1 Chronicles 9:9 kjv
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.
1 Chronicles 9:9 nkjv
and their brethren, according to their generations?nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men were heads of a father's house in their fathers' houses.
1 Chronicles 9:9 niv
The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families.
1 Chronicles 9:9 esv
and their kinsmen according to their generations, 956. All these were heads of fathers' houses according to their fathers' houses.
1 Chronicles 9:9 nlt
These men were all leaders of clans, and they were listed in their genealogical records. In all, 956 families from the tribe of Benjamin returned.
1 Chronicles 9 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chron 8:29 | And the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, lived in Gibeon... | Direct parallel: Jeiel's connection to Gibeon. |
| 1 Chron 8:30 | his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, | Lists Jeiel's descendants, confirming lineage. |
| Gen 5:1 | This is the book of the generations of Adam. | Importance of tracing lineage. |
| Gen 10:32 | These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies.. | Genealogy of nations. |
| Num 1:2 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel... | Emphasis on tribal registration. |
| Ezra 2:59 | Some of those who came up from Tel-melah... could not prove... | Genealogy crucial for proving Israelite identity. |
| Neh 7:6 | These are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity.. | Genealogical record of returnees. |
| Neh 11:3 | Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem... | Lists those resettling Jerusalem. |
| Neh 11:4 | And in Jerusalem lived some of the people of Judah and of Benjamin. | Specific to residents of Jerusalem. |
| Josh 9:17 | The people of Israel set out and arrived at their cities on the third day; their cities were Gibeon... | Historical mention of Gibeon. |
| 2 Sam 21:2 | The king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites... | Gibeonites as a specific people group. |
| Ruth 4:11 | may the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah... | Importance of named wives in lineage. |
| Matt 1:1 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David... | Significance of genealogies for identity. |
| Lk 3:23 | Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being... the son of Joseph, the son of Heli... | Extensive lineage in the New Testament. |
| Isa 43:5 | Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, | Theme of ingathering and restoration. |
| Jer 30:18 | Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings... | Promise of national restoration and dwelling. |
| Ezra 1:3 | "Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem... | Command to return to Jerusalem after exile. |
| 1 Chron 9:1 | So all Israel were enrolled by genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. | Chronicler's focus on genealogies. |
| 1 Chron 9:3 | In Jerusalem dwelt some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim... | Immediate context of dwelling in Jerusalem. |
| Gen 12:2 | And I will make of you a great nation... and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. | God's blessing connected to specific families. |
| Acts 17:26 | And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods... | God's sovereignty over human lineages. |
| Eph 2:19 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, | Emphasizes belonging in God's household (spiritual lineage). |
1 Chronicles 9 verses
1 Chronicles 9 9 Meaning
This verse identifies Jeiel as the father (or chief) of Gibeon and names his wife as Maacah. It functions as a genealogical detail within a larger record of those who dwelt in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, affirming their identity and lineage within the restored community.
1 Chronicles 9 9 Context
This verse is found within 1 Chronicles chapter 9, which meticulously lists the inhabitants of Jerusalem following the Babylonian exile. It re-establishes the identity of the returned community by detailing who was authorized and appointed to dwell in the sacred city, reinforcing their right to the land and their place in the restored covenant people. Chapter 9 essentially serves as an inventory of those foundational families rebuilding Jerusalem and its religious services. This particular verse, identifying Jeiel and his family's connection to Gibeon, specifically refers back to the Benjamite genealogy introduced earlier in 1 Chronicles 8, confirming and repeating details for emphasis on those with legitimate ties to the area, now dwelling in the capital. The Chronicler uses these genealogies to show continuity between pre-exilic and post-exilic Israel, underscoring God's faithfulness to His promises despite the exile.
1 Chronicles 9 9 Word analysis
- and: (Hebrew: וְ - wə) A simple conjunction, connecting this genealogical entry to previous ones, indicating continuation of the list.
- Jeiel: (Hebrew: יְעִיאֵל - Ye‘î’êl) Meaning "God sweeps away" or "God has carried off." This individual is identified in 1 Chronicles 8:29-30 as a prominent ancestor from the tribe of Benjamin. The repetition in chapter 9 underscores his significance in the lineage of those who resided in Jerusalem.
- was the father of: (Hebrew: אֲבִי - ’avī, construct form of אָב - ’āv, meaning "father," "ancestor," "chief," or "founder"). This phrase, particularly in this context of genealogies relating to places, often indicates a foundational or leading figure in relation to a specific location or clan, not necessarily a literal biological son named Gibeon. It signifies his patriarchal authority or primary role in Gibeon's establishment or tribal headship.
- Gibeon: (Hebrew: גִּבְעוֹן - Gib‘ôn) A significant ancient Canaanite city within the tribal territory of Benjamin. Its people made a deceptive treaty with Joshua (Joshua 9), becoming perpetual servants to Israel. Here, it refers to Jeiel's connection as a leader or progenitor associated with this important Benjaminite city. The phrase "father of Gibeon" emphasizes Jeiel's role as a major progenitor or principal family head of Gibeon's inhabitants.
- and his wife's name was: (Hebrew: וְשֵׁם אִשְׁתּוֹ - wəšēm ’išto) Standard genealogical notation. The inclusion of the wife's name emphasizes the specific branch of the family line, adding precision and authenticity to the record, which was crucial for tribal land claims and communal identity.
- Maacah: (Hebrew: מַעֲכָה - Ma‘akâ) A female personal name, meaning "oppression" or "to press down." While various women named Maacah appear in the Bible (e.g., Absalom's mother, Rehoboam's mother), this specific Maacah's significance here is primarily her role in identifying Jeiel's family lineage. No further symbolic or theological weight is usually attached to her individual name in this specific context beyond establishing accurate lineage.
1 Chronicles 9 9 Bonus section
The detailed genealogical entries, including figures like Jeiel and his wife Maacah, reflect the Chronicler's primary concern for establishing the unbroken continuity of the Israelite community, even after the trauma of the exile. This emphasis contrasts sharply with foreign populations whose lineage in the land was undefined or impure. The act of listing specific individuals and their familial ties served not merely as a historical record, but as a statement of legitimacy and covenantal inclusion. This precision was crucial for distinguishing "true Israel" from others in the complex social and political landscape of the post-exilic province of Judah. The Chronicler uses these repeated genealogies to instruct his audience that their identity and right to live in the land were rooted in their historical lineage connected to God’s covenant promises.
1 Chronicles 9 9 Commentary
1 Chronicles 9:9 offers a concise, yet vital, piece of genealogical information. It details Jeiel, a significant figure of Gibeon, and his wife Maacah, reinforcing the meticulous records kept by the Chronicler. For the post-exilic community, such precise genealogies were paramount. They provided legal validation for land inheritance, affirmed tribal identities, ensured proper participation in Temple service (especially for priests and Levites), and re-established communal boundaries. The phrase "father of Gibeon" likely signifies Jeiel's patriarchal leadership or his role as a progenitor of the clan connected to this specific Benjaminite city. This entry, alongside others in the chapter, meticulously reconstructs the "true Israel"—those legitimate families who returned to resettle and rebuild Jerusalem after the seventy-year exile, affirming God's faithfulness to His people through their renewed presence in the covenant land. The detail, though seemingly minor, underpins the broader theological purpose of Chronicles: hope, identity, and the importance of adhering to divine order and heritage in the post-exilic restoration.