1 Chronicles 23 10

1 Chronicles 23:10 kjv

And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

1 Chronicles 23:10 nkjv

And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These were the four sons of Shimei.

1 Chronicles 23:10 niv

And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei?four in all.

1 Chronicles 23:10 esv

And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

1 Chronicles 23:10 nlt

Four other descendants of Shimei were Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah.

1 Chronicles 23 verses

1 Chronicles 23 10 Meaning

This verse identifies four individuals: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah, explicitly stating they are the sons of Shimei. It is part of a detailed enumeration of the Levitical families and their specific divisions, which King David organized before his death for service in the tabernacle and, prospectively, the Temple to be built by Solomon. The meticulous recording of these names highlights the importance of precise genealogy for legitimizing roles in sacred service and establishing order within the priestly and Levitical ranks for the future worship of God.

1 Chronicles 23 10 Context

The verse 1 Chronicles 23:10 is embedded within a significant passage detailing King David's preparations for the construction of the Temple and the organized sacred service that would take place within it. Chapters 23-26 specifically outline the divisions and duties of the Levites and priests. David, nearing the end of his reign, is ensuring a seamless transition and a meticulously ordered system for worship, recognizing that the Levites would no longer need to transport the tabernacle (as it would be replaced by a stationary Temple). Thus, he reorganizes their duties from being burden-bearers to liturgical administrators, musicians, gatekeepers, and temple servants. This specific verse lists four sons of Shimei, part of the broader enumeration of Levitical families necessary for assigning them to their respective roles in this grand reorganization, demonstrating the careful attention paid to lineage and function in God's ordered worship. The emphasis on detailed genealogies in 1 Chronicles (a book largely written for the post-exilic community) provided a vital connection to the past, assuring the legitimacy of their lineage and the continuity of the covenant promises for those returning to Judah. This detailed list implicitly contrasts with foreign cultic practices which lacked such strict lineage requirements, highlighting the unique, divinely ordained order of Israelite worship.

1 Chronicles 23 10 Word analysis

• And the sons of: (וּבְנֵי, u·və·nê)
  • Significance: The prefix "u" (ו) means "and," linking this family to the preceding genealogical lists. "Sons" (בְּנֵי, bənê, from בֵּן, ben, "son") fundamentally emphasizes lineage, family, and inheritance. In the context of the Levites, precise paternity and descent were paramount for legitimacy and the assignment of specific, inherited religious duties within the sanctuary, ensuring continuity and authority. This highlights a key aspect of ancient Israelite societal structure, especially within the sacred realm, where roles were not open to all but confined to specific hereditary lines.
• Shimei; (שִׁמְעִי, šimʿî)
  • Meaning: The name Shimei means "My renown," "Famed," or "Hearer." While there were several individuals named Shimei in the Bible (most notably from the tribe of Benjamin, related to Saul, who cursed David), this particular Shimei is a Levite, a grandson of Gershom and son of Levi, and head of a prominent Levitical family. His lineage within Levi is what grants his descendants a place in this sacred organizational structure.
• Jahath, (יַחַת, yaḥat)
  • Meaning: Means "He will snatch away" or "union/joined." This is a name that appears in other Levitical lists (e.g., 1 Chr 6:20, 43; 2 Chr 34:12), indicating common Levitical names or branches related by descent or function, reinforcing the integrity and tradition of Levitical lines.
• Zina, (וְזִינָא, və·zî·nā)
  • Meaning: The precise meaning is debated, possibly related to "wealth" or "richness." It is noted by scholars that in some versions or textual traditions, and in 1 Chr 23:11 for another Shimei (from Jaziz), the name appears as Ziza (זִיזָה, zîzāh), suggesting a potential scribal variant or a closely related form. In the Masoretic Text of 1 Chr 23:10, it is clearly "Zina." This underscores the care and challenges involved in preserving exact genealogies over generations.
• and Jeush, (וְיֵעוּשׁ, və·yê·‘ûš)
  • Meaning: Likely means "he will haste" or "he will gather." This name also appears elsewhere in Davidic and Israelite genealogies (e.g., 1 Chr 7:10; 8:39), though specific identification across different lineages cannot be assumed without further context.
• and Beriah: (וּבְרִיעָה, u·və·rî·‘â)
  • Meaning: The meaning is debated, with possibilities including "in evil," "with a friend," or "a gift." Beriah is a relatively common biblical name (e.g., in Ephraim, Benjamin), indicating that this was a recognized personal name even outside Levitical circles.
• these four were the sons of Shimei. (אֵלֶּה הֵם בְּנֵי שִׁמְעִי לְאַרְבָּעָה׃ ’êl·leh hêm bə·nê šim·‘î lə·’ar·bā·‘āh.)
  • Words-group analysis: This phrase acts as a precise summation, emphatically stating the number of Shimei's sons as four. The Hebrew "לְאַרְבָּעָה" (lĕʾarbaʿāh) explicitly reinforces "four." This repeated confirmation serves to validate the meticulous accuracy of the genealogical record, crucial for the administrative division of duties within the Levites, where the exact number of able-bodied men within each family determined their quota for various tasks in the temple service. It underscores the order, legitimacy, and comprehensive nature of David's preparations for temple worship.

1 Chronicles 23 10 Bonus section

The meticulous recording of genealogies in 1 Chronicles, as exemplified by this verse, held profound importance for the post-exilic community for whom the book was primarily intended. After years in Babylon, many records had been lost or forgotten. Re-establishing the purity of family lines, especially for the priests and Levites, was crucial for reaffirming their identity as God's covenant people and restoring proper Temple worship. This level of detail in 1 Chronicles provided a theological assurance of continuity and God's faithfulness to His covenant, demonstrating that even seemingly insignificant names contributed to the larger divine plan of maintaining His worship through specific, chosen lines. It solidified their identity and assured their inheritance rights and sacred duties upon returning to the land.

1 Chronicles 23 10 Commentary

1 Chronicles 23:10 serves as a succinct entry within the detailed record of Levitical families organized by King David. It is not about grand theology or dramatic events, but its significance lies in its mundane yet vital function: establishing and legitimizing the order of service in God's worship. By precisely naming four sons of Shimei (Jahath, Zina, Jeush, Beriah) and explicitly stating their direct lineage, the Chronicler emphasizes the essential nature of accurate genealogy for the divine order established for the Temple. This precise record ensured that roles within the sacred worship were filled by those of divinely appointed heritage, preserving the integrity and sanctity of their service, and guarding against arbitrary appointments, in contrast to the worship practices of surrounding pagan nations. It reflects God's character as a God of order, laying the groundwork for Solomon's Temple.