1 Chronicles6
New Living Translation
1The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
2The descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
3The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4Eleazar was the father of Phinehas. Phinehas was the father of Abishua.
5Abishua was the father of Bukki. Bukki was the father of Uzzi.
6Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.
7Meraioth was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub.
8Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.
9Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah. Azariah was the father of Johanan.
10Johanan was the father of Azariah, the high priest at the Temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem.
11Azariah was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub.
12Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Shallum.
13Shallum was the father of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.
14Azariah was the father of Seraiah. Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak,
15who went into exile when the Lord sent the people of Judah and Jerusalem into captivity under Nebuchadnezzar.
16The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
17The descendants of Gershon included Libni and Shimei.
18The descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
19The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The following were the Levite clans, listed according to their ancestral descent:
20The descendants of Gershon included Libni, Jahath, Zimmah,
21Joah, Iddo, Zerah, and Jeatherai.
22The descendants of Kohath included Amminadab, Korah, Assir,
23Elkanah, Abiasaph, Assir,
24Tahath, Uriel, Uzziah, and Shaul.
25The descendants of Elkanah included Amasai, Ahimoth,
26Elkanah, Zophai, Nahath,
27Eliab, Jeroham, Elkanah, and Samuel.
28The sons of Samuel were Joel (the older) and Abijah (the second).
29The descendants of Merari included Mahli, Libni, Shimei, Uzzah,
30Shimea, Haggiah, and Asaiah.
31David assigned the following men to lead the music at the house of the Lord after the Ark was placed there.
32They ministered with music at the Tabernacle until Solomon built the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They carried out their work, following all the regulations handed down to them.
33These are the men who served, along with their sons: Heman the musician was from the clan of Kohath. His genealogy was traced back through Joel, Samuel,
34Elkanah, Jeroham, Eliel, Toah,
35Zuph, Elkanah, Mahath, Amasai,
36Elkanah, Joel, Azariah, Zephaniah,
37Tahath, Assir, Abiasaph, Korah,
38Izhar, Kohath, Levi, and Israel.
39Heman’s first assistant was Asaph from the clan of Gershon. Asaph’s genealogy was traced back through Berekiah, Shimea,
40Michael, Baaseiah, Malkijah,
41Ethni, Zerah, Adaiah,
42Ethan, Zimmah, Shimei,
43Jahath, Gershon, and Levi.
44Heman’s second assistant was Ethan from the clan of Merari. Ethan’s genealogy was traced back through Kishi, Abdi, Malluch,
45Hashabiah, Amaziah, Hilkiah,
46Amzi, Bani, Shemer,
47Mahli, Mushi, Merari, and Levi.
48Their fellow Levites were appointed to various other tasks in the Tabernacle, the house of God.
49Only Aaron and his descendants served as priests. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, and they performed all the other duties related to the Most Holy Place. They made atonement for Israel by doing everything that Moses, the servant of God, had commanded them.
50The descendants of Aaron were Eleazar, Phinehas, Abishua,
51Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah,
52Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub,
53Zadok, and Ahimaaz.
54This is a record of the towns and territory assigned by means of sacred lots to the descendants of Aaron, who were from the clan of Kohath.
55This territory included Hebron and its surrounding pasturelands in Judah,
56but the fields and outlying areas belonging to the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
57So the descendants of Aaron were given the following towns, each with its pasturelands: Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,
58Holon, Debir,
59Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh.
60And from the territory of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, each with its pasturelands. So thirteen towns were given to the descendants of Aaron.
61The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten towns from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh by means of sacred lots.
62The descendants of Gershon received by sacred lots thirteen towns from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and from the Bashan area of Manasseh, east of the Jordan.
63The descendants of Merari received by sacred lots twelve towns from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
64So the people of Israel assigned all these towns and pasturelands to the Levites.
65The towns in the territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, mentioned above, were assigned to them by means of sacred lots.
66The descendants of Kohath were given the following towns from the territory of Ephraim, each with its pasturelands:
67Shechem (a city of refuge in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer,
68Jokmeam, Beth-horon,
69Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon.
70The remaining descendants of Kohath were assigned the towns of Aner and Bileam from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.
71The descendants of Gershon received the towns of Golan (in Bashan) and Ashtaroth from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.
72From the territory of Issachar, they were given Kedesh, Daberath,
73Ramoth, and Anem, each with its pasturelands.
74From the territory of Asher, they received Mashal, Abdon,
75Hukok, and Rehob, each with its pasturelands.
76From the territory of Naphtali, they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, each with its pasturelands.
77The remaining descendants of Merari received the towns of Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmon, and Tabor from the territory of Zebulun, each with its pasturelands.
78From the territory of Reuben, east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho, they received Bezer (a desert town), Jahaz,
79Kedemoth, and Mephaath, each with its pasturelands.
80And from the territory of Gad, they received Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,
81Heshbon, and Jazer, each with its pasturelands.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 6.
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