Scroll Scroll

1 Chronicles 6

The Line of the High Priests

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

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

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

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

5Abishua became the father of Bukki. Bukki became the father of Uzzi.

6Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah. Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth.

7Meraioth became the father of Amariah. Amariah became the father of Ahitub.

8Ahitub became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz.

9Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah. Azariah became the father of Johanan.

10Johanan became the father of Azariah, who executed the priest’s office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem.

11Azariah became the father of Amariah. Amariah became the father of Ahitub.

12Ahitub became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Shallum.

13Shallum became the father of Hilkiah. Hilkiah became the father of Azariah.

14Azariah became the father of Seraiah. Seraiah became the father of Jehozadak.

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

The Levitical Families

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, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

19The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ households.

20Of Gershom: 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: 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: Amasai and Ahimoth.

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

27Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and 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.

The Temple Musicians

31These are they whom David set over the service of song in the LORD’s house after the ark came to rest there.

32They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting until Solomon had built the LORD’s house in Jerusalem. They performed the duties of their office according to their order.

33These are those who served, 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 God’s house.

The Descendants of Aaron

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, and Ahimaaz his son.

The Cities of the Levites

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 pasture lands 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 pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,

58Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands,

59Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasture lands;

60and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasture lands, Allemeth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pasture lands. 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 pasture lands.

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 pasture lands and Gezer with its pasture lands,

68Jokmeam with its pasture lands, Beth Horon with its pasture lands,

69Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands;

70and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its pasture lands, and Bileam with its pasture lands, 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 pasture lands, and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands;

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

73Ramoth with its pasture lands, and Anem with its pasture lands;

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

75Hukok with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands;

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

77To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its pasture lands, and Tabor with its pasture lands;

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 pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands,

79Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands;

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

81Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.

This chapter presents comprehensive genealogies of the Levitical priesthood, tracing the lineage from Levi through the high priests down to the Babylonian exile. The Chronicler meticulously records the three main Levitical families (Gershon, Kohath, and Merari) and their specific roles, with particular attention to the temple musicians appointed by David. The genealogies emphasize the continuity of Israel's worship system from Moses through Solomon's temple, demonstrating God's faithfulness in maintaining the priestly line despite the eventual exile.

Context

Following the royal genealogies in chapters 1-5, this chapter establishes the religious leadership structure that will be central to the temple worship described in later chapters.

Key Themes

Outline

  • 1-15
    The Line of the High Priests Traces the priestly succession from Aaron through Eleazar to the exile under Nebuchadnezzar.
  • 16-30
    The Levitical Families Details the genealogies of the three main Levitical clans: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
  • 31-48
    The Temple Musicians Lists the musical families appointed by David, including Heman, Asaph, and Ethan with their lineages.
  • 49-53
    The Descendants of Aaron Distinguishes Aaron's priestly line and their exclusive role in altar service and atonement.
  • 54-81
    The Cities of the Levites Catalogs the forty-eight cities allocated to the Levitical families throughout Israel's tribal territories.

The Line of the High Priests

6:1–6:15
genealogy narration solemn

The genealogical line of high priests from Aaron through Jehozadak, who went into Babylonian captivity, establishing the priestly succession.

person_contrast

Aaron's genealogical placement between Moses and the exiled Jehozadak transforms him from a figure of ritual holiness into a bridge connecting Israel's foundational covenant with its ultimate restoration.

The Levitical Families

6:16–6:30
genealogy narration solemn

The genealogical records of the three Levitical families descended from Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, including the lineage leading to Samuel.

person_contrast

Shimei appears in 27 biblical passages typically associated with authority and leadership, yet here uniquely surfaces within genealogical inheritance records rather than political power structures.

The Temple Musicians

6:31–6:48
genealogy narration solemn

David appoints Levitical musicians including Heman, Asaph, and Ethan to lead worship in the tabernacle and later Solomon's temple.

person_contrast

David's appointment of temple musicians marks his only biblical role as worship curator rather than warrior-king, establishing Israel's liturgical identity through genealogical precision.

The Descendants of Aaron

6:49–6:53
genealogy narration solemn

This passage describes the priestly duties of Aaron and his sons in making offerings and atonement for Israel, followed by the genealogical line of Aaron's descendants through the priestly lineage.

person_contrast

Aaron's priestly function shifts from lawgiver to obedient servant, emphasizing his submission "according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded" rather than his typical authoritative role.

The Cities of the Levites

6:54–6:81
narrative narration contemplative

This passage details the allocation of cities and pasture lands to the Levitical families, including cities of refuge, distributed among the tribes of Israel according to their inheritance.

person_contrast

Aaron's priestly lineage receives the first lot of cities, transforming the lawgiver's brother from a figure of sacred ritual into the founder of a landed inheritance system.

Insights

Insight Character Study

Aaron's genealogical placement between Moses and the exiled Jehozadak transforms him from a figure of ritual holiness into a bridge connecting Israel's foundational covenant with its ultimate restoration.

Insight Character Study

Shimei appears in 27 biblical passages typically associated with authority and leadership, yet here uniquely surfaces within genealogical inheritance records rather than political power structures.

Insight Character Study

David's appointment of temple musicians marks his only biblical role as worship curator rather than warrior-king, establishing Israel's liturgical identity through genealogical precision.

Insight Character Study

Aaron's priestly function shifts from lawgiver to obedient servant, emphasizing his submission "according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded" rather than his typical authoritative role.

Insight Character Study

Aaron's priestly lineage receives the first lot of cities, transforming the lawgiver's brother from a figure of sacred ritual into the founder of a landed inheritance system.

Historical Context

Places and events in this chapter

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Timeline

Exile

586-538 BC

The forced deportation of Judah's population to Babylon after Jerusalem's destruction. This pivotal event reshaped Jewish identity and theology, leading to the compilation of much of the Hebrew Bible.

High priest Jehozadak went into Babylonian captivity, ending the temple priesthood succession.

The Line of the High Priests