1 Chronicles 6NKJV
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1 Chronicles6

New King James Version

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

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

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

4Eleazar begot Phinehas, and Phinehas begot Abishua;

5Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begot Uzzi;

6Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth;

7Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub;

8Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Ahimaaz;

9Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariah begot Johanan;

10Johanan begot Azariah (it was he who ministered as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem);

11Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub;

12Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Shallum;

13Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah;

14Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak.

15Jehozadak went into captivity when the Lord carried Judah and Jerusalem into captivity by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

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

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

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

19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Now these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers:

20Of Gershon were Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,

21Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son.

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

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

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

25The sons of Elkanah were Amasai and Ahimoth.

26As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah were Zophai his son, Nahath his son,

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

28The sons of Samuel were Joel the firstborn, and Abijah the second.

29The sons of Merari were Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,

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

31Now these are the men whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark came to rest.

32They were ministering with music before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they served in their office according to their order.

33And these are the ones who ministered with their sons: Of the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,

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,

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,

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

39And his brother Asaph, who stood at his right hand, was Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,

40the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,

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

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

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

44Their brethren, the sons of Merari, on the left hand, were 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,

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.

48And their brethren, the Levites, were appointed to every kind of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

49But Aaron and his sons offered sacrifices on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

50Now these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,

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

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

53Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.

54Now these are their dwelling places throughout their settlements in their territory, for they were given by lot to the sons of Aaron, of the family of the Kohathites:

55They gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, with its surrounding common-lands.

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

57And to the sons of Aaron they gave one of the cities of refuge, Hebron; also Libnah with its common-lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its common-lands,

58Hilen with its common-lands, Debir with its common-lands,

59Ashan with its common-lands, and Beth Shemesh with its common-lands.

60And from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its common-lands, Alemeth with its common-lands, and Anathoth with its common-lands. All their cities among their families were thirteen.

61To the rest of the family of the tribe of the Kohathites they gave by lot ten cities from half the tribe of Manasseh.

62And to the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, they gave thirteen cities from the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

63To the sons of Merari, throughout their families, they gave twelve cities from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun.

64So the children of Israel gave these cities with their common-lands to the Levites.

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

66Now some of the families of the sons of Kohath were given cities as their territory from the tribe of Ephraim.

67And they gave them one of the cities of refuge, Shechem with its common-lands, in the mountains of Ephraim, also Gezer with its common-lands,

68Jokmeam with its common-lands, Beth Horon with its common-lands,

69Aijalon with its common-lands, and Gath Rimmon with its common-lands.

70And from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Aner with its common-lands and Bileam with its common-lands, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.

71From the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh the sons of Gershon were given Golan in Bashan with its common-lands and Ashtaroth with its common-lands.

72And from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its common-lands, Daberath with its common-lands,

73Ramoth with its common-lands, and Anem with its common-lands.

74And from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its common-lands, Abdon with its common-lands,

75Hukok with its common-lands, and Rehob with its common-lands.

76And from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its common-lands, Hammon with its common-lands, and Kirjathaim with its common-lands.

77From the tribe of Zebulun the rest of the children of Merari were given Rimmon with its common-lands and Tabor with its common-lands.

78And on the other side of the Jordan, across from Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, they were given from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its common-lands, Jahzah with its common-lands,

79Kedemoth with its common-lands, and Mephaath with its common-lands.

80And from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its common-lands, Mahanaim with its common-lands,

81Heshbon with its common-lands, and Jazer with its common-lands.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 6.

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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.

Cross References

1 Chronicles 6

Azariah stoutly resisted King Uzziah's attempt to usurp the priestly office in Solomon's temple.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v271 Samuel 1:1thematic

Identifies Elkanah and links the genealogy directly to the family of the prophet Samuel.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v55Joshua 21:11-13thematic

Corresponds to the detailed distribution of Hebron to the Aaronic priests as a city of refuge.

Supported by JFB

v61Joshua 21:26thematic

Explicit parallel noting the exact assignment of ten cities to the remaining Kohathites.

Supported by JFB

v81Joshua 21:39thematic

Direct parallel in the Joshua list of Levitical cities, naming both Heshbon and Jazer from Gad.

Supported by JFB

v142 Kings 25:18thematic

Seraiah, the last high priest of the first temple, was executed at Riblah by Nebuchadnezzar.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v281 Samuel 8:2thematic

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

v54Joshua 21:3-8thematic

Parallels the general lot-based allocation of cities to Levites and Kohathites from Israel's tribes.

Supported by JFB

v58Joshua 21:15thematic

Parallel list of Aaronic cities; matches Debir and Holon/Hilen with their suburbs.

Supported by JFB

v59Joshua 21:16thematic

Provides details for Beth-shemesh and other cities of the priests from Judah.

Supported by JFB

v60Joshua 21:17thematic

Lists the remaining Benjaminite cities of the priests to complete the total of thirteen cities.

Supported by JFB

v61Joshua 21:20-26thematic

The complete parallel list for the allocation of cities to the families of Kohath.

Supported by JFB

v65Genesis 49:7fulfillment

Levites scattered throughout Israel's tribal territories, fulfilling Jacob's ancient deathbed prophecy.

Supported by JFB

v67Joshua 21:21thematic

Direct parallel for the allotment of Shechem as a city of refuge in mount Ephraim.

Supported by JFB

v132 Kings 22:12-14thematic

Hilkiah was the high priest who famously found the Book of the Law under King Josiah.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v181 Samuel 1:1thematic

Traces Samuel's lineage (Elkanah, Jeroham, Tohu/Toah) back through the families of the Kohathite Levites.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v312 Samuel 6:17thematic

Details David bringing the ark to the tent, establishing when the ark 'had rest.'

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v37Numbers 16:1-35thematic

Provides the historical context of Korah, whose descendants are listed here in the musical line.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v37Numbers 26:11thematic

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

v431 Samuel 1:1thematic

Confirms Elkanah in Samuel's genealogy, linking these lists directly to the histories in Samuel.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v54Numbers 35:1-8thematic

The original Mosaic command directing the distribution of cities and suburbs to the Levites.

Supported by JFB

v64Numbers 35:2-5thematic

The Mosaic command directing the Israelites to give cities and suburbs to the Levites.

v67Joshua 20:7thematic

Identifies Shechem and Kedesh as designated cities of refuge in Joshua's time.

v71Joshua 21:27-33thematic

Detailed parallel passage listing the cities assigned to the sons of Gershom.

v77Joshua 21:34-40thematic

Corresponding record listing the tribal inheritance and cities of the Merari families.

v78Joshua 20:8thematic

Identifies Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan as eastern cities of refuge.

v81Joshua 13:25thematic

Defines the territory of Gad, explicitly including Jazer, which was later assigned to the Levites.

v1Exodus 6:16thematic

The foundational Exodus listing of the three primary sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Exodus 6:18thematic

Confirms the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, aligning exactly with Chronicles.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Exodus 6:20thematic

Confirms Amram's marriage and his children: Aaron and Moses, the core Levitical leaders.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v4Exodus 6:25thematic

Establishes the early high-priestly succession from Eleazar to his zealous son, Phinehas.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v4Numbers 25:13thematic

God's covenant of an everlasting priesthood to Phinehas due to his zealous intervention.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v81 Kings 2:35thematic

Zadok is appointed high priest in Abiathar's place, fulfilling prophecy and securing this line.

Supported by Matthew Poole