And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
And Azariah, whose father was Hilkiah, whose grandfather was Meshullam, whose great-grandfather was Zadok, whose great-great-grandfather was Meraioth, whose great-great-great-grandfather was Ahitub—he was the ruler of God's house.
This verse introduces Azariah, tracing his family line back through five generations to show he was the leader responsible for God's temple.
📚 Historical Context
This genealogy appears in the context of listing the families who returned from Babylonian exile to resettle Jerusalem around 538 BC. The 'ruler of the house of God' was a high-ranking temple official, likely the chief priest or temple administrator responsible for overseeing worship and temple operations. Zadok was a significant ancestor, as he was the high priest during King David and Solomon's time, establishing a priestly lineage.
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