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1 Chronicles 6

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

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

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

4Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas became the father of Abishua,

5and Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi,

6and Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth,

7Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,

8and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz,

9and Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Johanan,

10and Johanan became the father of Azariah, (he it is who executed the priest's office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem),

11and Azariah became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,

12and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Shallum,

13and Shallum became the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah became the father of Azariah,

14and Azariah became the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah became the father of Jehozadak;

15Jehozadak went [into captivity], when Yahweh carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

16The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

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

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

19The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' [houses].

20Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,

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

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

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

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

25The sons of Elkanah: Amasai, and Ahimoth.

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

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

28The sons of Samuel: the firstborn [Joel], and the second Abijah.

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

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

31These are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of Yahweh, after that the ark had rest.

32They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon had built the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem: and they waited on their office according to their order.

33These are those who waited, and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: 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.

39His brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, 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 Gershom, the son of Levi.

44On the left hand their brothers the sons of Merari: 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 Shemer,

47the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

48Their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

49But Aaron and his sons offered 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.

50These 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, Ahimaaz his son.

54Now these are their dwelling places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the [first] lot),

55to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and its suburbs around it;

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

57To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,

58and Hilen with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs,

59and Ashan with its suburbs, and Beth Shemesh with its suburbs;

60and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its suburbs, and Allemeth with its suburbs, and Anathoth with its suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.

61To the rest of the sons of Kohath [were given] by lot, out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities.

62To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

63To the sons of Merari [were given] by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

64The children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with their suburbs.

65They gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name.

66Some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.

67They gave to them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its suburbs; Gezer also with its suburbs,

68and Jokmeam with its suburbs, and Beth Horon with its suburbs,

69and Aijalon with its suburbs, and Gath Rimmon with its suburbs;

70and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its suburbs, and Bileam with its suburbs, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.

71To the sons of Gershom [were given], out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, and Ashtaroth with its suburbs;

72and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,

73and Ramoth with its suburbs, and Anem with its suburbs;

74and out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with its suburbs, and Abdon with its suburbs,

75and Hukok with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs;

76and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, and Hammon with its suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its suburbs.

77To the rest of [the Levites], the sons of Merari, [were given], out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its suburbs, Tabor with its suburbs;

78and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, [were given them], out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with its suburbs, and Jahzah with its suburbs,

79and Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs;

80and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,

81and Heshbon with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs.

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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

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1 Chronicles 6:1-999 Chapter 6

Genealogies. --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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.

1 Chronicles 6:5 Line of the Priests.

Uzzi--It is supposed that, in his days, the high priesthood was, for unrecorded reasons, transferred from Eleazar's family to Ithamar's, in which it continued for several generations.

1 Chronicles 6:10 Line of the Priests.

he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem--It is doubtful whether the person in favor of whom this testimony is borne be Johanan or Azariah. If the former, he is the same as Jehoiada, who rendered important public services (2Ki 11:1-20); if the latter, it refers to the worthy and independent part he acted in resisting the unwarrantable encroachments of Uzziah (2Ch 26:17). in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem--described in this particular manner to distinguish it from the second temple, which was in existence at the time when this history was written.

1 Chronicles 6:14 Line of the Priests.

Azariah begat Seraiah--He filled the supreme pontifical office at the destruction of Jerusalem, and, along with his deputy and others, he was executed by Nebuchadnezzar's orders at Riblah (2Ki 25:18, 21). The line of high priests, under the first temple, which from Zadok amounted to twelve, terminated with him. 16-48. The sons of Levi; Gershom, &c.--This repetition (see 1Ch 6:1) is made, as the historian here begins to trace the genealogy of the Levitical families who were not priests. The list is a long one, comprising the chiefs or heads of their several families until David's reign, who made a new and different classification of them by courses.

1 Chronicles 6:20 Line of the Priests.

Zimmah his son--his grandson (1Ch 6:42).

1 Chronicles 6:24 Line of the Priests.

Uriel--or Zephaniah (1Ch 6:36).

1 Chronicles 6:27 Line of the Priests.

Elkanah--the father of the prophet Samuel (1Sa 1:1).

1 Chronicles 6:28 Line of the Priests.

the sons of Samuel--The sons of Samuel are here named Vashni and Abiah. The first-born is called Joel (1Sa 8:2); and this name is given to him in 1Ch 6:33. It is now generally thought by the best critics that, through an error of the copyists, an omission has been made of the oldest son's name, and that Vashni, which is not the name of a person, merely signifies "and the second." This critical emendation of the text makes all clear, as well as consistent with other passages relating to the family of Samuel.

1 Chronicles 6:32 Line of the Priests.

before the dwelling-place, &c.--that is, in the tent which David had erected for receiving the ark after it was removed from the house of Obed-edom [2Sa 6:17]. This was a considerable time before the temple was built. they waited on their office according to their order--which David, doubtless by the direction of the Holy Spirit, had instituted for the better regulation of divine worship.

1 Chronicles 6:33 Line of the Priests.

Shemuel--that is, Samuel. This is the exact representation of the Hebrew name.

1 Chronicles 6:39 Line of the Priests.

his brother Asaph--They were brothers naturally, both being descended from Levi, as well as officially, both being of the Levitical order.

1 Chronicles 6:42 Line of the Priests.

Ethan--or Jeduthun (1Ch 9:16; 2Ch 35:15).

1 Chronicles 6:48 Line of the Priests.

Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service--Those of them who were endowed with musical tastes and talents were employed in various other departments of the temple service.

1 Chronicles 6:49 Office of Aaron and His Sons.

But Aaron and his sons offered, &c.--The office and duties of the high priests having been already described, the names of those who successively filled that important office are recorded.

1 Chronicles 6:60 Office of Aaron and His Sons.

thirteen cities--No more than eleven are named here; but two additional ones are mentioned (Jos 21:16, 17), which makes up the thirteen.

1 Chronicles 6:61 Office of Aaron and His Sons.

unto the sons of Kohath, which were left--that is, in addition to the priests belonging to the same family and tribe of Levi. by lot, ten cities--(Jos 21:26). The sacred historian gives an explanation (1Ch 6:66). Eight of these are mentioned, but only two of them are taken out of the half tribe of Manasseh (1Ch 6:70). The names of the other two are given (Jos 21:21), where full and detailed notices of these arrangements may be found.

1 Chronicles 6:62 Office of Aaron and His Sons.

to the sons of Gershom--Supply "the children of Israel gave." 67-81. they gave unto them of the cities of refuge--The names of the cities given here are considerably different from those applied to them (Jos 21:13-19). In the lapse of centuries, and from the revolutions of society, changes might have been expected to take place in the form or dialectic pronunciation of the names of those cities; and this will sufficiently account for the variations that are found in the lists as enumerated here and in an earlier book. As to these cities themselves that were assigned to the Levites, they were widely remote and separated--partly in fulfilment of Jacob's prophecy (Ge 49:7), and partly that the various districts of the country might obtain a competent supply of teachers who might instruct the people in the knowledge, and animate them to the observance, of a law which had so important a bearing on the promotion both of their private happiness and their national prosperity.

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Aaron: Children of 1 Chronicles 6:3

The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Aaron: Descendants of 1 Chronicles 6:3–15, 50–53

The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. / Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas was the father of Abishua, / Abishua was the father of Bukki, Bukki was the father of Uzzi,

Aaron: Lineage of 1 Chronicles 6:2, 3

The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. / The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Abia: Son of Samuel 1 Chronicles 6:28

The sons of Samuel: Joel his firstborn and Abijah his second son.

Ahitub: The Ahitub Mentioned In 1 Chronicles 6:8, 11, 12

Ahitub was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz, / Azariah was the father of Amariah, Amariah was the father of Ahitub, / Ahitub was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Shallum,

Alemeth: A Levitical City 1 Chronicles 6:60

And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. So they had thirteen cities in all among their families.

Almon: Called Alemeth 1 Chronicles 6:60

And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. So they had thirteen cities in all among their families.

Amariah: Two Levites 1 Chronicles 6:7, 52

Meraioth was the father of Amariah, Amariah was the father of Ahitub, / Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,

Amaziah: A Levite 1 Chronicles 6:45

the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,

Amram: Father of Moses 1 Chronicles 6:3, 18

The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. / The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

Amzi: A Levite 1 Chronicles 6:46

the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,

Anathoth: City of Refuge in Benjamin 1 Chronicles 6:60

And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. So they had thirteen cities in all among their families.

Aner: A Levitical City of Manasseh 1 Chronicles 6:70

And from the half-tribe of Manasseh the remaining clans of the Kohathites were given Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands.

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