South Side for Life
- This chapter begins with a reminder that Judah and Benjamin's tribes ruled in the Southern Kingdom of Judah until about 587 BCE when the Babylonian Empire rolled into Jerusalem and exiled the Judeans to Babylon.
- Luckily for Israel, in 538 BCE the Persians took over and let everyone come back home thanks to King Cyrus.
- The author tells us that folks from Judah and Benjamin's tribes lived in Jerusalem.
- But he also says that some strays from Ephraim and Manasseh's tribes found their way there, too.
- The Chronicler then goes on to name all kinds of other important classes of people. Priests that served in the tabernacle and later the Temple. And Levites who performed all kinds of different religious duties.
- Gatekeepers stand watch at the walls of the city and guard the tent that covered the tabernacle. David and the prophet Samuel gave these guys their jobs.
- Other important jobs include taking care of all the religious utensils and furniture and food in the tabernacle. And the singers. Can't worship God properly without music.
- The Chronicler ends with one last genealogy that's all about King Saul. Remember, he was the very first king of Israel and, even though he wasn't all that great at his job, a king is still a king. Attention must be paid.