1 Chronicles 7 continues with the genealogies. There is a description of a battle between Gath and the household of Ephraim. The people of Gath killed Ephraim’s sons. After a period of mourning Ephraim had another son Beriah. Of particular note is that Ephraim’s daughter Sheerah built the cities of Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah.

1 Chronicles 8 lists the family of Benjamin. It is to be noted that King Saul is a descendant of Benjamin.

1 Chronicles 9 opens with a account of the fact that Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. It lists some of the lines of the priests, Levites and gatekeepers. The gatekeepers were established by King David and Samuel. They kept watch over the tent of meeting and its contents.

Also mentioned are the singers who lived in the chambers of the temple and remained on duty day and night.

1 Chronicles 10 recalls the battle between the Philistines and Israel when Saul’s sons: Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua are killed. Saul is so bereft he kills himself. The Philistines take Saul’s body and put it in the temple of Dagon. The people of Jabesh-gilead of Israel retrieve Saul’s body and those of his sons and bury them under the oak of Jabesh, where Saul often sat. The chronicle notes that Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the Lord by not keeping God’s command, consulting a medium and not seeking guidance from God. God turned the kingdom over to David.

The chronicles are showing the results of both faithfulness and unfaithfulness. They are a reminder to those who are now the people of God to be faithful.

Psalm 68 is a battle cry to God. God protects orphans, widows, the desolate and prisoners. But God scatters his enemies like smoke and they perish like wax in a fire. The psalm recounts how God has provided in the past as an encouragement to the tribes of Israel who now enter into battle. God’s armies join them to lead them to victory.