuph was the son of Elkanah.
Elkanah was the son of Mahath.
Mahath was the son of Amasai.
36 Amasai was the son of Elkanah.
Elkanah was the son of Joel.
Joel was the son of Azariah.
Azariah was the son of Zephaniah.
37 Zephaniah was the son of Tahath.
Tahath was the son of Assir.
Assir was the son of Ebiasaph.
Ebiasaph was the son of Korah.
38 Korah was the son of Izhar.
Izhar was the son of Kohath.
Kohath was the son of Levi.
And Levi was the son of Israel.
39 Heman had a relative named Asaph. Asaph served as Heman’s helper at his right side.
Asaph was the son of Berekiah.
Berekiah was the son of Shimea.
40 Shimea was the son of Michael.
Michael was the son of Baaseiah.
Baaseiah was the son of Malkijah.
41 Malkijah was the son of Ethni.
Ethni was the son of Zerah.
Zerah was the son of Adaiah.
42 Adaiah was the son of Ethan.
Ethan was the son of Zimmah.
Zimmah was the son of Shimei.
43 Shimei was the son of Jahath.
Jahath was the son of Gershon.
And Gershon was the son of Levi.
44 Here are the Levites in the family line of Merari who served as Heman’s helpers at his left side. They were relatives of the Kohathites.
Ethan was the son of Kishi.
Kishi was the son of Abdi.
Abdi was the son of Malluk.
45 Malluk was the son of Hashabiah.
Hashabiah was the son of Amaziah.
Amaziah was the son of Hilkiah.
46 Hilkiah was the son of Amzi.
Amzi was the son of Bani.
Bani was the son of Shemer.
47 Shemer was the son of Mahli.
Mahli was the son of Mushi.
Mushi was the son of Merari.
And Merari was the son of Levi.
48 The rest of the Levites were appointed to do all the other work at the holy tent. It was the house of God. 49 Aaron and his sons after him brought the offerings. They sacrificed them on the altar of burnt offering. They also burned incense on the altar of incense. That was part of what they did in the Most Holy Room. That’s how they paid for the sin of Israel. They did everything just as Moses, the servant of God, had commanded.
50 Here are the members of the family line of Aaron.
Eleazar was Aaron’s son.
Phinehas was Eleazar’s son.
Abishua was Phinehas’s son.
51 Bukki was Abishua’s son.
Uzzi was Bukki’s son.
Zerahiah was Uzzi’s son.
52 Meraioth was Zerahiah’s son.
Amariah was Meraioth’s son.
Ahitub was Amariah’s son.
53 Zadok was Ahitub’s son.
And Ahimaaz was Zadok’s son.
54 Here were the places where they made their homes. These places were given to them as their territory. Some were given to the children of Aaron who were from the family group of Kohath. They were given out by casting lots. The first lot was for Kohath.
55 In Judah the Kohathites were given Hebron. They also received the grasslands around Hebron. 56 But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh. 57 So the people in the family line of Aaron received Hebron. It was a city where people could go for safety. Aaron’s family line received Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, 58 Hilen and Debir. 59 They also received Ashan, Juttah and Beth Shemesh. They were given all these towns together with their grasslands.
60 From the tribe of Benjamin they received Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth. They received these towns together with their grasslands.
All these towns were handed out to the family groups of Kohath. The total number of towns was 13.
61 The rest of the members of the family line of Kohath were given ten towns. The towns were from the family groups of half of the tribe of Manasseh.
62 The members of the family line of Gershon were given 13 towns. They received them family group by family group. Most of the towns were from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali. The rest were from the other half of the tribe of Manasseh. It’s in Bashan.
63 The members of the family line of Merari were given 12 towns. They received them family group by family group. The towns were from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.
64 So the Israelites gave the Levites all these towns and their grasslands.
65 They gave other towns to them from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin.
66 Some of the family groups of Kohath were given towns from the tribe of Ephraim as their territory.
67 In the hill country of Ephraim they received Shechem. Shechem was a city where people could go for safety. The Kohathites also received Gezer, 68 Jokmeam, Beth Horon, 69 Aijalon and Gath Rimmon. They were given all these towns together with their grasslands.
70 From half of the tribe of Manasseh the people of Israel gave the towns of Aner and Bileam. They gave them to the rest of the family groups of Kohath. They gave them together with their grasslands.
71 Here is what the members of the family line of Gershon were given.
From half of the tribe of Manasseh they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth. They received them together with their grasslands.
72 From the tribe of Issachar they received Kedesh, Daberath, 73 Ramoth and Anem. They received them together with their grasslands.
74 From the tribe of Asher they received Mashal, Abdon, 75 Hukok and Rehob. They received them together with their grasslands.
76 From the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee. They also received Hammon and Kiriathaim. They were given all these towns together with their grasslands.
77 The members of the family line of Merari make up the rest of the Levites. Here is what they were given.
From the tribe of Zebulun they received Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono and Tabor. They received them together with their grasslands.
78 The tribe of Reuben was across the Jordan River east of Jericho. From that tribe the Merarites received Bezer in the desert, Jahzah, 79 Kedemoth and Mephaath. They received them together with their grasslands.
80 From the tribe of Gad they received Ramoth in Gilead. They also received Mahanaim, 81 Heshbon and Jazer. They received all these towns together with their grasslands.
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