Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
1 Chronicles 9:4

Clarke's Commentary

Verse 1 Chronicles 9:4. Uthai the son of Ammihud — The list here is nearly the same with those found in Ezra and Nehemiah, and contains those who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel; but the list in Nehemiah is more ample, probably because it contains those who came afterwards. The object of the sacred writer here was to give the list of those who came first. Now the first inhabitants, &c.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

First group to return to Jerusalem (9:1-34)

At the time of writing, the first of the exiles had just returned to Jerusalem, having been given permission by the Persian king Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). The writer lists the heads of the families who returned (9:1-9). He points out that priests, Levites and temple servants also returned, to emphasize that the re-establishment of the nation Israel had to be on the basis of the religious order appointed by David before the captivity (10-16).

Just as gate-keepers were needed to guard the tabernacle and the temple in former times, so they would be needed to guard the temple in rebuilt Jerusalem (17-21). The writer records how David organized the guards’ working hours and duties in the former temple (22-27). Even everyday matters, such as the care of temple equipment and the preparation of incense, spices and sacred foods, were carefully planned and supervised (28-32). People such as musicians and singers, who were to be ready for duty any time, day or night, lived in some of the temple buildings (33-34).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

“So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. And Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their transgression. Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinem. And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh: Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah. And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the first-born, and his sons. And of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brethren, six hundred and ninety. And of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah, 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; and their brethren according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty six. All these men were heads of father’s houses by their fathers’ houses.”

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 9

You get to chapter nine and it declares,

So all of Israel was reckoned by the genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon because of their transgression ( 1 Chronicles 9:1 ).

Again God declares that the reason for the fall was their transgressions. Carried away to Babylon. And again we come back now to the priests and the descendants of the priests and the Levites and so forth. And in verse twenty-six, we are told that portion of them.

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening every morning pertained to them ( 1 Chronicles 9:26-27 ).

And so it was their duty to just live around it to protect it from vandals and so forth, and every morning to open it up and to set things out. Set out all of the instruments, the vessels for the worship, the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and all.

And in verse thirty-three we get back to the singers.

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 ( 1 Chronicles 9:33 ).

In other words, they were free from the other labors in order that day and night they may spend their whole time in just praising and worshipping the Lord. That would be quite an occupation. Quite a job. Get paid for that. Just being around, worshipping God all the time and getting paid for it.

And so then we jump to in verse thirty-five, the family of Saul again through Jonathan, the descendants of Jonathan. "

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Uthai, the son of Ammihud,.... Called Athaiah, Nehemiah 11:4 though his ancestors there are differently reckoned here; his genealogy here is traced from his father Ammihud, through Omri, Imri, Bani, Pharez, to Judah.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      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 firstborn, 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 Shephathiah, 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 threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

      1 Chronicles 9:1 looks back upon the foregoing genealogies, and tells us they were gathered out of the books of the kings of Israel and Judah, not that which we have in the canon of scripture, but another civil record, which was authentic, as the king's books with us. Mentioning Israel and Judah, the historian takes notice of their being carried away to Babylon for their transgression. Let that judgment never be forgotten, but ever be remembered, for warning to posterity to take heed of those sins that brought it upon them. Whenever we speak of any calamity that has befallen us, it is good to add this, "it was for my transgression," that God may be justified and clear when he judges. Then follows an account of the first inhabitants, after their return from captivity, that dwelt in their cities, especially in Jerusalem. 1. The Israelites. That general name is used (1 Chronicles 9:2; 1 Chronicles 9:2) because with those of Judah and Benjamin there were many of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the other ten tribes (1 Chronicles 9:3; 1 Chronicles 9:3), such as had escaped to Judah when the body of the ten tribes were carried captive or returned to Judah upon the revolutions in Assyria, and so went into captivity with them, or met them when they were in Babylon, associated with them, and so shared in the benefit of their enlargement. It was foretold that the children of Judah and of Israel should be gathered together and come up out of the land (Hosea 1:11), and that they should be one nation again, Ezekiel 37:22. Trouble drives those together that have been at variance; and the pieces of metal that had been separated will run together again when melted in the same crucible. Many both of Judah and Israel staid behind in captivity; but some of both, whose spirit God stirred up, enquired the way to Zion again. Divers are here named, and many more numbered, who were chief of the fathers (1 Chronicles 9:9; 1 Chronicles 9:9), who ought to be remembered with honour, as Israelites indeed. 2. The priests, 1 Chronicles 9:10; 1 Chronicles 9:10. It was their praise that they came with the first. Who should lead in a good work if the priests, the Lord's ministers, do not? It was the people's praise that they would not come without them; for who but the priests should keep knowledge? Who but the priests should bless them in the name of the Lord? (1.) It is said of one of them that he was the ruler of the house of God (1 Chronicles 9:11; 1 Chronicles 9:11) not the chief ruler, for Joshua was then the high priest, but the sagan, and the next under him, his deputy, who perhaps applied more diligently to the business than the high priest himself. In the house of God it is requisite that there be rulers, not to make new laws, but to take care that the laws of God be duly observed by priests as well as people. (2.) It is said of many of them that they were very able men for the service of the house of God,1 Chronicles 9:13; 1 Chronicles 9:13. In the house of God there is service to be done, constant service; and it is well for the church when those are employed in that service who are qualified for it, able ministers of the New Testament,2 Corinthians 3:6. The service of the temple was such as required at all times, especially in this critical juncture, when they had newly come out of Babylon, great courage and vigour of mind, as well as strength of body; and therefore they are praised as mighty men of valour.