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The people who lived in Jerusalem

11 The leaders of the Israelite people lived in Jerusalem. The other people threw dice to choose which other families would live there too. From every group of ten families they chose one family to live in Jerusalem, God's special city. The other families would stay in their own towns. The people asked God to bless all the men who chose to live in Jerusalem.

These are the leaders of the region of Judah who went to live in Jerusalem. Other Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of King Solomon's servants lived in the other towns of Judah. Each of them lived in their own homes. But some of Judah's and Benjamin's descendants went to live in Jerusalem.[a] This is who they were:

From the tribe of Judah:

Athaiah, son of Uzziah and Zechariah's grandson. His other ancestors were: Amariah, Shephatiah and Mahalalel. They were descendants of Judah's son, Perez.

Maaseiah, son of Baruch and Col-Hozeh's grandson. His other ancestors were: Hazaiah, Adaiah, Joiarib and Zechariah. They were descendants of Judah's son, Shelah.

There were 468 descendants of Perez who went to live in Jerusalem. They were all brave men.

From the tribe of Benjamin:

Sallu, son of Meshullam and Joed's grandson. His other ancestors were: Pedaiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Ithiel and Jeshaiah. Sallu's relatives, Gabbai and Sallai were also there. There were 928 men from Benjamin's tribe.

Zicri's son, Joel, was the officer with authority over them.

Hassenuah's son, Judah, was the next most important officer in the city.

10 From the priests:

Joiarib's son, Jedaiah, and Jakin.

11 Seraiah, son of Hilkiah and Meshullam's grandson. His other ancestors were: Zadok, Meraioth and Ahitub. Ahitub had been the most important priest in God's temple. 12 Their relatives worked with them in the temple. There were 822 men from that clan.

Adaiah, son of Jeroham and Pelaliah's grandson. His other ancestors were: Amzi, Zechariah, Pashhur and Malkijah. 13 His relatives were with him. There were 242 men from that clan who were leaders of their families.

Amashsai, son of Azarel and Ahzai's grandson. Ahzai was the son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer. 14 His friends were with him. They were 128 strong brave men from that clan.

Haggedolim's son, Zabdiel, was the officer with authority over them.

15 From the Levites:

Shemaiah, son of Hasshub and Azrikam's grandson. Azrikam was the son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni.

16 Shabbethai and Jozabad were leaders of the Levites who had authority over work on the outside of God's temple.

17 Mattaniah, son of Mica and Zabdi's grandson. Zabdi was Asaph's son. Mattaniah led the people when they prayed and they thanked God.

Bakbukiah helped Mattaniah, as well as Shammua's son, Abda. Shammua was the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

18 284 Levites lived in the holy city, Jerusalem.

19 The temple guards were:

Akkub, Talmon and their relatives. There were 172 guards who watched the gates.

20 The other Israelite people, priests and Levites lived in the other towns of Judah. They lived in the homes that belonged to their families.

21 The temple servants lived on Ophel Hill. Ziha and Gishpa had authority over them.

22 Uzzi was the leader of the Levites in Jerusalem. He was the son of Bani and grandson of Hashabiah. His other ancestors were Mattaniah and Mica. Uzzi was one of Asaph's descendants. Asaph's family were the singers who had authority for the music in the temple. 23 The king commanded the singers what they must do each day.

24 Meshezabel's son, Pethahiah, was one of the king's advisors. He helped the king of Persia to know how to rule the Israelite people. Pethahiah was a descendant of Judah's son, Zerah.

25 Many people of Judah lived in villages with their farms near them. Some of them lived in Kiriath Arba, Dibon and Jekabzeel, and in the villages near those towns. 26 Other people lived in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth Pelet 27 and Hazar-Shual, as well as in Beersheba and the villages near it. 28 Other people lived in Ziklag and Meconah and the villages near it. 29 Some people lived in En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah and Adullam and the villages near to those towns. Other people lived in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its villages. The people were living everywhere from Beersheba to the Hinnom Valley.[b]

31 Some of Benjamin's descendants lived in Geba, Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages. 32 Some of them lived in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim. 34 They also lived in Hadid, Zeboim Neballat, 35 Lod, Ono and Ge-Harashim. 36 Some of the Levites' clans who belonged with Judah went to live in Benjamin's land.

Footnotes

  1. 11:4 Judah and Benjamin were the two Israelite tribes who had gone to Babylon as prisoners. Now they had returned to their homes in the country of Judah.
  2. 11:30 Beersheba was on the border of Judah in the south. The Hinnom Valley was near to Jerusalem.