sign in sign up
<<
Home , Abishua, Ahimaaz, Ahitub, Azariah (High Priest), Bukki, Burnt offering (Judaism)

Discipleship Seminars (DS) presents … Chronicles: Temple and Kings

Seminar 3: The Genealogies of the Priests and the

Personal Data Protection Act: This session is filmed and uploaded onto the Grace Baptist Church (GBC) website for private use by church members. By attending the class, you are giving us consent to film you.1

(1) INTRODUCTION TO CHRONICLES

The book of Chronicles can be divided into two major sections:

1.1 Section 1 (1 Chr. 1:1—9:34)

This section can be framed into three major sections:

A. “Creation” Adam to (1 Chr. 1:1-54)

B. All Israel (1 Chr. 2:1—9:1a)  Section boundary markers: 1 Chr. 2:1; 9:1  Internal Structure: Judah (2:3—4:23) Other tribes: Si., Re., Ga., Ma. (4:24—5:26) Levites (6:1-81) Other tribes: Is., Be., Na., Ma., Ep., As. (7:1-40) (8:1—9:1a)

C. “Re-Creation”: Return to (1 Chr. 9:1b-34)

In the last two sessions, you have already cover 1 Chr. 1—4 in some detail. In this session, we will look at two more set of texts: (a) the Levitical genealogy in 1 Chr. 6:1-53 (at the centre of the “All Israel” section) and (b) the “re-creation” section in 1 Chr. 9:1b-34.

1.2 Section 2 (1 Chr. 9:35—2 Chr. 36:31)

This second section is about the line of kings in Jerusalem from the beginning () to the exile (). As such, it has a linear structure.

Text “Topic” Line of Kings 1 Chr. 9:35 — 10:14 Line of Benjamin {Genealogy of Saul}  Saul 1 Chr. 11:1 — 2 Chr. 9:31 Line of Judah  2 Chr. 10:1 — 28:27 Divided Kingdom  Rehoboam  Abijah  Asa  Jehoshaphat  (Focus on Southern Jehoram  Ahaziah  Athaliah   Kingdom) Amaziah   Jotham  2 Chr. 29:1 — 36:21 Only Southern  Hezekiah   Amon   Kingdom remains Jehoahaz  Jehoiakim  Jehoiachin  Zedekiah 2 Chr. 36:22-31 Cyrus’ decree -

In the following session, we will focus on 1 Chr. 9:35—10:14 (Saul’s genealogy and story) while also understanding the broad narrative sweep on the entire second section as well.

1 If you are not comfortable being recorded, please inform the videographer and he will omit you from the final video that will be uploaded.

Page 1 of 9 (2) LEVITICAL GENEALOGIES (1 CHR. 6:1-81; 9:1B-34)

2.1 What are genealogies for?

Socrates: “What are the subjects that the Spartans gladly hear from you?” Hippias: “They listen with the greatest pleasure to the genealogies of their heroes and men, to the settlement of tribes, and how cities were founded of old and, in a word, to everything concerning antiquarian knowledge.”2

We are often challenged in reading biblical genealogies. One reason is that we may not know what they are written for (“purpose”). After all, if they are merely family trees, what can they tell us? In fact, genealogies, as understood through the ancient mind, are capable of telling us a great many things. There are a great many functions that a genealogy can perform3:

1. ______(e.g. dating; census)(e.g. Numbers);

2. Link different stories together (e.g. Genesis);

3. Demonstrate the impact of a historical event by tracing its impact (e.g. Ruth);

4. Help its readers understand their present relationships to other ______groups, by understanding their past historical relationships (e.g. Genesis);

5. ______an individual in the “present-day” by linking that individual back to important ancestors (e.g. Matthew: Jesus to );

6. Establish the ethnic purity of a person/community (e.g. );

7. Assert the continuity of a community through a disastrous time (e.g. Chronicles);

8. Express God’s sovereignty in a divinely arranged plan (e.g. Genesis);

9. Express a theological view of an individual (e.g. Luke: Jesus to “Son of God”);

10. etc

This, however, may lead us to our next question:

Since genealogies can do so many things, and since a single genealogy certainly cannot be doing all of the above, how can we know what each of the genealogies are for?

We can try to answer this question by using two inter-related Reading Skills:

1. Careful observation; 2. Asking helpful questions of the text;

These two skills are related, since we observe a text carefully when we know how to ask good questions of it. We will see and practise these skills as we read 1 Chr. 6:1-53 in the next section.

2 Gary Knoppers, I Chronicles 1-9, Anchor Bible Commentary (New York, N.Y.: Anchor Bible, 2004), 245. 3 Adapted from, with additions and amendments from me, from Marshall D. Johnson, The Purpose of the Biblical Genealogies with Special Reference to the Setting of the Genealogies of Jesus: (Eugene, Or.: Wipf & Stock, 2002). Cited in Andrew E. Hill, 1 & 2 Chronicles (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2003), 61.

Page 2 of 9

2.2 A Reading of 1 Chr. 6:1-53

1 Chr. 6:1-15 (NIV) Notes

6 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 3 The children of Amram: , and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, and . 4 Eleazar was the father of , Phinehas the father of , 5 Abishua the father of , Bukki the father of , 6 Uzzi the father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah the father of Meraioth, 7 Meraioth the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of , 8 Ahitub the father of , Zadok the father of , 9 Ahimaaz the father of , Azariah the father of , 10 Johanan the father of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem), 11 Azariah the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, 12 Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of , 13 Shallum the father of , Hilkiah the father of Azariah, 14 Azariah the father of , and Seraiah the father of Jozadak. 15 Jozadak was deported when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

Some questions:  What kind of genealogy is this: l______d______genealogy

 Who does the genealogy start and end with?

 Who are some of the key figures highlighted? (How do we know when a figure is “highlighted”?)

 What is the purpose of this genealogy?

Page 3 of 9 1 Chr.6:16-30 (NIV) Notes

16 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers: 20 Of Gershon: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son and Jeatherai his son. 22 The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son and Shaul his son. 25 The descendants of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth, 26 Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son and Samuel his son. 28 The sons of Samuel: Joel the and Abijah the second son. 29 The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son and Asaiah his son.

Some questions:  What kind of genealogy is this: s______d______genealogy

 Who does the genealogy start and end with?

 Who are some of the key figures highlighted? (How do we know when a figure is “highlighted”?)

 What is the purpose of this genealogy?

Page 4 of 9 1 Chr. 6:31-47 (NIV) Notes

31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered with music before the , the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.

33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons:

From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, 34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, 35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel;

39 and Heman’s associate Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea, 40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malkijah, 41 the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, 43 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon, the son of Levi;

44 and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand: Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluk, 45 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, 46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, 47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

Some questions:  What kind of genealogy is this: s______a______genealogy

 What is different about this genealogy compared with the two others?

 Who does the genealogy start and end with?

Page 5 of 9  Who are some of the key figures highlighted? (How do we know when a figure is “highlighted”?)

 What is the purpose of this genealogy?

1 Chr. 6:48-53 (NIV) Notes

48 Their fellow Levites were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God. 49 But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the of and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

50 These were the descendants of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son and Ahimaaz his son.

Your turn: What questions can you ask of this genealogy?

Practice : Read 1 Chr. 9:35-44, practising the questions that you have learned to ask today. How is this text related (if at all) to 1 Chr. 8:1-40? Why do most scholars think that the introductory genealogies end at 1 Chr. 9:34, and not 1 Chr. 9:44?

More Practice : Read the other genealogies in 1 Chr. 1:1—9:34 and make sense of them.

Page 6 of 9 (3) WHY EMPHASISE THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES?

1 Chr. 9:1b-44 (NIV) Notes

1b [Judah was] taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. 2 Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some , priests, Levites and temple servants. 3 Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were:

4 Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah. 5 Of the Shelanites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. 6 Of the Zerahites: Jeuel. The people from Judah numbered 690.

7 Of the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah; 8 Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah. 9 The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah; ; Jakin; 11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God; 12 Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer. 13 The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God.

14 Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite; 15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniahson of Mika, the son of Zikri, the son of Asaph; 16 Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

17 The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief 18 being stationed at the King’s Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. 19 Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their ancestors had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD. 20 In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

22 Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. 23 They and their descendants Page 7 of 9 were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the tent of meeting. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. 25 Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods. 26 But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. 27 They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.

28 Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. 29 Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices. 30 But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices. 31 A named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread. 32 Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.

33 Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.

34 All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem. 35 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maakah, 36 and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem. 39 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of , Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal. 40 The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal, who was the father of Micah. 41 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melek, Tahrea and Ahaz. 42 Ahaz was the father of Jadah, Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza. 43 Moza was the father of Binea; Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son. 44 Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, , Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

Key Context

So the picture that we see from 1 Chr. 9 is that post-exilic Israel has three dominant tribes: Judah, Benjamin, and the Levites. Special attention is given to Levites carefully playing different roles (esp. gatekeepers). This reminds us of an important consideration:

Post-exilic Yehud (province) is ______different from pre-exilic Judah.

Most critically, the Davidic dynasty is no longer a strong force (Zerubabbel?). Instead, the Levites (priests, singers, gatekeepers etc) are now the dominant leadership force, cf. Ezra. However, what links both the kingship and the priests is the institution of the temple  we will see more of this next week.

Page 8 of 9 Takeaways4

There are a number of key takeaways for the original readers of 1 Chronicles 6/9:

A1. The genealogies remind postexilic Yehud that the institution of the ______and its practices remain central to the worshipful life of the Jewish community, cf. 2 Chr. 36:11-23. It calls them to proper worship.

B1. The genealogies show that the Levites (priests, singers, gatekeepers etc) legitimately serve as ______of temple worship (faithfulness; lineage to Levi/Aaron) and as ______in post-exilic Yehud, due to it being a Davidic (kingly) institution.

Relevance to Us Today

A2. The Church’s genealogy (Heb. 11:1—12:2) reminds us that we are the ______temple and our practices remain central to the worshipful life of the Christian community (Heb. 12:3—13:17). We are called to proper worship (Heb. 13:15-17).

B2. Jesus’ genealogy shows that He legitimately serves as both ______and ______:  It has a better lineage (Heb. 7:1-14) – Melchizedek and Judah;  It is enduring (Heb. 7:23-24);  It is more effective (Heb. 7:25-27).  We respond to legitimate authority by submission.

Recommended Commentary Andrew E. Hill. 1 & 2 Chronicles. NIV Application Commentary (NIVAC) Series. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2003.

The NIVAC commentary series is inconsistent in its quality, with some volumes much weaker than others. The commentary on 1 & 2 Chronicles is one of the better volumes which takes into account much of the latest scholarship while tying the insights of the book to meaningful application within the church. Andrew E. Hill is Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, Illinois.

Access to Notes/Videos. All notes and videos are available online at: http://english.gracebaptistchurch.sg/ dsmaterials. The password for the videos can be obtained from any DS team member. Access to restricted areas is for GBC members and DS attendees only.

4 Adapted, with changes, from Hill, 1 & 2 Chronicles, 142–43.

Page 9 of 9