1 Chronicles 9:3

Some of the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem:

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The chronicler addresses post-exilic Israel, recording the repopulation of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. The narrative shifts from a general list of returning groups to specific tribal families who physically resettled the city.

The words — The text records יָשְׁבּוּ (yāšəḇû), meaning "they dwelt," and בְּנֵי (bəṇê), meaning "descendants of." These terms ground the account in concrete habitation and genealogical continuity rather than abstract loyalty.

The thread — The chronicler parallels Nehemiah 11:1 and 11:4, which describe the casting of lots and the settlement of Judah and Benjamin families in Jerusalem. It also aligns with 2 Chronicles 11:16, where Israelites who sought the Lord followed the Levites to Jerusalem.

Why it lands — The passage requires readers to acknowledge that Jerusalem's restoration depended on specific tribal lineages physically returning and establishing residence. It demands an understanding that covenant community identity was preserved through documented genealogy and territorial settlement.

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

וּבִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙u./vi./ru.sha.Limand/ in/ Jerusalem יָשְׁב֔וּya.she.Vuthey dwelt מִן־min-some of בְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei[the] descendants of יְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahJudah וּמִן־u./min-and/ some of בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] descendants of בִנְיָמִ֑ןvin.ya.MinBenjamin וּמִן־u./min-and/ some of בְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei[the] descendants of אֶפְרַ֖יִם'ef.Ra.yimEphraim וּמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃u./me.na.Shehand/ Manasseh

King James Version

And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;

Cross-references

Nehemiah 11:1 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns.
Nehemiah 11:4 while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.) From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez;
2 Chronicles 11:16 Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
2 Chronicles 30:11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

People named

JudahBenjaminManassehEphraim

Places named

Jerusalem