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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.

Genealogy of Levi’s Sons(A)

[a]Levi’s descendants included[b] Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. Kohath’s sons included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Amram’s descendants included Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. Aaron’s sons included Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua, Abishua fathered Bukki, Bukki fathered Uzzi, Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, Zerahiah fathered Meraioth, Meraioth fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Ahimaaz, Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, Azariah fathered Johanan, 10 and Johanan fathered Azariah, who served as priest in the Temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem. 11 Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, 12 Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Shallum, 13 Shallum fathered Hilkiah, Hilkiah fathered Azariah, 14 Azariah fathered Seraiah, and Seraiah fathered Jehozadak. 15 The Lord sent Jehozadak, Judah, and Jerusalem into exile, using Nebuchadnezzar to do it.[c]

16 [d]Levi’s descendants included Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17 These are the names of Gershom’s descendants: Libni and Shimei. 18 Kohath’s sons included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 Merari’s sons included Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the descendants of Levi according to their ancestry: 20 Gershom’s clan included[e] 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 descendants included 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 descendants included Amasai and Ahimoth, 26 his son Elkanah, his son Zophai, his son Nahath, 27 his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his son Elkanah.

28 Samuel’s descendants included Joel his firstborn and his second son[f] Abijah.

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

David’s Musicians

31 These are the men[g] to whom David handed responsibility for music in the Temple of the Lord, after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered in song[h] in front of the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon had built the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They served in accordance with orders of service designated for them.

33 These are the men who served, including their descendants: From the descendants of Kohath, there was[i] Heman the singer, who had been fathered by Joel, who had been fathered by Samuel, 34 who had been fathered by Elkanah, who had been fathered by Jeroham, who had been fathered by Eliel, who had been fathered by Toah, 35 who had been fathered by Zuph, who had been fathered by Elkanah, who had been fathered by Mahath, who had been fathered by Amasai, 36 who had been fathered by Elkanah, who had been fathered by Joel, who had been fathered by Azariah, who had been fathered by Zephaniah, 37 who had been fathered by Tahath, who had been fathered by Assir, who had been fathered by Ebiasaph, who had been fathered by Korah, 38 who had been fathered by Izhar, who had been fathered by Kohath, who had been fathered by Levi, who had been fathered by Israel.

39 There was also[j] his brother Asaph, who stood to Heman’s[k] right. Asaph had been fathered by Berechiah, who had been fathered by Shimea, 40 who had been fathered by Michael, who had been fathered by Baaseiah, who had been fathered by Malchijah, 41 who had been fathered by Ethni, who had been fathered by Zerah, who had been fathered by Adaiah, 42 who had been fathered by Ethan, who had been fathered by Zimmah, who had been fathered by Shimei, 43 who had been fathered by Jahath, who had been fathered by Gershom, and who had been fathered by Levi.

44 To Heman’s[l] left were their relatives who were Merari’s sons: Ethan, who had been fathered by Kishi, who had been fathered by Abdi, who had been fathered by Malluch, 45 who had been fathered by Hashabiah, who had been fathered by Amaziah, who had been fathered by Hilkiah, 46 who had been fathered by Amzi, who had been fathered by Bani, who had been fathered by Shemer, 47 who had been fathered by Mahli, who had been fathered by Mushi, who had been fathered by Merari, who had been fathered by Levi, 48 along with their relatives, descendants of Levi who had been appointed for all the service of the tent of the Temple of God.

49 Meanwhile, Aaron and his sons presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, carrying out the work of the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel in accordance with everything that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

50 These are Aaron’s sons: 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 Settlements(B)

54 These are the settlement locations allotted within their borders to Aaron’s descendants in the Kohathite clan since the lot was cast in their favor first. 55 Hebron in the territory of Judah was allotted to them, along with its surrounding suburbs.[m] 56 The fields adjacent to[n] the city and its villages were allotted to Jephunneh’s son Caleb. 57 They allotted these cities of refuge to the descendants of Aaron: Hebron, Libnah with its surrounding suburbs, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its surrounding suburbs, 58 Hilen with its surrounding suburbs, Debir with its surrounding suburbs, 59 Ashan with its surrounding suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with its surrounding suburbs. 60 From the tribe of Benjamin were allotted[o] Geba with its surrounding suburbs, Alemeth with its surrounding suburbs, and Anathoth with its surrounding suburbs. All their towns allotted to their families totaled thirteen.

61 Ten towns were allocated to the rest of the descendants of Kohath by lot out of the family of the tribe, that is, the half-tribe of Manasseh. 62 To the descendants of Gershom according to their families were allotted 13 towns in Bashan from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh. 63 The descendants of Merari were allotted 12 towns according to their families from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 64 So the people of Israel gave the descendants of Levi the towns with their surrounding suburbs, 65 allocating these towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

66 A few of the families of Kohath’s descendants had towns of their territory allotted from[p] the tribe of Ephraim. 67 They were given these cities of refuge: Shechem with its surrounding suburbs in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its surrounding suburbs, 68 Jokmeam with its surrounding suburbs, Beth-horon with its surrounding suburbs, 69 Aijalon with its surrounding suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its surrounding suburbs, 70 and (from of the half-tribe of Manasseh), Aner with its surrounding suburbs, and Bileam with its surrounding suburbs for the rest of the Kohathite families.

71 From the half-tribe of Manasseh the descendants of Gershom were allotted Golan in Bashan with its surrounding suburbs and Ashtaroth with its surrounding suburbs. 72 From the tribe of Issachar were allotted Kedesh with its surrounding suburbs, Daberath with its surrounding suburbs, 73 Ramoth with its surrounding suburbs, and Anem with its surrounding suburbs. 74 From of the tribe of Asher were allotted Mashal with its surrounding suburbs, Abdon with its surrounding suburbs, 75 Hukok with its surrounding suburbs, and Rehob with its surrounding suburbs. 76 From the tribe of Naphtali were allotted Kedesh in Galilee with its surrounding suburbs, Hammon with its surrounding suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its surrounding suburbs. 77 From the tribe of Zebulun the rest of the descendants of Merari were allotted Rimmono with its surrounding suburbs, and Tabor with its surrounding suburbs, 78 across the Jordan from Jericho, that is, on the east side of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben were allotted Bezer in the steppe with its surrounding suburbs, Jahzah with its surrounding suburbs, 79 Kedemoth with its surrounding suburbs, and Mephaath with its surrounding suburbs. 80 From the tribe of Gad were allotted Ramoth in Gilead with its surrounding suburbs, Mahanaim with its surrounding suburbs, 81 Heshbon with its surrounding suburbs, and Jazer with its surrounding suburbs.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 6:1 This v. is 5:27 in MT, 16:2 is MT 5:28, and so through 6:15 (5:41 in MT)
  2. 1 Chronicles 6:1 The Heb. lacks included; and so throughout the chapter
  3. 1 Chronicles 6:15 Lit. exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar
  4. 1 Chronicles 6:16 This v. is 6:1 in MT, 6:17 is MT 6:2, and so through 6:81 (6:66 in MT)
  5. 1 Chronicles 6:20 The Heb. lacks clan included
  6. 1 Chronicles 6:28 The Heb. lacks son
  7. 1 Chronicles 6:31 The Heb. lacks are the men
  8. 1 Chronicles 6:32 Or music
  9. 1 Chronicles 6:33 The Heb. lacks there was
  10. 1 Chronicles 6:39 The Heb. lacks There was also
  11. 1 Chronicles 6:39 Lit. his
  12. 1 Chronicles 6:44 Lit. the
  13. 1 Chronicles 6:55 Or its pasture lands; and so throughout the chapter
  14. 1 Chronicles 6:56 Lit. fields of
  15. 1 Chronicles 6:60 The Heb. lacks were allotted; and so throughout the chapter
  16. 1 Chronicles 6:66 Lit. territory out of