Monday, August 13, 2012

1 Chronicles 9-10


1 Chronicles 9-10

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):


Chapter 9: Inhabitants of Jerusalem

                All of Israel was recorded by their genealogy and they were inscribed into the book of the Kings of Israel (which is not the same as 1Kings and 2 Kings), these books are lost. As we have learned from the first 8 chapters of Chronicles (which is very long and dry) we find that all of these records of names and genealogies were recorded further in the "book of the Kings of Israel".

                We are reminded that Judah was carried away captive by Babylon because of their unfaithfulness to God that lead them into captivity. The first inhabitants who dwelt in their possession of their cities were the Israelites. The Israelites, simply put are back in their land. The Israelites took "possession" of what was theirs and what had been promised to them since the days of Moses and Joshua.

                The three categories of workers in the temple were:

Priests: were the descendents of Aaron, who had the right to sacrifice and take care of the Holy place in the temple.
Levites: were a much broader class of workers, who served in more than one way, including practical, artistically and spiritually.
Nethinim: Special servants given to the temple.

                And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh; Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.

 And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.

 And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.

 And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,  And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

 And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.

 And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin, And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;  And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
 And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

                very able men: Translates in other texts to "mighty men of valor", it shows that when doing the work of God in the temple it takes a man of strength, and courage. The exact same qualities as a warrior... a warrior of God.

 And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph; And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.

 And the porters (gatekeepers) were; Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;

                The gatekeepers were part of a "re-institution" of the organization of the temple in the early days of the second temple. They wanted things to be like the days of King David.
 Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in the past and God was with him. Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  There were 212 porters chosen to be at the gates.  So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.  In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.   And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.

 And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale. Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.

And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.

 Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.

 And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites,were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.

 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites,who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.

The Genealogy of Saul is listed, before and after. This is to demonstrate that the line of Saul was not wiped out and he did in fact have posterity.

And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

 And the son of Jonathan was; Merib-baal: and Merib-baal begat Micah.

And the sons of Micah were; Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea,and Ahaz.

And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;  And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

 And Azel had six sons, whose names were; Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan.

Chapter 10: Saul Dies

                The Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and the slain fell on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines followed after Saul and his sons and ended up killing Jonathan, Abinadab and Machishua (Sons of Saul)

                The battle was strong against Saul, archers managed to hit him and he was wounded. Saul then requests that his armourbearer kill him with his sword. When Saul was dead his armourbearer decided to follow suit and also fell on the sword. All of the house of Saul was dead.

                With Saul being dead the men of Israel forsook their cities and fled, which gave room for the Philistines to come in and dwell there.

                The Philistines then took Saul's head and put it in the temple of their idols. When all Jabesh Gilead heard about what had been done with Saul's body they arose and got the bodies of Saul and his household to bury their bones under the tamarisk tree and fasted for 7 days.

                The story of Saul is one of the great tragedies of the Bible. Saul was a humble man who turned to mediums in times of fear and did not look toward God. David became king over Israel.

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