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Levi’s Descendants

(5:27)[a] The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

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.

Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas was the father of Abishua. Abishua was the father of Bukki, and Bukki was the father of Uzzi. Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth. Meraioth was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub. Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz. Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, and Azariah was the father of Johanan. 10 Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as a priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem. 11 Azariah was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub. 12 Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Shallum. 13 Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah was the father of Azariah. 14 Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak. 15 Jehozadak went into exile when the Lord sent the people of[b] Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

16 (6:1)[c] The sons of Levi: Gershom,[d] Kohath, and Merari.

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

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

19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the Levites by their families.[e]

20 To Gershom: his son Libni, his son Jahath, his son Zimmah, 21 his son Joah, his son Iddo, his son Zerah, and his son Jeatherai.

22 The sons[f] of Kohath: his son Amminadab, his son Korah, his son Assir, 23 his son Elkanah, his son Ebiasaph, his son Assir, 24 his son Tahath, his son Uriel, his son Uzziah, and his son Shaul.

25 The sons of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth,[g] 26 his son Elkanah,[h] his son Zophai, his son Nahath, 27 his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his son Elkanah.[i]

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

29 The descendants of Merari: Mahli, his son Libni, his son Shimei, his son Uzzah, 30 his son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and his son Asaiah.

Professional Musicians

31 These are the men David put in charge of music in the Lord’s sanctuary,[k] after the ark was placed there. 32 They performed music[l] before the sanctuary[m] of the meeting tent until Solomon built the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. They carried out their tasks according to regulations.

33 These are the ones who served along with their sons:

From the Kohathites: Heman the musician, son of Joel, son of Samuel, 34 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, 35 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, 36 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, 37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, 38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel.

39 Serving beside him was his fellow Levite Asaph,[n] son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, 40 son of Michael, son of Baaseiah,[o] son of Malkijah, 41 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, 42 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, 43 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi.

44 Serving beside them were their fellow Levites, the descendants of Merari, led by[p] Ethan, son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 45 son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, 46 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, 47 son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi.

48 The rest of their fellow Levites[q] were assigned to perform the remaining tasks at God’s sanctuary.[r] 49 But Aaron and his descendants offered sacrifices on the altar for burnt offerings and on the altar for incense as they had been assigned to do in the Most Holy Sanctuary.[s] They made atonement for Israel, just as God’s servant Moses had ordered.[t]

50 These were the descendants of Aaron:

His son Eleazar, his son Phinehas, his son Abishua, 51 his son Bukki, his son Uzzi, his son Zerahiah, 52 his son Meraioth, his son Amariah, his son Ahitub, 53 his son Zadok, and his son Ahimaaz.

54 These were the areas where Aaron’s descendants lived:[u]

The following belonged to the Kohathite clan, for they received the first allotment:[v]

55 They were allotted Hebron in the territory of Judah, as well as its surrounding pasturelands. 56 (But the city’s land and nearby towns were allotted to Caleb son of Jephunneh.) 57 The descendants of Aaron were also allotted as cities[w] of refuge Hebron, Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands, 58 Hilez[x] and its pasturelands, Debir and its pasturelands, 59 Ashan[y] and its pasturelands,[z] and Beth Shemesh and its pasturelands.

60 Within the territory of the tribe of Benjamin they were allotted[aa] Geba and its pasturelands, Alemeth and its pasturelands, and Anathoth and its pasturelands. Their clans were allotted thirteen cities in all. 61 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities in the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh.[ab]

62 The clans of Gershom’s descendants received thirteen cities within the territory of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh (in Bashan).[ac]

63 The clans of Merari’s descendants were allotted twelve cities within the territory of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.[ad]

64 So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands. 65 They allotted these previously named cities from the territory of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.[ae]

66 The clans of Kohath’s descendants also received cities as their territory within the tribe of Ephraim.[af] 67 They were allotted as cities[ag] of refuge Shechem and its pasturelands (in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer and its pasturelands, 68 Jokmeam and its pasturelands, Beth Horon and its pasturelands, 69 Aijalon and its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon and its pasturelands.

70 Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, the rest of Kohath’s descendants received Aner and its pasturelands and Bileam and its pasturelands.[ah]

71 The following belonged to Gershom’s descendants:[ai]

Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan and its pasturelands and Ashtaroth and its pasturelands.

72 Within the territory of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh and its pasturelands, Daberath and its pasturelands, 73 Ramoth and its pasturelands, and Anem and its pasturelands.

74 Within the territory of the tribe of Asher: Mashal and its pasturelands, Abdon and its pasturelands, 75 Hukok and its pasturelands, and Rehob and its pasturelands.

76 Within the territory of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee and its pasturelands, Hammon and its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim and its pasturelands.

77 The following belonged to the rest of Merari’s descendants:[aj]

Within the territory of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono[ak] and its pasturelands, and Tabor and its pasturelands.

78 Within the territory of the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan River east of Jericho:[al] Bezer in the wilderness and its pasturelands, Jahzah and its pasturelands, 79 Kedemoth and its pasturelands, and Mephaath and its pasturelands.

80 Within the territory of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead and its pasturelands, Mahanaim and its pasturelands, 81 Heshbon and its pasturelands, and Jazer and its pasturelands.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 6:1 sn Beginning with 6:1, the verse numbers through 6:81 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 6:1 ET = 5:27 HT, 6:2 ET = 5:28 HT, 6:16 ET = 6:1 HT, etc., through 6:81 ET = 6:66 HT. Beginning with 7:1 the verse numbers in the ET and HT are again the same.
  2. 1 Chronicles 6:15 tn The words “the people of” are added in the translation for clarification.
  3. 1 Chronicles 6:16 sn Chapter 6 of 1 Chr begins here in the Hebrew text; 6:16-81 ET = 6:1-66 HT. See the note at 6:1.
  4. 1 Chronicles 6:16 tn The name “Gershom” (also in vv. 17, 20, 43, 62, 71) appears as “Gershon” in 1 Chr 6:1.
  5. 1 Chronicles 6:19 tn Heb “by their fathers.”
  6. 1 Chronicles 6:22 tn Or perhaps, “descendants,” since the list differs from the one in v. 18.
  7. 1 Chronicles 6:25 tn Heb “and Achimoth.”
  8. 1 Chronicles 6:26 tc The consonantal Hebrew text (Kethib) has, “Elkanah, his son, Elkanah.” The marginal reading (Qere) is “Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah.” The text probably originally read simply, “Elkanah his son.”
  9. 1 Chronicles 6:27 tc After the last named individual (“Elkanah” in v. 27) some LXX mss insert the words “Samuel his son” to facilitate a transition to the following verse, which begins “and the sons of Samuel.” Among the English versions that include this added phrase are NAB, NIV, and NLT.
  10. 1 Chronicles 6:28 tc The Hebrew text lacks the name יוֹאֵל (yoʾel, “Joel”), which has probably dropped out due to homoioteleuton (note the last three letters of the preceding name שְׁמוּאֵל (shemuel, “Samuel”).
  11. 1 Chronicles 6:31 tn Heb “house.”
  12. 1 Chronicles 6:32 tn Heb “they were serving…with music.”
  13. 1 Chronicles 6:32 tn Or traditionally “tabernacle.”
  14. 1 Chronicles 6:39 tn Heb “and his brother Asaph, the one who stood at his right hand.”
  15. 1 Chronicles 6:40 tc A few Hebrew mss, one LXX ms, and the Syriac read “Maaseiah.”
  16. 1 Chronicles 6:44 tn Heb “and the sons of Merari, their brothers, on the left.”
  17. 1 Chronicles 6:48 tn Heb “their brothers, the Levites.”
  18. 1 Chronicles 6:48 tn Heb “were assigned to all the work of the tabernacle of the house of God.”
  19. 1 Chronicles 6:49 tn Heb “for all the work of the holy of holies.”
  20. 1 Chronicles 6:49 tn Heb “making atonement for Israel according to all which Moses the servant of God commanded.”
  21. 1 Chronicles 6:54 tn Heb “and these were their dwelling places according to their encampments in their territory to the sons of Aaron.”
  22. 1 Chronicles 6:54 tn Heb “to the clan of the Kohathites for to them was the lot.”
  23. 1 Chronicles 6:57 tn The parallel account in Josh 21:13 has the singular “city,” which apparently refers only to Hebron.
  24. 1 Chronicles 6:58 tc The MT reads “Hilez” here; the place name appears as “Holon” in Josh 21:15.
  25. 1 Chronicles 6:59 tc The MT reads “Ashan” here; the place name appears as “Ain” in Josh 21:16.
  26. 1 Chronicles 6:59 tc The LXX and Syriac (following the parallel list in Josh 21:16) add “Juttah and its pasturelands” here. Cf. NAB “Jetta”; also NIV, NCV, NLT “Juttah.”
  27. 1 Chronicles 6:60 tn The parallel passage in Josh 21:17 adds “Gibeon and its pasturelands” (cf. NAB, NIV, NCV, NLT). The words “they were allotted” are supplied in the translation for both clarity and stylistic reasons.
  28. 1 Chronicles 6:61 tn Heb “to the sons of Kohath who were left from the clan of the tribe, from the half of the tribe of the half of Manasseh by lot ten cities.”
  29. 1 Chronicles 6:62 tn Heb “and to the sons of Gershom by their clans from the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribe of Asher, and from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.”
  30. 1 Chronicles 6:63 tn Heb “and to the sons of Merari by their clans from the tribe of Reuben, and from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun by lot, twelve cities.”
  31. 1 Chronicles 6:65 tn Heb “and they gave by lot from the tribe of the sons of Judah, and from the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and from the tribe of the sons of Benjamin these cities, which they called them by names.”
  32. 1 Chronicles 6:66 tn Heb “and from [it is probably preferable to read “to” here] the clans of the sons of Kohath and there were the cities of their territory from the tribe of Ephraim.”
  33. 1 Chronicles 6:67 tn The parallel account in Josh 21:21 has the singular “city,” referring only to Shechem.
  34. 1 Chronicles 6:70 tn Heb “and from the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Aner and its pasturelands and Bileam and its pasturelands to the clan, to the sons of Kohath who were left.”
  35. 1 Chronicles 6:71 tn Heb “to the sons of Gershom.”
  36. 1 Chronicles 6:77 tn Heb “to the sons of Merari, who were left.”
  37. 1 Chronicles 6:77 tc Before “Rimmono” the LXX (following the parallel passage in Josh 21:34) adds “Jokneam and its pasturelands, Kartah and its pasturelands.” This addition is included in some English versions (e.g., NAB, NIV, NCV, NLT).
  38. 1 Chronicles 6:78 tn Heb “and from across the Jordan at Jericho, on the east of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben.” The word “River” is supplied in the translation for clarity.

High priests

[a] Levi’s family: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

Kohath’s family: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

Amram’s family: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

Aaron’s family: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas of Abishua, Abishua of Bukki, Bukki of Uzzi, Uzzi of Zerahiah, Zerahiah of Meraioth, Meraioth of Amariah, Amariah of Ahitub, Ahitub of Zadok, Zadok of Ahimaaz, Ahimaaz of Azariah, Azariah of Johanan, 10 and Johanan of Azariah. He was the one who served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem.

11 Azariah was the father of Amariah, Amariah of Ahitub, 12 Ahitub of Zadok, Zadok of Shallum, 13 Shallum of Hilkiah, Hilkiah of Azariah, 14 Azariah of Seraiah, and Seraiah of Jehozadak. 15 Jehozadak went away when the Lord caused Judah and Jerusalem to be exiled by Nebuchadnezzar.

Levites

16 [b] Levi’s family: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

17 These are the names of Gershom’s family: Libni and Shimei.

18 Kohath’s family: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

19 Merari’s family: Mahli and Mushi.

These are the Levites’ clans according to their fathers:

20 Of Gershom: his son Libni, his son Jahath, his son Zimmah, 21 his son Joah, his son Iddo, his son Zerah, and his son Jeatherai.

22 Kohath’s family: his son Amminadab, his son Korah, his son Assir, 23 his son Elkanah, his son Ebiasaph, his son Assir, 24 his son Tahath, his son Uriel, his son Uzziah, and his son Shaul.

25 Elkanah’s family: Amasai and Ahimoth, 26 his son Elkanah,[c] his son Zophai, his son Nahath, 27 his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his son Elkanah.

28 Samuel’s family: the oldest Joel,[d] and the second Abijah.

29 Merari’s family: Mahli, his son Libni, his son Shimei, his son Uzzah, 30 his son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and his son Asaiah.

Levitical singers

31 David put the following in charge of the music in the Lord’s house after the chest was placed there. 32 They ministered with song before the dwelling of the meeting tent, until Solomon built the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. They carried out their usual duties. 33 Those who served and their families were:

Kohath’s family: Heman the singer, son of Joel son of Samuel 34 son of Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Eliel son of Toah 35 son of Zuph son of Elkanah son of Mahath son of Amasai 36 son of Elkanah son of Joel son of Azariah son of Zephaniah 37 son of Tahath son of Assir son of Ebiasaph son of Korah 38 son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi son of Israel. 39 His relative was Asaph, who stood on his right, that is, Asaph son of Berechiah son of Shimea 40 son of Michael son of Baaseiah son of Malchijah 41 son of Ethni son of Zerah son of Adaiah 42 son of Ethan son of Zimmah son of Shimei 43 son of Jahath son of Gershom son of Levi.

44 On the left were their relatives, Merari’s family: Ethan son of Kishi son of Abdi son of Malluch 45 son of Hashabiah son of Amaziah son of Hilkiah 46 son of Amzi son of Bani son of Shemer 47 son of Mahli son of Mushi son of Merari son of Levi. 48 Their relatives the Levites were dedicated to all the services of the dwelling for God’s house.

Priests from Aaron’s line

49 Aaron and his sons sacrificed on the altar for entirely burned offerings and on the altar for incense, doing all the work of the holiest place, to make reconciliation for Israel, just as Moses, God’s servant, had commanded.

50 This was Aaron’s family: his son Eleazar, his son Phinehas, his son Abishua, 51 his son Bukki, his son Uzzi, his son Zerahiah, 52 his son Meraioth, his son Amariah, his son Ahitub, 53 his son Zadok, and his son Ahimaaz.

Levitical cities

54 These are the places they lived by their camps within their territory. To Aaron’s family from the Kohathite clan, as chosen by lot, 55 they gave Hebron in the land of Judah with its surrounding pasturelands. 56 But the city’s fields and its settlements they gave to Caleb, Jephunneh’s son. 57 To Aaron’s family they gave the refuge cities: Hebron, Libnah with its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands, 58 Hilen[e] with its pasturelands, Debir with its pasturelands, 59 Ashan with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands,[f] and Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands. 60 From Benjamin’s tribe: Gibeon with its pasturelands,[g] Geba with its pasturelands, Alemeth with its pasturelands, and Anathoth with its pasturelands. They had thirteen towns within their clan.

61 The remaining Kohathites were given ten towns by lot from the clan of half the tribe of Manasseh. 62 The Gershomites received by lot according to their clans thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan. 63 The Merarites received by lot according to their clans twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 64 In this way the Israelites gave the Levites the towns with their pasturelands. 65 They gave these towns, which they designated by name, by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

66 Some of the Kohathite clans had towns of their territory from the tribe of Ephraim. 67 They gave them refuge cities: Shechem with its pasturelands in the Ephraimite highlands, Gezer with its pasturelands, 68 Jokmeam with its pasturelands, Beth-horon with its pasturelands, 69 Aijalon with its pasturelands, Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands; 70 and from half the tribe of Manasseh, Taanach[h] with its pasturelands, and Bileam with its pasturelands, for the Kohathite clans who remained.

71 To the Gershomites from the clan of half the tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands and Ashtaroth with its pasturelands; 72 from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its pasturelands and Daberath with its pasturelands, 73 Ramoth with its pasturelands and Anem with its pasturelands; 74 from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands, and 75 Helkath[i] with its pasturelands and Rehob with its pasturelands; 76 and from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, Hammon with its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands. 77 To the remaining Merarites from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam with its pasturelands,[j] Rimmon[k] with its pasturelands, Tabor with its pasturelands, and Nahalal with its pasturelands;[l] 78 on the other side of the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the desert with its pasturelands, Jahzah with its pasturelands, 79 Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands; 80 and from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands, Mahanaim with its pasturelands, 81 Heshbon with its pasturelands, and Jazer with its pasturelands.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 6:1 5:27 in Heb
  2. 1 Chronicles 6:16 6:1 in Heb
  3. 1 Chronicles 6:26 LXX; MT repeats Elkanah.
  4. 1 Chronicles 6:28 LXX, Syr; MT lacks Joel.
  5. 1 Chronicles 6:58 LXX, cf Josh 15:51; MT Hilez
  6. 1 Chronicles 6:59 LXX, Syr, cf Josh 21:16; MT lacks Juttah.
  7. 1 Chronicles 6:60 Cf Josh 21:17; MT lacks Gibeon.
  8. 1 Chronicles 6:70 Cf Josh 21:25; MT Aner
  9. 1 Chronicles 6:75 Cf Josh 21:31; MT Hukkok
  10. 1 Chronicles 6:77 Cf Josh 21:34; MT lacks Jokneam.
  11. 1 Chronicles 6:77 LXX; MT Rimmono
  12. 1 Chronicles 6:77 Cf Josh 21:35; MT lacks Nahalal.