1 Chronicles 9:2
New International Version
Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.

New Living Translation
The first of the exiles to return to their property in their former towns were priests, Levites, Temple servants, and other Israelites.

English Standard Version
Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.

Berean Standard Bible
Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

King James Bible
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

New King James Version
And the first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and the Nethinim.

New American Standard Bible
Now the first inhabitants who lived on their own property in their cities were people of Israel, including the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.

NASB 1995
Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites and the temple servants.

NASB 1977
Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites and the temple servants.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.

Amplified Bible
Now the first [of the returned exiles] who lived [again] in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim (temple servants).

Christian Standard Bible
The first to live in their towns on their own property again were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The first to live in their towns on their own property again were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

American Standard Version
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.

Contemporary English Version
And the first people to return to their towns included priests, Levites, temple workers, and other Israelites.

English Revised Version
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The first to settle again on their property in their own cities were [some] Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.

Good News Translation
The first to return to their property in the cities included Israelite citizens, priests, Levites, and Temple workers.

International Standard Version
The first to settle on their own property in their own towns of Israel were priests, descendants of Levi, and the Temple Servants.

Majority Standard Bible
Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

NET Bible
The first to resettle on their property and in their cities were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

New Heart English Bible
Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

World English Bible
Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the first inhabitants, who [are] in their possession, in their cities, of Israel, [are] the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.

Young's Literal Translation
And the first inhabitants, who are in their possession, in their cities, of Israel, are the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the first inhabitants which were in their possession in their cities, Israel the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinims.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now the first that dwelt in their possessions, and in their cities, were the Israelites, and the priests, and the Levites, and the Nathineans.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the first who lived in their possessions and in their cities were Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, and the temple servants.

New American Bible
The first to settle again in their cities and dwell there were certain Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.

New Revised Standard Version
Now the first to live again in their possessions in their towns were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now the first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the proselytes.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And those who were first in their inheritance and in their cities: Israel and the Priests and the Levites and the Proselytes.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they that dwelt before in their possessions in the cities of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the appointed ones.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People of Jerusalem
1So all Israel was recorded in the genealogies written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. But Judah was exiled to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. 2Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants. 3These were some of the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem:…

Cross References
Ezra 2:70
So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, along with some of the people, settled in their own towns; and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.

Nehemiah 7:73
So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns.

Nehemiah 11:3
These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—

Ezra 1:5
So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—prepared to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 11:1-2
Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns. / And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

Ezra 2:1
Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,

Nehemiah 7:6
These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,

Nehemiah 11:20
The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.

Ezra 6:16-17
Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. / For the dedication of the house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and a sin offering for all Israel of twelve male goats, one for each tribe of Israel.

Nehemiah 12:1
Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

Matthew 1:17
In all, then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

Luke 2:36-38
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, / and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. / Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Acts 2:5
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

Romans 11:1
I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

Philippians 3:5
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;


Treasury of Scripture

Now the first inhabitants that dwelled in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

A.

Ezra 2:70
So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Nehemiah 7:73
So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Nehemiah 11:3
Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.

the Nethinims

Joshua 9:21-27
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them…

Ezra 2:43,58
The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, …

Ezra 8:20
Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.

Jump to Previous
Cities Dwell Dwelt First Heritage Inhabitants Israel Israelites Levites Nethinim Nethinims Possession Possessions Priests Property Resettle Servants Temple Towns
Jump to Next
Cities Dwell Dwelt First Heritage Inhabitants Israel Israelites Levites Nethinim Nethinims Possession Possessions Priests Property Resettle Servants Temple Towns
1 Chronicles 9
1. The original of Israel and Judah's genealogies
2. The Israelites
10. The priests
14. and the Levites, with Nethinims, who dwelt in Jerusalem
27. The charge of certain Levites
35. The stock of Saul and Jonathan














Now the first to resettle
This phrase marks a significant moment in Israel's history, referring to the return of the exiles from Babylonian captivity. The Hebrew root for "resettle" is "yashab," which means to dwell or inhabit. This indicates not just a physical return but a re-establishment of community and worship. The return was a fulfillment of God's promise to restore His people, highlighting His faithfulness and the importance of obedience and repentance.

on their own property
The phrase emphasizes the restoration of ancestral lands, which were deeply tied to identity and covenant promises. The Hebrew word "nachalah" refers to an inheritance or possession, underscoring the divine allotment of land to the tribes of Israel. This return to their "own property" symbolizes a renewal of God's covenant and a restoration of the social and spiritual order intended by God.

in their own towns
This highlights the re-establishment of local governance and community life. The Hebrew word "ayar" for towns indicates a place of habitation and social structure. The return to "their own towns" signifies a restoration of normalcy and the rebuilding of society according to God's design, where each tribe and family had its place and role.

were some Israelites
The term "Israelites" refers to the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel. This return was not just for a select few but for the nation as a whole, emphasizing unity and collective identity. The return of the Israelites signifies the re-gathering of God's chosen people, a theme that resonates with the hope of ultimate restoration and unity in Christ.

priests
The priests, or "kohanim" in Hebrew, were essential for the spiritual leadership and sacrificial system of Israel. Their return was crucial for the re-establishment of temple worship and the maintenance of the covenant relationship with God. This highlights the importance of spiritual leadership and the centrality of worship in the life of God's people.

Levites
The Levites, from the tribe of Levi, were responsible for assisting the priests and maintaining the temple. Their inclusion in the return underscores the importance of service and support roles in the worship and community life of Israel. The Levites' return signifies the restoration of proper worship practices and the functioning of the temple, which was central to Israel's identity.

and temple servants
The "temple servants," or "Nethinim," were a group assigned to assist the Levites in the temple. Their presence highlights the collaborative effort required to restore and maintain the temple services. This phrase underscores the value of every role in the community of faith, reminding us that all service to God is significant and necessary for the flourishing of His people.

Verse 2. - Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions, in their cities. Authorities are very divided as to whether this expression describes inhabitants of the land before the Captivity or subsequent to it. Almost all the older authorities, and Keil amongst those of more modern date, take the former position; Movers, Bertheau, and others take the latter, as also Canon Rawlinson ('Speaker's Commentary,' 3:157, 211). It must be admitted that there is some obscurity, and which accounts for the contrariety of opinion. But obscurity and contrariety notwithstanding, a comparison of vers. 2 and 3 with Nehemiah 11:1-4: produces two impressions almost irresistible, viz. that the difficulty is occasioned by some comparatively slight corruption or mutilation in our ver. 2; and that, whatever the reference is in Nehemiah 11:1-4 (and there is no ambiguity there), that it is in the present passage. The fourfold classification intends the Israel people (Isaiah 24:2; Hosea 4:9), the priests, the Levites, the Nethinims, i.e. those given as helpers of the priests, bond-men of the temple (Numbers 8:18, 19; Numbers 31:47; Ezra 2:40-48; Ezra 8:17, 20). Not before the time of the return does the name Nethinim seem to have crystallized upon this class of helpers, the explanation of which may possibly be that their numbers and their services then became so much more necessary. To this classification is added in Nehemiah 11:3, "And the children of Solomon's servants" (Ezra 2:55).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now the first
הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים (hā·ri·šō·nîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

to resettle
וְהַיּוֹשְׁבִים֙ (wə·hay·yō·wō·šə·ḇîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

their own property
בַּאֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם (ba·’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 272: Something seized, a possession

in their cities
בְּעָרֵיהֶ֑ם (bə·‘ā·rê·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

were Israelites,
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

priests,
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

Levites,
הַלְוִיִּ֖ם (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

and temple servants.
וְהַנְּתִינִֽים׃ (wə·han·nə·ṯî·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5411: The Nethinim, Temple-servants


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 9:2 Now the first inhabitants who lived (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
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