1 Chronicles6
New International Version
1 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
3 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
4 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas the father of Abishua,
5 Abishua the father of Bukki, Bukki the father of Uzzi,
6 Uzzi the father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah the father of Meraioth,
7 Meraioth the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub,
8 Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Ahimaaz,
9 Ahimaaz the father of Azariah, Azariah the father of Johanan,
10 Johanan the father of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem),
11 Azariah the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub,
12 Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Shallum,
13 Shallum the father of Hilkiah, Hilkiah the father of Azariah,
14 Azariah the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah the father of Jozadak.
15 Jozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
16 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:
20 Of Gershon: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son and Jeatherai his son.
22 The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,
24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son and Shaul his son.
25 The descendants of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth,
26 Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son,
27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son and Samuel his son.
28 The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second son.
29 The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son and Asaiah his son.
31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there.
32 They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.
33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel;
39 and Heman’s associate Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea,
40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malkijah,
41 the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
43 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon, the son of Levi;
44 and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand: Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluk,
45 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,
47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
48 Their fellow Levites were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God.
49 But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
50 These were the descendants of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
53 Zadok his son and Ahimaaz his son.
54 These were the locations of their settlements allotted as their territory (they were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clan, because the first lot was for them):
55 They were given Hebron in Judah with its surrounding pasturelands.
56 But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
57 So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), and Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,
58 Hilen, Debir,
59 Ashan, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands.
60 And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. The total number of towns distributed among the Kohathite clans came to thirteen.
61 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of half the tribe of Manasseh.
62 The descendants of Gershon, clan by clan, were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali, and from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that is in Bashan.
63 The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, were allotted twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.
64 So the Israelites gave the Levites these towns and their pasturelands.
65 From the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin they allotted the previously named towns.
66 Some of the Kohathite clans were given as their territory towns from the tribe of Ephraim.
67 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge), and Gezer,
68 Jokmeam, Beth Horon,
69 Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands.
70 And from half the tribe of Manasseh the Israelites gave Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands, to the rest of the Kohathite clans.
71 The Gershonites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands;
72 from the tribe of Issachar they received Kedesh, Daberath,
73 Ramoth and Anem, together with their pasturelands;
74 from the tribe of Asher they received Mashal, Abdon,
75 Hukok and Rehob, together with their pasturelands;
76 and from the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.
77 The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they received Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands;
78 from the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan east of Jericho they received Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah,
79 Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands;
80 and from the tribe of Gad they received Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,
81 Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands.
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1 Chronicles 6Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 6. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Genealogies. (1-81).
vv1-81
We have an account of Levi in this chapter. The priests and Levites were more concerned than any other Israelites, to preserve their descent clear, and to be able to prove it; because all the honours and privileges of their office depended upon their descent. Now, the Spirit of God calls ministers to their work, without any limit as to the families they came from; and then, as now, though believers and ministers may be very useful to the church, none but our great High Priest can make atonement for sin, nor can any be accepted but through his atonement.
Key Words
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
לֵוִי: Levi, a son of Jacob
גֵּרְשׁוֹן: Gereshon or Gereshom, an Israelite
קְהָת: Kehath, an Israelite
מְרָרִי: Merari, an Israelite
עַמְרָם: Amram, the name of two Israelites
יִצְהָר: Jitshar, an Israelite
חֶבְרוֹן: Chebron, a place in Palestine, also the name of two Israelites
עֻזִּיאֵל: Uzziel, the name of six Israelites
אַהֲרוֹן: Aharon, the brother of Moses
Cross References
1 Chronicles 6Azariah stoutly resisted King Uzziah's attempt to usurp the priestly office in Solomon's temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Elkanah and links the genealogy directly to the family of the prophet Samuel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Corresponds to the detailed distribution of Hebron to the Aaronic priests as a city of refuge.
Supported by JFB
Explicit parallel noting the exact assignment of ten cities to the remaining Kohathites.
Supported by JFB
Direct parallel in the Joshua list of Levitical cities, naming both Heshbon and Jazer from Gad.
Supported by JFB
Seraiah, the last high priest of the first temple, was executed at Riblah by Nebuchadnezzar.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Clarifies the names of Samuel's sons, identifying Joel (Vashni/and the second) and Abiah.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the appointment of Heman, Asaph, and Ethan by the Levites for music ministry.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the general lot-based allocation of cities to Levites and Kohathites from Israel's tribes.
Supported by JFB
Parallel list of Aaronic cities; matches Debir and Holon/Hilen with their suburbs.
Supported by JFB
Provides details for Beth-shemesh and other cities of the priests from Judah.
Supported by JFB
Lists the remaining Benjaminite cities of the priests to complete the total of thirteen cities.
Supported by JFB
The complete parallel list for the allocation of cities to the families of Kohath.
Supported by JFB
Levites scattered throughout Israel's tribal territories, fulfilling Jacob's ancient deathbed prophecy.
Supported by JFB
Direct parallel for the allotment of Shechem as a city of refuge in mount Ephraim.
Supported by JFB
Hilkiah was the high priest who famously found the Book of the Law under King Josiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Traces Samuel's lineage (Elkanah, Jeroham, Tohu/Toah) back through the families of the Kohathite Levites.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Details David bringing the ark to the tent, establishing when the ark 'had rest.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Provides the historical context of Korah, whose descendants are listed here in the musical line.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms that the children of Korah did not die, allowing this lineage to continue.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Corresponds to the earlier mention of Gershom's descendants (Jahath, Zimmah, and Ethan/Joah).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Demonstrates generational shorthand; Zimmah's relationship is expanded as grandson of Gershom.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms Elkanah in Samuel's genealogy, linking these lists directly to the histories in Samuel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The original Mosaic command directing the distribution of cities and suburbs to the Levites.
Supported by JFB
The Mosaic command directing the Israelites to give cities and suburbs to the Levites.
Identifies Shechem and Kedesh as designated cities of refuge in Joshua's time.
Detailed parallel passage listing the cities assigned to the sons of Gershom.
Corresponding record listing the tribal inheritance and cities of the Merari families.
Identifies Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan as eastern cities of refuge.
Defines the territory of Gad, explicitly including Jazer, which was later assigned to the Levites.
The foundational Exodus listing of the three primary sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, aligning exactly with Chronicles.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms Amram's marriage and his children: Aaron and Moses, the core Levitical leaders.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes the early high-priestly succession from Eleazar to his zealous son, Phinehas.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's covenant of an everlasting priesthood to Phinehas due to his zealous intervention.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Zadok is appointed high priest in Abiathar's place, fulfilling prophecy and securing this line.
Supported by Matthew Poole