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1 Chronicles 6: What the Passage Says

214 claims across 81 verses, in the order the chapter makes them.

Not a sermon outline. What 1 Chronicles 6 says, and what its hard words meant. The reading of it is yours.

The Chapter in a Sentence

This chapter traces the family lines of Levi. It follows the priestly line from Aaron down to Jehozadak, who went into exile when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem away by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, then lists the clans descended from Levi's three sons, Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. It names the three singers David put in charge of the music at the house of the LORD and traces each man's ancestry back to Levi. It closes with the list of towns and pasturelands the tribes gave to the Levites.

Claim by Claim

  1. 6:1
    • Levi had sons.
    • Levi's sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
  2. 6:2
    • Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
  3. 6:3
    • Amram's children were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.
    • Aaron's sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
  4. 6:4
    • Eleazar fathered Phinehas.
    • Phinehas fathered Abishua.
  5. 6:5
    • Abishua fathered Bukki.
    • Bukki fathered Uzzi.
  6. 6:6
    • Uzzi fathered Zerahiah.
    • Zerahiah fathered Meraioth.
  7. 6:7
    • Meraioth fathered Amariah.
    • Amariah fathered Ahitub.
  8. 6:8
    • Ahitub fathered Zadok.
    • Zadok fathered Ahimaaz.
  9. 6:9
    • Ahimaaz fathered Azariah.
    • Azariah fathered Johanan.
  10. 6:10
    • Johanan fathered Azariah.
    • This Azariah served as priest in the temple in Jerusalem.
    • Solomon built that temple.
  11. 6:11
    • Azariah fathered Amariah.
    • Amariah fathered Ahitub.
  12. 6:12
    • Ahitub fathered Zadok.
    • Zadok fathered Shallum.
  13. 6:13
    • Shallum fathered Hilkiah.
    • Hilkiah fathered Azariah.
  14. 6:14
    • Azariah fathered Seraiah.
    • Seraiah fathered Jehozadak.
  15. 6:15
    • Jehozadak went into captivity.
    • The LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile.
    • The LORD did this by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
  16. 6:16
    • Levi's sons were Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
  17. 6:17
    • The names of Gershom's sons were Libni and Shimei.
  18. 6:18
    • Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
  19. 6:19
    • Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi.
    • These are the clans of the Levites, listed by their fathers.
  20. 6:20
    • Of Gershom: Libni was his son.
    • Jahath was Libni's son.
    • Zimmah was Jahath's son.
  21. 6:21
    • Joah was Zimmah's son.
    • Iddo was Joah's son.
    • Zerah was Iddo's son.
    • Jeatherai was Zerah's son.
  22. 6:22
    • The descendants of Kohath included Amminadab.
    • Korah was Amminadab's son.
    • Assir was Korah's son.
  23. 6:23
    • Elkanah was Assir's son.
    • Ebiasaph was Elkanah's son.
    • Assir was Ebiasaph's son.
  24. 6:24
    • Tahath was Assir's son.
    • Uriel was Tahath's son.
    • Uzziah was Uriel's son.
    • Shaul was Uzziah's son.
  25. 6:25
    • Elkanah's sons were Amasai and Ahimoth.
  26. 6:26
    • As for Elkanah, Zophai was his son.
    • Nahath was Zophai's son.
  27. 6:27
    • Eliab was Nahath's son.
    • Jeroham was Eliab's son.
    • Elkanah was Jeroham's son.
  28. 6:28
    • Samuel had sons.
    • Samuel's firstborn was Vashni, though the word may instead mean 'and the second'.
    • Abijah was a son of Samuel.
  29. 6:29
    • The descendants of Merari included Mahli.
    • Libni was his son.
    • Shimei was Libni's son.
    • Uzza was Shimei's son.
  30. 6:30
    • Shimea was Uzza's son.
    • Haggiah was Shimea's son.
    • Asaiah was Haggiah's son.
  31. 6:31
    • David appointed these men over the singing in the house of the LORD.
    • David did this after the ark came to rest.
  32. 6:32
    • They ministered with singing before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
    • They did so until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
    • Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
    • Then they carried out their service according to their appointed order.
  33. 6:33
    • These are the men who served, together with their sons.
    • Heman was of the sons of the Kohathites.
    • Heman was a singer.
    • Heman was the son of Joel.
    • Joel was the son of Samuel.
  34. 6:34
    • Samuel was the son of Elkanah.
    • Elkanah was the son of Jeroham.
    • Jeroham was the son of Eliel.
    • Eliel was the son of Toah.
  35. 6:35
    • Toah was the son of Zuph.
    • Zuph was the son of Elkanah.
    • Elkanah was the son of Mahath.
    • Mahath was the son of Amasai.
  36. 6:36
    • Amasai was the son of Elkanah.
    • Elkanah was the son of Joel.
    • Joel was the son of Azariah.
    • Azariah was the son of Zephaniah.
  37. 6:37
    • Zephaniah was the son of Tahath.
    • Tahath was the son of Assir.
    • Assir was the son of Ebiasaph.
    • Ebiasaph was the son of Korah.
  38. 6:38
    • Korah was the son of Izhar.
    • Izhar was the son of Kohath.
    • Kohath was the son of Levi.
    • Levi was the son of Israel.
  39. 6:39
    • Asaph was Heman's brother.
    • Asaph stood at Heman's right hand.
    • Asaph was the son of Berechiah.
    • Berechiah was the son of Shimea.
  40. 6:40
    • Shimea was the son of Michael.
    • Michael was the son of Baaseiah.
    • Baaseiah was the son of Malchiah.
  41. 6:41
    • Malchiah was the son of Ethni.
    • Ethni was the son of Zerah.
    • Zerah was the son of Adaiah.
  42. 6:42
    • Adaiah was the son of Ethan.
    • Ethan was the son of Zimmah.
    • Zimmah was the son of Shimei.
  43. 6:43
    • Shimei was the son of Jahath.
    • Jahath was the son of Gershom.
    • Gershom was the son of Levi.
  44. 6:44
    • Their kinsmen the sons of Merari stood on the left hand.
    • Ethan was the son of Kishi.
    • Kishi was the son of Abdi.
    • Abdi was the son of Malluch.
  45. 6:45
    • Malluch was the son of Hashabiah.
    • Hashabiah was the son of Amaziah.
    • Amaziah was the son of Hilkiah.
  46. 6:46
    • Hilkiah was the son of Amzi.
    • Amzi was the son of Bani.
    • Bani was the son of Shemer.
  47. 6:47
    • Shemer was the son of Mahli.
    • Mahli was the son of Mushi.
    • Mushi was the son of Merari.
    • Merari was the son of Levi.
  48. 6:48
    • Their kinsmen the Levites were appointed to every kind of service of the tabernacle, the house of God.
  49. 6:49
    • Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering.
    • Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of incense.
    • Aaron and his sons were appointed for all the work of the most holy place.
    • Aaron and his sons were appointed to make atonement for Israel.
    • They did this according to all that Moses had commanded.
    • Moses was the servant of God.
  50. 6:50
    • These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar was his son.
    • Phinehas was Eleazar's son.
    • Abishua was Phinehas's son.
  51. 6:51
    • Bukki was Abishua's son.
    • Uzzi was Bukki's son.
    • Zerahiah was Uzzi's son.
  52. 6:52
    • Meraioth was Zerahiah's son.
    • Amariah was Meraioth's son.
    • Ahitub was Amariah's son.
  53. 6:53
    • Zadok was Ahitub's son.
    • Ahimaaz was Zadok's son.
  54. 6:54
    • These are the dwelling places of the sons of Aaron in their settlements within their territories.
    • The sons of Aaron belonged to the families of the Kohathites.
    • The lot fell to them.
  55. 6:55
    • They gave them Hebron in the land of Judah.
    • They gave them the pasturelands around Hebron.
  56. 6:56
    • They gave the fields of the city and its villages to Caleb.
    • Caleb was the son of Jephunneh.
  57. 6:57
    • They gave the sons of Aaron the cities of Judah.
    • They gave them Hebron.
    • Hebron was a city of refuge.
    • They gave them Libnah with its pasturelands.
    • They gave them Jattir with its pasturelands.
    • They gave them Eshtemoa with its pasturelands.
  58. 6:58
    • They gave them Hilen with its pasturelands.
    • They gave them Debir with its pasturelands.
  59. 6:59
    • They gave them Ashan with its pasturelands.
    • They gave them Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands.
  60. 6:60
    • From the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Geba with its pasturelands.
    • They gave them Alemeth with its pasturelands.
    • They gave them Anathoth with its pasturelands.
    • All their cities among their families were thirteen cities.
  61. 6:61
    • The rest of the sons of Kohath were given cities from the half tribe of Manasseh.
    • These cities were given by lot.
    • These cities numbered ten.
  62. 6:62
    • The sons of Gershom, by their families, received cities from the tribe of Issachar, the tribe of Asher, the tribe of Naphtali, and the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
    • These cities numbered thirteen.
  63. 6:63
    • The sons of Merari, by their families, were given cities by lot from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun.
    • These cities numbered twelve.
  64. 6:64
    • The children of Israel gave the Levites these cities with their pasturelands.
  65. 6:65
    • They gave by lot, from the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Simeon, and the tribe of Benjamin, these cities.
    • These cities are called by their names.
  66. 6:66
    • Some of the families of the sons of Kohath received cities for their territory from the tribe of Ephraim.
  67. 6:67
    • They gave them Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its pasturelands.
    • Shechem was one of the cities of refuge.
    • They gave them Gezer with its pasturelands.
  68. 6:68
    • They gave them Jokmeam with its pasturelands.
    • They gave them Beth-horon with its pasturelands.
  69. 6:69
    • They gave them Aijalon with its pasturelands.
    • They gave them Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands.
  70. 6:70
    • From the half tribe of Manasseh they gave Aner with its pasturelands.
    • They gave Bileam with its pasturelands.
    • These were for the family of the remaining sons of Kohath.
  71. 6:71
    • The sons of Gershom were given Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands from the family of the half tribe of Manasseh.
    • They were given Ashtaroth with its pasturelands.
  72. 6:72
    • From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kedesh with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Daberath with its pasturelands.
  73. 6:73
    • They were given Ramoth with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Anem with its pasturelands.
  74. 6:74
    • From the tribe of Asher they were given Mashal with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Abdon with its pasturelands.
  75. 6:75
    • They were given Hukok with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Rehob with its pasturelands.
  76. 6:76
    • From the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Hammon with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Kiriathaim with its pasturelands.
  77. 6:77
    • The rest of the children of Merari were given, from the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Tabor with its pasturelands.
  78. 6:78
    • They were given cities beyond the Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben.
    • They were given Bezer in the wilderness with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Jahzah with its pasturelands.
  79. 6:79
    • They were given Kedemoth with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Mephaath with its pasturelands.
  80. 6:80
    • From the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Mahanaim with its pasturelands.
  81. 6:81
    • They were given Heshbon with its pasturelands.
    • They were given Jazer with its pasturelands.

Words Worth Explaining

Every language note in this chapter, gathered. These explain what a word meant, never what it means for the reader.

6:1
Levi 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.
6:2
Kohath's branch produced both Moses and Aaron, so the priests came from this line. The rest of the Kohathites had the duty of carrying the sanctuary's most sacred objects whenever Israel moved camp.
6:3
Aaron, 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.
6:4
"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.
6:8
Zadok was the priest who backed David and then Solomon during the fight over David's throne. From then on the chief priesthood stayed in his family, which is why this list runs through him.
6:10
It 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.
6:14
Seraiah 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.
6:15
Nebuchadnezzar 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.
6:16
Gershom 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.
6:19
A "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.
6:22
Elsewhere 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."
6:28
The 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.
6:31
The 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.
6:32
The 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.
6:33
Shemuel 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.
6:38
Israel 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.
6:39
Right 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.
6:44
Ethan led the third musical family, from the clan of Merari. He is called Jeduthun elsewhere in Chronicles, and both names appear at the head of psalms.
6:48
This 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.
6:49
A 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.
6:54
Casting 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.
6:55
Hebron 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.
6:56
Caleb 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.
6:57
A 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.
6:60
Only 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.
6:61
Manasseh'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.
6:62
Bashan was the fertile high plateau east of the Sea of Galilee, well known for its cattle and oak trees.
6:67
Shechem, in the central highlands, is the second of the cities of refuge named in this chapter; see the note at verse 57.
6:71
Ashtaroth 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.
6:76
"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.
6:78
"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.
6:80
Gilead was the hilly, wooded region east of the Jordan. Ramoth in Gilead was the last of the six cities of refuge.

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