Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 9:16
Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — This verse functions as a genealogical entry in a post-exilic register of temple personnel. It names specific Levitical individuals and records their residential assignment among the Netophathite villages.
The words — The text records עֹבַדְיָה ('Oḇaḏyāh), meaning "servant of Yahweh," and chains generations using בֶּן (ben), "son of." It concludes with וּ/בֶרֶכְיָה (uḇerekhYāh), "and Berekiah," marking the end of this particular lineage entry.
The thread — The geographic marker "villages of the Netophathites" reappears in Nehemiah 12:28 as a recruitment zone for singers and in 1 Chronicles 2:54 as a territorial clan designation.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to acknowledge that sacred service and community identity were structured through documented ancestry and assigned territory rather than personal preference.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 12:28 The singers were also assembled from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,
- 1 Chronicles 2:54 The descendants of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites,
- 1 Chronicles 12:25 From Simeon: 7,100 mighty men of valor, ready for battle.
- 1 Chronicles 25:1 Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:
- 1 Chronicles 25:3 From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all—under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD.
- 1 Chronicles 25:6 All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king.
- 2 Chronicles 35:15 The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.
- Nehemiah 7:26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;
- Nehemiah 11:17 Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.