The Priests and Levites who Returned

(Ezra 2:36-39)

1Now these are the priests and the Levites, that went up with Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Josue: Saraia, Jeremias, Esdras, 2Amaria, Melluch, Hattus, 3Sebenias, Rheum, Merimuth, 4Addo, Genthon, Abia, 5Miamin, Madia, Belga, 6Semeia, and Joiarib, Idaia, Sellum, Amoc, Helcias, 7Idaia. These were the chief of the priests, and of their brethren in the days of Josue.

8And the Levites, Jesua, Bennui, Cedmihel, Sarebia, Juda, Mathanias, they and their brethren were over the hymns: 9And Becbecia, and Hanni, and their brethren every one in his office.

The Succession of High Priests

10And Josue beget Joacim, and Joacim beget Eliasib, and Eliasib beget Joiada, 11And Joiada beget Jonathan, and Jonathan beget Jeddoa.

12And in the days of Joacim the priests and heads of the families were : Of Saraia, Maraia: of Jeremias, Hanania: 13Of Esdras, Mosollam: and of Amaria, Johanan: 14Of Milicho, Jonathan: of Sebenia, Joseph: 15Of Haram, Edna: of Maraioth, Helci: 16Of Adaia, Zacharia: of Genthon, Mosollam: 17Of Abia, Zechri: of Miamin and Moadia, Phelti: 18Of Belga, Sammua of Semaia, Jonathan: 19Of Joiarib, Mathanai: of Jodaia, Azzi: 20Of Sellai, Celai: of Amoc, Heber: 21Of Helcias, Hasebia: of Idaia, Nathanael.

The Chief Levites

22The Levites the chiefs of the families in the days of Eliasib, and Joiada, and Johanan, and Jeddoa, were recorded, and the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23The sons of Levi, heads of the families were written in the book of Chronicles, even unto the days of Jonathan the son of Eliasib. 24Now the chief of the Levites were Hasebia, Serebia, and Josue the son of Cedmihel: and their brethren by their courses, to praise and to give thanks ac- cording to the commandment of David the man of God, and to wait equally in order. 25Mathania, and Becbecia, Obedia, and Mosollam, Telmon, Accub, were keepers of the gates and of the entrances before the gates. 26These were in the days of Joacim the son of Josue, the son of Josedec, and in the days of Nehemias the governor, and of Esdras the priest and scribe.

Dedication of the Wall

27And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, and to keep the dedication, and to rejoice with thanksgiving, and with singing, and with cymbals, and psalteries and harps. 28And the sons of the singing men were gathered together out of the plain country about Jerusalem, and out of the villages of Nethuphati, 29And from the house of Galgal, and from the countries of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singing men had built themselves villages round about Jerusalem. 30And the priests and the Levites purified, and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

31And I made the princes of Juda go up upon the wall, and I appointed two great choirs to give praise. And they went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dunghill gate. 32And after them went Osaias, and half of the princes of Juda, 33And Azarias, Esdras, and Mosollam, 34Judas, and Benjamin, and Semeia, and Jeremias. 35And of the sons of the priests with trumpets, Zacharias the son of Jonathan. the son of Semeia, the son of Mathania; the son of Michaia, the son of Zechur, the son of Asaph, 36And his brethren Semeia, and Azareel Malalai, Galalai, Maai, Nathanael, and Judas, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God: and Esdras the scribe before them at the fountain gate. 37And they went up over against them by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall of the house of David, and to the water gate eastward:

38And the second choir of them that gave thanks went on the opposite side, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, and upon the tower of the furnaces, even to the broad wall, 39And above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Emath, and even to the flock gate: and they stood still in the watch gate. 40And the two choirs of them that gave praise stood still at the house of God, and I and the half of the magistrates with me. 41And the priests, Eliachim, Maasia, Miamin, Michea, Elioenai, Zacharia, Hanania with trumpets, 42And Maasia, and Semeia, and Eleazar, and Azzi, and Johanan, and Melchia, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sung loud, and Jezraia was their overseer: 43And they sacrificed on that day great sacrifices, and they rejoiced: for God had made them joyful with great joy: their wives also and their children rejoiced, and the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

Provisions for Temple Worship

44They appointed also in that day men over the storehouses of the treasure, for the libations, and for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, that the rulers of the city might bring them in by them in honour of thanksgiving, for the priests and Levites: for Juda was joyful in the priests and Levites that assisted. 45And they kept the watch of their God, and the observance of expiation, and the singing men, and the porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. 46For in the days of David and Asaph from the beginning there were chief singers appointed, to praise with canticles, and give thanks to God. 47And all Israel, in the days of Zorobabel, and in the days of Nehemias gave portions to the singing men, and to the porters, day by day, and they sanctified the Levites, and the Levites sanctified the sons of Aaron.