1 Chronicles 6

The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

1The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

NoteLevi was one of Jacob's twelve sons. His descendants formed the tribe set apart for work at the sanctuary; unlike the other tribes they were given no block of territory, only scattered towns (verses 54-81). Gershon, Kohath and Merari became the names of the three great divisions of the tribe, and this chapter is organized around them.

2The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

2And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.

3The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

NoteAaron, Moses' brother, was Israel's first priest, and the priesthood ran only through his descendants. Nadab and Abihu died without sons (Leviticus 10), so the line continued through Eleazar and Ithamar. Miriam is one of the few women named in lists like this.

4Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas was the father of Abishua.

4Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,

Note"Was the father of" translates a Hebrew word that can mean a direct father or a more distant ancestor. Lists like this one regularly skip generations to reach a memorable number of names, and this line is shorter than the stretch of time it covers.

5Abishua was the father of Bukki, and Bukki was the father of Uzzi.

5And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,

6Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.

6And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,

7Meraioth was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

7Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,

8Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.

8And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,

9Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, and Azariah was the father of Johanan.

9And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,

10Johanan was the father of Azariah. This is the Azariah who served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem.

10And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest’s office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)

NoteIt is not certain which man the remark describes. In the Hebrew it can attach to this Azariah, or to the Azariah of verses 13-14; the sentence interrupts the list without saying. Solomon's temple stood from about 960 BC to 586 BC.

11Azariah was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

11And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,

12Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Shallum.

12And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,

13Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.

13And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,

14Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.

14And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,

NoteSeraiah was the chief priest when Jerusalem fell. The Babylonians executed him (2 Kings 25:18-21), which is why the list ends with his son Jehozadak going into exile rather than serving.

15Jehozadak was taken away as a prisoner when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile through Nebuchadnezzar.

15And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

NoteNebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. His army destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BC and deported much of the population; "exile" means that forced resettlement in Babylon. Ending the priestly line here marks the point at which the temple service stopped.

16The sons of Levi were Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

16The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

NoteGershom and Gershon are two spellings of the same name; verse 1 used the other form. The chapter now restarts the family list, this time tracing the ordinary Levites rather than the high-priestly line.

17These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.

17And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.

18The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

18And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.

19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the family groups of the Levites, listed by their fathers.

19The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.

NoteA "family group" (clan) was the unit between a tribe and a household, a body of related families that held land and duties in common. Levite clans were assigned specific jobs at the sanctuary.

20From Gershom came Libni his son, then Jahath his son, then Zimmah his son,

20Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,

21then Joah his son, then Iddo his son, then Zerah his son, then Jeaterai his son.

21Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.

22The descendants of Kohath were Amminadab his son, then Korah his son, then Assir his son,

22The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,

NoteElsewhere Kohath's son at this point is named Izhar (verses 2 and 18); the lists differ. This Korah is remembered for leading a revolt against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16), but his descendants survived and became temple singers and gatekeepers, several psalms carry the heading "of the sons of Korah."

23then Elkanah his son, then Ebiasaph his son, then Assir his son,

23Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,

24then Tahath his son, then Uriel his son, then Uzziah his son, then Shaul his son.

24Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.

25The descendants of Elkanah were Amasai and Ahimoth.

25And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.

26As for Elkanah, his line ran on this way: Zophai his son, then Nahath his son,

26As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,

27then Eliab his son, then Jeroham his son, then Elkanah his son.

27Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.

28The sons of Samuel were Vashni the firstborn, and Abiah.

28And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.

NoteThe Hebrew here reads "the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah," but "Vashni" is almost certainly not a name: the same letters spell the ordinary words "and the second." 1 Samuel 8:2 and other ancient copies give the reading "Joel the firstborn, and Abijah the second," the firstborn's name having dropped out of this text.

29The descendants of Merari were Mahli, then Libni his son, then Shimei his son, then Uzza his son,

29The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,

30then Shimea his son, then Haggiah his son, then Asaiah his son.

30Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.

31These are the men David put in charge of the singing at the house of the LORD, after the ark came to rest.

31And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.

NoteThe ark was the gold-covered wooden chest holding the tablets of the covenant, treated as the place where God was present with Israel. "Came to rest" refers to David bringing it to Jerusalem and housing it in a tent after years of being moved about. "House of the LORD" here means the sanctuary in general; the temple building did not yet exist.

32They served with singing in front of the tabernacle, the tent where Israel met with God, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. Then they carried out their duties by the rules given to them.

32And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.

NoteThe tabernacle was the portable tent shrine Israel carried through the wilderness; "tent of meeting" was its other name, from its being the place where God met with the people. In David's day it stood at Gibeon while the ark itself was in Jerusalem.

33These are the men who served, along with their sons. From the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,

33And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,

NoteShemuel is simply the Hebrew form of the name Samuel, the prophet of 1 Samuel, here shown as a Levite. Heman, together with Asaph (verse 39) and Ethan (verse 44), heads the three guilds of temple singers; their names appear in the headings of a number of psalms.

34the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

34The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

35the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,

35The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,

36the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,

36The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,

37the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,

37The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,

38the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.

38The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.

NoteIsrael is Jacob, under the name given him later; the nation took its name from him. Ending the line with him shows the singer's descent traced back to the nation's ancestor.

39Standing at Heman's right side was his relative Asaph. Asaph was the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,

39And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,

NoteRight and left describe standing positions around the leading singer, the physical arrangement of the choir, which gave each of the three branches of Levi a fixed place.

40the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,

40The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,

41the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,

41The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,

42the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,

42The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,

43the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

43The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

44On the left side stood their relatives, the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,

44And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,

45the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,

45The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,

46the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,

46The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,

47the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

47The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

48Their fellow Levites were given every other kind of work at the tabernacle, the house of God.

48Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

NoteThis is the line the chapter keeps drawing: Levites in general did the supporting work of the sanctuary (carrying, guarding, cleaning, gatekeeping, music) while only the descendants of Aaron could act as priests at the altar.

49But it was Aaron and his sons who presented the offerings on the altar for burnt offerings and on the altar for incense. They did all the work of the most holy place and made atonement for Israel, just as Moses the servant of God had commanded.

49But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

NoteA burnt offering was an animal burned whole on the large altar in the courtyard; the incense altar stood inside the building, where fragrant spice was burned. The "most holy place" was the innermost room, which only priests entered. "Atonement" refers to the rites that canceled the effect of wrongdoing and impurity and restored the people's standing.

50These are the descendants of Aaron: Eleazar his son, then Phinehas his son, then Abishua his son,

50And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,

51then Bukki his son, then Uzzi his son, then Zerahiah his son,

51Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,

52then Meraioth his son, then Amariah his son, then Ahitub his son,

52Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,

53then Zadok his son, then Ahimaaz his son.

53Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

54These are the places where the descendants of Aaron lived, their settlements within their territory. They belonged to the Kohathite families, and the lot fell to them.

54Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.

NoteCasting lots (throwing or drawing marked stones or sticks, much like drawing straws) was the ordinary way of dividing land, and the result was accepted as God's decision rather than chance. Because the Levites got no region of their own, they received towns scattered through the other tribes' land, each with surrounding open ground for grazing animals.

55They were given Hebron in the land of Judah, along with the open pastureland all around it.

55And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.

NoteHebron sits in the southern hill country of Judah. It was one of the oldest cities in the land and David's first capital before he took Jerusalem.

56But the farmland and the villages belonging to the city were given to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

56But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

NoteCaleb was one of the two scouts who urged Israel to go into Canaan (Numbers 13-14) and was rewarded with Hebron. The arrangement here splits the property: the priests held the town and its pasture, while Caleb's family kept the farmland and outlying villages.

57So the descendants of Aaron were given these cities in Judah: Hebron, a city of refuge, and Libnah, Jattir, and Eshtemoa, each with its pastureland.

57And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,

NoteA city of refuge was a designated town where a person who had killed someone accidentally could flee and be safe from the dead person's relatives, who otherwise had the recognized right to take his life in return. He stayed there until his case was heard and until the death of the serving high priest. Six such cities were appointed, all of them Levite towns.

58They also received Hilen with its pastureland and Debir with its pastureland,

58And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,

59and Ashan with its pastureland, and Bethshemesh with its pastureland.

59And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs:

60From the tribe of Benjamin they received Geba with its pastureland, Alemeth with its pastureland, and Anathoth with its pastureland. Counting all their families, they had thirteen cities in all.

60And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.

NoteOnly eleven towns are actually named in verses 57-60, though the total given is thirteen. The matching list in Joshua 21 includes two more, Juttah and Gibeon, which have dropped out of this text.

61The rest of the descendants of Kohath were given ten cities by lot from the half tribe of Manasseh.

61And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.

NoteManasseh's descendants settled on both sides of the Jordan, so the tribe is counted as two halves. This verse credits all ten cities to half of Manasseh, while Joshua 21:5 spreads them across Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh, and verses 66-70 below in fact list towns from Ephraim and Manasseh.

62The descendants of Gershom, family by family, received thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali, and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

62And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

NoteBashan was the fertile high plateau east of the Sea of Galilee, well known for its cattle and oak trees.

63The descendants of Merari, family by family, received twelve cities by lot from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

63Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

64So the people of Israel gave the Levites these cities along with their pasturelands.

64And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.

65They assigned by lot the cities named here from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

65And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.

66Some of the families descended from Kohath received cities in their territory from the tribe of Ephraim.

66And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.

67They were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, a city of refuge, with its pastureland, and also Gezer with its pastureland,

67And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,

NoteShechem, in the central highlands, is the second of the cities of refuge named in this chapter; see the note at verse 57.

68and Jokmeam with its pastureland, and Bethhoron with its pastureland,

68And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,

69and Aijalon with its pastureland, and Gathrimmon with its pastureland.

69And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs:

70From the half tribe of Manasseh they were given Aner with its pastureland and Bileam with its pastureland, for the rest of the Kohathite families.

70And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.

71The descendants of Gershom were given Golan in Bashan with its pastureland, and Ashtaroth with its pastureland, from the families of the half tribe of Manasseh.

71Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:

NoteAshtaroth took its name from Astarte, a Canaanite goddess. Town names of that kind stayed in use long after, much as place names today can outlast what they once referred to. Golan was another of the six cities of refuge.

72From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kedesh with its pastureland and Daberath with its pastureland,

72And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,

73and Ramoth with its pastureland, and Anem with its pastureland.

73And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:

74From the tribe of Asher they were given Mashal with its pastureland and Abdon with its pastureland,

74And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,

75and Hukok with its pastureland, and Rehob with its pastureland.

75And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:

76From the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee with its pastureland, Hammon with its pastureland, and Kirjathaim with its pastureland.

76And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.

Note"In Galilee" distinguishes this Kedesh from the Kedesh named in verse 72, which lay in Issachar's territory further south. Several place names recur in different regions.

77The rest of the descendants of Merari were given Rimmon with its pastureland and Tabor with its pastureland, from the tribe of Zebulun.

77Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:

78Across the Jordan River near Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, they were given from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its pastureland, and Jahzah with its pastureland,

78And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,

Note"Across the Jordan" is said from the standpoint of someone living west of the river, in Judah; the verse then spells out that it means the eastern side. Bezer was another city of refuge.

79and Kedemoth with its pastureland, and Mephaath with its pastureland.

79Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:

80From the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead with its pastureland, and Mahanaim with its pastureland,

80And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

NoteGilead was the hilly, wooded region east of the Jordan. Ramoth in Gilead was the last of the six cities of refuge.

81and Heshbon with its pastureland, and Jazer with its pastureland.

81And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.