1 Judá foi exilado para Babilónia porque o povo prestou culto a ídolos.2 Os primeiros a regressar e a viver novamente nas suas antigas povoações foram famílias do reino de Israel, e também os sacerdotes, os levitas e os ajudantes do templo.3 Depois algumas famílias das tribos de Judá, Benjamim, Efraim e Manassés voltaram a Jerusalém.4 Uma delas foi a de Utai (filho de Amiúde, neto de Omri, bisneto de Imri e trineto de Bani), do clã de Perez (filho de Judá).5 Os silonitas foram outras dessas famílias, os quais incluíam Asaías, filho mais velho de Silom, com os seus descendentes; havia também os filhos de Zera, que incluíam Jeuel e seus parentes: 690 ao todo.7 Entre os membros da tribo de Benjamim que regressaram contaram-se: Salú (o filho de Mesulão, neto de Hodavias e bisneto de Hassenua); Ibnéias (filho de Jeroão); Elá (filho de Uzi, neto de Micri); Mesulão (filho de Sefatias, neto de Reuel e bisneto de Ibnijas).9 Todos estes eram chefes de sub-clãs. O total dos benjamitas foi de 956.10 Os sacerdotes que regressaram foram: Jedaías, Jeoiaribe, Jaquim, Azarias (filho de Hilquias, neto de Mesulão, bisneto de Zadoque, trineto de Meraiote e descendente de Aitube). Era ele o guarda-mor do templo.12 Outro sacerdote a regressar foi Adaías (filho de Jeorão, neto de Pasur, bisneto de Malquija). Outra ainda foi Maasai (filho de Adiel, neto de Jazerá, bisneto de Mesulão, trineto de Mesilemite e descendente de Imer).13 Foram ao todo 1.760 sacerdotes a regressar.14 Entre os levitas que regressaram contava-se Semaías (filho de Hassube, neto de Azricão, bisneto de Hasabia, descendente de Merari).15 Outros levitas a regressar foram: Baquebacar, Heres, Galal, Matanias (filho de Mica, neto de Zicri, bisneto de Asafe); Obadias (filho de Semaías, neto de Galal, bisneto de Jedutun); Berequias (filho de Asa, neto de Elcana, que vivia na área dos netofatitas).17 Os porteiros foram Salum o chefe, Acube, Talmom e Aimã - todos levitas. São ainda responsáveis pela porta do Rei oriental. A ascendência de Salum passava por Core, por Ebiasafe, até Coré. Tanto ele, como os seus parentes mais próximos, os coraitas, tinham o cargo dos sacrifícios e a protecção do santuário, tal como os seus antepassados tinham feito, administrando e guardando o tabernáculo. Finéias, filho de Eleazar, foi o primeiro responsável por este sector nos tempos antigos. E o Senhor foi com ele.21 Nesse tempo Zacarias, filho de Meselemias, tinha sido responsável pela protecção da entrada do tabernáculo. Havia 212 porteiros nesses dias. Eram escolhidos nas suas povoações, de acordo com as suas genealogias, e nomeados por Samuel e por David, conforme a confiança que mereciam.23 Tanto eles como os seus descendentes ficaram assim com o cargo do tabernáculo do Senhor.24 Foram-lhe atribuídos cada um dos quatro lados: este, oeste, norte e sul. E os seus parentes nas povoações serviam com eles, de tempos a tempos, durante sete dias de cada vez.26 Os quatro chefes dos porteiros, todos levitas, tinham um ofício de grande confiança, pois tinham à sua responsabilidade as dependências e os tesouros do tabernáculo de Deus. Por causa das suas importantes posições viviam perto do tabernáculo, e em cada manhã tinham que abrir os portões. Alguns deles foram designados para cuidar dos recipientes usados nos sacrifícios e nos actos de adoração; de cada vez que eram utilizados, antes e depois tinham de contá-los e verificá-los, para evitar qualquer perda. Outros eram responsáveis pelo mobiliário, pelas peças de santuário e pelo fornecimento de farinha fina, vinho, incenso e especiarias.30 Outros sacerdotes tinham a função de preparar as especiarias e o incenso.31 E Matitias (um levita, filho mais velho de Salum o coraita) foi responsabilizado pela confecção dos bolos para as ofertas de cereais.32 Alguns dos membros do clã de Coate deviam preparar o pão especial de cada sábado.33 Todos os cantores eram proeminentes levitas. Vivam em Jerusalém no templo e estavam sempre de serviço. Estavam isentos de outras responsabilidades e tinham sido seleccionados pelas suas genealogias.38 Este último, Miclote, vivia com o seu filho Simeão em Jerusalém, perto dos seus familiares.39 Ner foi pai de Cis; Cis foi pai de Saul; Saul foi pai de Jónatas, de Malquisua, de Abinadabe e de Esbaal.40 Jónatas foi pai de Mefibosete; Mefibosete foi pai de Mica; Mica foi pai de Pitom, de Meleque, de Tarea e de Acaz.42 Acaz foi pai de Jaera; Jaera foi pai de Alemete, de Azmavete e de Zimri; Zimri foi pai de Moza.43 Moza foi pai de Binea, de Refaías, de Eleasá e de Azel.44 Azel teve seis filhos: Azricã, Boqueru, Ismael, Searias, Obadias e Hanã.

1 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.2 Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.3 And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;4 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.5 And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the first-born, and his sons.6 And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.7 And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,8 And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;9 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.10 And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,11 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;12 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;13 And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and sixty; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.14 And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;16 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.17 And the porters were Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;18 Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.19 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.20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.22 All these who 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 ordained in their set office.23 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.24 In four quarters were the porters, towards the east, west, north and south.25 And their brethren, who were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.26 For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.27 And they lodged about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening of it every morning pertained to them.28 And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by number.29 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.30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the first-born of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.32 And others of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show-bread, to prepare it every sabbath.33 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.34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.35 And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:36 And his first-born son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,37 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.38 And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.39 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.40 And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal: and Merib-baal begat Micah.41 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.42 And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;43 And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.44 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.