What Does 1 Chronicles 9:12 Mean?

(12) **And Adaiah the son of Jeroham.**—Nehemiah 11:12 runs: “And their brethren, doers of the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashur, son of Malchijah.” Thus the line of Adaiah as given there exactly corresponds with the present passage, save that it inserts three names here wanting between Jerobam and Pashur: another illustration of the freedom of the compiler in dealing with these lists. **Malchijah** was the fifth of the twenty-four priestly classes. **Maasiai the son of Adiel . . . son of Immer.**—Immer was the sixteenth course of the priests. The parallel (Nehemiah 11:13) reads: “And his brethren, heads of clans, 242; and Amashsai son of Azareel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, and their brethren, mighty men of valour, 128; and their overseer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.” Amashsai and Maasiai are variants of the same name, and perhaps both bad spellings of Amasai (1Chronicles 6:35; 1Chronicles 12:18). Adiel may well be a mistake for Azareel. Jahzerah and Ahzai are evidently two forms of one name, Ahzai,—Ahaziah being perhaps more correct. Meshullam in our line is either an additional link, or a copyist’s anticipation of part of the following name. The line in Nehemiah is therefore originally identical with the present. 1Chronicles 9:10-12 show that at the date of the present register three entire courses of the priests, and two clans representing two other courses, as well as the ruler or president of the Temple, dwelt in Jerusalem.