1 Chronicles6
New King James Version
1 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
2 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
3 The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4 Eleazar begot Phinehas, and Phinehas begot Abishua;
5 Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begot Uzzi;
6 Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth;
7 Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub;
8 Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Ahimaaz;
9 Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariah begot Johanan;
10 Johanan begot Azariah (it was he who ministered as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem);
11 Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub;
12 Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Shallum;
13 Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah;
14 Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak.
15 Jehozadak went into captivity when the Lord carried Judah and Jerusalem into captivity by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
16 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Now these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers:
20 Of Gershon were 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 sons of Kohath were 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 sons of Elkanah were Amasai and Ahimoth.
26 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah were Zophai his son, Nahath his son,
27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son.
28 The sons of Samuel were Joel the firstborn, and Abijah the second.
29 The sons of Merari were Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.
31 Now these are the men whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark came to rest.
32 They 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.
33 And 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,
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 his brother Asaph, who stood at his right hand, was Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,
40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,
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 Their brethren, the sons of Merari, on the left hand, were Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
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 Shamer,
47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
48 And their brethren, the Levites, were appointed to every kind of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
49 But 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.
50 Now these are the sons 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 Now 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:
55 They gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, with its surrounding common-lands.
56 But the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
57 And 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,
58 Hilen with its common-lands, Debir with its common-lands,
59 Ashan with its common-lands, and Beth Shemesh with its common-lands.
60 And 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.
61 To the rest of the family of the tribe of the Kohathites they gave by lot ten cities from half the tribe of Manasseh.
62 And 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.
63 To 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.
64 So the children of Israel gave these cities with their common-lands to the Levites.
65 And 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.
66 Now some of the families of the sons of Kohath were given cities as their territory from the tribe of Ephraim.
67 And 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,
68 Jokmeam with its common-lands, Beth Horon with its common-lands,
69 Aijalon with its common-lands, and Gath Rimmon with its common-lands.
70 And 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.
71 From 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.
72 And from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its common-lands, Daberath with its common-lands,
73 Ramoth with its common-lands, and Anem with its common-lands.
74 And from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its common-lands, Abdon with its common-lands,
75 Hukok with its common-lands, and Rehob with its common-lands.
76 And from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its common-lands, Hammon with its common-lands, and Kirjathaim with its common-lands.
77 From the tribe of Zebulun the rest of the children of Merari were given Rimmon with its common-lands and Tabor with its common-lands.
78 And 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,
79 Kedemoth with its common-lands, and Mephaath with its common-lands.
80 And from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its common-lands, Mahanaim with its common-lands,
81 Heshbon with its common-lands, and Jazer with its common-lands.
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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