1 Chronicles 9:27

1 Chronicles 9:27 says, And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.  The Levites lived near the house of God, because they were in charge of taking care of it.  As Christians, wherever we live should be God's house and we should take care of it and ensure that His word is always taught and lived by in our homes.  We need to be close to Him at all times and not just at a church building on Sundays.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.  They had different jobs in the tabernacle and then the temple.  The building wasn't important.  The fact that it was where God was seen as being was.  Since the Holy Spirit is with us at all times, the building that we gather in is not what is important.  The fact that we are with God is what matters.  Verse twenty-nine continues, 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.  These verses continue to describe different roles that the Levites had in the worship service.  Verse thirty states, And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.  Verse thirty-one adds, And 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.  In this verse, we are given the name of one of the Levites and his particular role in the worship service.  We were not told all of the names of those who served, and whether the people of the world or even of the church as a whole, ever know our name or not, we are to serve God in whatever capacity He calls us to serve.  Verse thirty-two continues, And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.  Some were identified by who their father was but not by name.  Verse thirty-three says, 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 work went on day and night and some of the people, the singers, lived in the chambers to so.  We should continually sing praises to God.  Verse thirty-four adds, These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.  These were referred to as the chief fathers of the Levites throughout the generations and they lived in Jerusalem.  We need to stay near God in all that we do, whether we are among the chief people in worshipping and serving Him or not.

1 Chronicles 9:14

1 Chronicles 9:14 says, And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;  Once more the genealogy works backward. This continues in the next couple of verses.  Verse fifteen adds, And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;   Verse sixteen continues, 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.  We have the added information in this verse that these people lived in the villages of the Netophathites.  This is a village in Judah about three miles from Jerusalem.  Verse seventeen states, And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;  Verse eight adds, Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.   Then, we have a list of the porters, whom we are told waited in the king's gate facing east and were in the company of the children of Levi.  Verse nineteen adds, And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the Lord, were keepers of the entry.  The next group of sons were in charge of keeping the gates of the tabernacle, and we are told their fathers were keepers of the gates of the tabernacle.  Matthew Henry points out that since they had no temple again as yet that they had gone back to worshipping in a tabernacle.  Worshipping God should never be stopped simply because we have no building in which to worship.  Verse twenty continues, And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the Lord was with him.  Phinehas, the son od Eleazar had ruled over this group in the past, and God was with them.  The key to serving God, no matter who our parents were, is that God is with us.  Verse twenty-one states, And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  We are told that Zechariah was the porter of the door of the tabernacle.  We all have a calling as followers of Christ, and no matter how important or unimportant it may be, we need do do it to the best of our ability.  Verse twenty-two adds, All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.  There were two-hundred and twelve porters in all, based on their genealogy as had been set in order by David and Samuel, who is referred to as a seer.  We no longer have to look to our ancestors to see where we fit in the church, but need to simply rely on the calling of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-three continues, 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.  This verse repeats the fact that they had oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord.  Sometimes today, someone will want to control who can and cannot come into a church building to worship, but I believe God expects us to welcome everyone equally.  Verse twenty-four says, In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.  There were porters in all four directions.  Verse twenty-five adds, And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.  They evidently served a week at a time and not all at once.  We cannot all serve in the same position at the same time, nor can we serve twenty-four hours a day, so we need to be organized in our work for God.  Verse twenty-six continues, For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.  The four chief porters were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.  We need people today to be responsible for the money brought into the church, and it needs to be used in accordance with God's leadership.

1 Chronicles 9:1

1 Chronicles 9:1 says, So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.  Matthew Henry says these genealogies so far had been given looking back at the people of Judah and Israel so the people would know who to put in various positions of service after the return from captivity in Babylon.  As Christians, we have all been captive to sin, and once we accept God's gift of salvation, He will also have a position of service for us.  Verse two adds, Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.  Now, there is a look ahead at those returning from captivity in Babylon.  Verse three continues, And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;  The descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh were living in Jerusalem.  Verse four states, 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.  Then we have a list of the descendants of various sons of these men.  Verse five adds, And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.  Verse six continues, And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.  Verse seven says, And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,  Verse eight adds, 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;  Verse nine continues, 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.  The numbers of those returning were far less than those who had once made up these tribes.  If we allow those who grow up in Christian homes to be carried away by sin, the numbers that return will most likely be less than the number who left.  Verse ten states, And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,  Then we have the priestly tribe listed.  Verse eleven adds, 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;  Verse twelve continues, 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;  Verse thirteen concludes, 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.  There were one thousand, seven hundred and sixty of them, and they were noted as men very able to do service in the house of God.  We as followers of Christ need to be known as people very able to do service to God.

1 Chronicles 8:29

1 Chronicles 8:29 says, And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife's name was Maachah:  These next several verses are still a continuation of the listing of the descendants of Benjamin.  Verse thirty adds, And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,  Verse thirty-one continues, And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.  Verse thirty-two concludes, And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.  These people also lived near Jerusalem.  Verse thirty-three states, And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.  Out of this tribe also came Saul, the first king of Israel, and his descendants, who didn't follow him as kings.  Just because our parents were leaders in the church doesn't mean we will be or that we have any special rights.  Verse thirty-four adds, And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.  Jonathan was the only one of Saul's sons to have descendants, and that was because of David's friendship with him.  Verse thirty-five continues, And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.  Verse thirty-six says, And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,  Verse thirty-seven adds, And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:  Verse thirty-eight continues, And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.  Verse thirty-nine states, And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.  Verse forty adds, And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.  It is noted that Ulam had sons who were mighty men of valor, and they had even more sons, a hundred and fifty in all.  We need our children to be people of valor for God today, and we need to hope that the children of God multiply.  This concluded the listing of Benjamin's descendants.

1 Chronicles 8:12

1 Chronicles 8:12 says, The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:  This continues with a list of the descendants of Benjamin.  Verse thirteen adds, Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath: Verse fourteen continues, And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,  Verse fifteen states, And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,  Verse sixteen adds, And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;  Verse seventeen continues, And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,  Verse eighteen says, Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal; Verse nineteen adds, And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,  Verse twenty continues, And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,  Verse twenty-one states, And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;  Verse twenty-two adds, And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,  Verse twenty-three continues, And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,  Verse twenty-four says, And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,  Verse twenty-five adds, And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;  Verse twenty-six continues, And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,  Verse twenty-seven says, And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.  Verse twenty-eight concludes, These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.  We do have it made note of that these lived in Jerusalem throughout the generations.  Jerusalem was the city of God, so those who lived there would have had the responsibility of keeping in devoted to Him.  For followers of Christ today, the Holy Spirit indwells us, so we are in effect a part of the city of God, and we must do our best to keep ourselves devoted to Him.

1 Chronicles 8:1

1 Chronicles 8:1 says, Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,  Now we have the descendants of Benjamin listed.  Saul, the first king of Israel, was of this tribe.   Verse two adds, Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. Verse three continues, And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,  This verse begins a list of Bela's sons and continues through the next two.  Verse four continues, And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,  Verse five concludes, And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.  Verse six states, And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:  Ehud was likely a descendant of Gera, and he had sons while living in Moab, according to Matthew Henry.  He would also deliver the people of Israel from Moab and was a descendant of Benjamin.  Verse seven adds, And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.  Verse eight continues, And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.  Once more, as with others listed, it isn't made clear who Shaharaim is, but we have a list of his sons born in Moab, after he divorced two of his wives, which once again was against not one but two of God's laws.  Verse nine says, And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,  Verse ten adds, And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers. We are given the names of the sons of his wife Hodesh. Verse eleven continues, And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal. Then, two sons with another woman, who isn't said to be his wife.  We don't need to use many of the men of Israel in the Old Testament as an example of how we should view marriage.

1 Chronicles 7:30

1 Chronicles 7:30 says, The sons of Asher; Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.  Now we move to the tribe, or family, of Asher.  Verse thirty-one adds, And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.  We start with the sons of his youngest son's children then.  Verse thirty-two continues, And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.  We then move back to the children of the first born of Asher's grandson, which was the usual way of following the descendants if only one was mentioned.  There is no explanation why, but we don't always need to know the reason for everything God does and how he works in the world.  We just need to live by faith in Him.  Verse thirty-three states, And the sons of Japhlet; Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.  Verse thirty-four adds, And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.  Verse thirty-five continues, And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.  I cannot find out whose brother Helem was, but we pick up with his children here.  Verse thirty-six says, The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah, Verse thirty-seven adds, Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.  I also don't find a reference to Zophah or Ulla who is mentioned in verse thirty-nine.  Verse thirty-eight continues, And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.  We are given Jether's sons names.  Verse thirty-nine states, And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.  Matthew Henry didn't give much information on some of these names and whose son they might be, and Google says it is unclear whose son Uzza was, but he was in the tribe of Asher, so we will just have to accept that fact.  We may not always understand everything clearly in the Bible, but we just have to accept it as fact. Verse forty adds, All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men.  We are told that there were thirty-six thousand men who were good at fighting wars and in the battles.  We want to be good at fighting the war against sin and evil in the world today if we are a part of God's family, no matter how few of us there might be.  Of course, we know that the victory has already been won