6:1ffThe tribe of Levi was set apart to serve God in the Tabernacle (Numbers 3-4), and later in the Temple (1 Chronicles 23-26). Aaron, Levi's descendant (6:3), became Israel's first high priest. God required ail future priests to be descendants of Aaron. The rest of the Levites assisted the priests in various Tabernacle or Temple duties; they taught the people God’s Word and encouraged them to obey it.
Life Application Study Bible1 ChroniclesChapter 6
1 Chronicles 6
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 628, 629, 630, 631
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61 Chronicles 6
The Priestly Line
16 1*The 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 Solomonin 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 thepeople of Judah and Jerusalem into captivity under Nebuchadnezzar.
The Levite Clans
16*The 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.
18The 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, 2*Joah, 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.
The Temple Musicians
3131 David 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, 94Elkanah, Jeroham, Eliel, Toah, 9°Zuph, Elkanah, Mahath, Amasai, 34Elkanah, Joel, Azariah, Zephaniah, 37Tahath, Assir, Abiasaph, Korah, 38]zhar, 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, Ethni, 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, 4SHashabiah, 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.
Aaron’s Descendanis
4949Qnly 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.
Territory for the Levites
5454This is a record of the towns and territory assigned by means of sacred lots to the descen- 6: dants of Aaron, who were from the clan of Kohath. 55This territory included Hebron and its 4s? 2" ' surrounding pasturelands in Judah, 5¢but the fields and outlying areas belonging to the city 655-8 19: 16:13 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 6:58 they were given Gibeon,* Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, each with its pasturelands. So thir- ae teen towns were given to the descendants of Aaron. 61The remaining descendants of Kohath Josh 21:5 received ten towns from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh by means of sacred lots. * “hr 686-70 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. 5The 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.
Textual footnotes
- lacks from the clan of Gershon; see 6:43.
- of refuge: Hebron, and the following towns, each with its pasturelands.
- reads Hilen.
- Josh 21:16); Hebrew lacks Juttah.
- 54
- 6:1 Verses 6:1-15 are numbered 5:27-41
- 6:32 Hebrew the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. 6:38 /sraelis the name that God gave to Jacob.
- 6:39 Hebrew
- 6:57 As in parallel text at Josh 21:13; Hebrew reads were given the cities
- 6:58 As in parailel text at Josh 21:15; Hebrew
- 6:59a As in parallel text at Josh 21:16; Hebrew reads Ashan.
- 6:59b As in Syriac version (see also
- 6:60 As in parallel text at Josh 21:17; Hebrew lacks Gibeon.
- 6:78 Hebrew Jahzah, a variant spelling of Jahaz._7:13a As in parallel text at Gen 46:24; Hebrew reads Jahziel,
Life Application Notes 10 notes
6:3The people listed here played major rotes in the drama of the Exodus. Aaron’s story is found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. His Profile is found in Exodus 32, p. 145. Moses was one of the greatest prophets and leaders in Israel’s history. His story is found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. His Profile is found in Exodus 14, p. 117. The story of Miriam, Moses and Aaron’s sister, is found in Exodus 2; 15:20, 21; and Numbers 12; 20:1. Her Profile is found in Numbers 13, p. 221. Nadab and Abihu were killed for disobeying God (Leviticus 10). Eleazar became Israel's high priest after Aaron (Numbers 20:24-28), and Ithamar played an important role in organizing the worship services of the Tabernacle (Numbers 4:28, 33; 7:8).
6:28When Samuel became God’s leader and spokesman, Israel was on the brink of collapse. The last few chapters of the book of Judges give a vivid picture of the moral decay and the resulting decline of the nation. But with God’s help, Samuel almost single-handedly brought the nation from ruin to revival. He unified the people by showing them that God was their common Leader and that any nation that focused on him would find and fulfill its true purpose. For the rest of Samuel’s story, and to see how he set up rules for governing a nation based on spiritual principles, read the book of 1 Samuel and his Profile in 1 Samuel 7,p. 419.
6:31David did much to bring music into worship. He established song Jeaders and choirs to perform regularly at the Temple (chapter 25). As a young man, David was hired to play the harp for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:15-23). He also wrote many of the songs found in the book of Psalms.
6:31ffThe builders and craftsmen had completed the Temple, and the priests and Levites had been given their responsibilities for taking care of it. Then it was time for another group of people—the musicians—to exercise their talents for God. Some of those who served with music are recorded here. You don’t have to be an ordained minister to have an important place in the body of believers. Builders, craftsmen, worship assistants, choir members, and song leaders all have significant contributions to make. God has given you a unique combination of talents. Use them to serve and honor him.
6:49Aaron and his descendants strictly followed the details of worship commanded by God through Moses. They did not choose only those commands they wanted to obey. Note what happened to Uzzah when important details in handling the Ark of the Covenant were neglected (13:6-10). We should not try to obey God selectively, choosing those commands we will obey and those we will ignore. God’s Word has authority over every aspect of our lives, not just selected areas.
6:49For more information on priests, see the note on Leviticus 8:1ff.
6:54The tribe of Levi was not given a specific area of land as were the other tribes. Instead, the Levites were to live throughout the land in order to aid the people of every tribe in their worship ot God. Thus, the Levites were given towns or pasturelands within the allotted areas of the other tribes (Joghua 13:14, 33).
6:57ffGod had told the tribes to designate specific cities to be cities of refuge (Numbers 35). These cities were to provide refuge for a person who accidentally killed someone. This instruction may have seemed unimportant when it was given—the Israelites hadn't even entered the Promised Land. Sometimes God gives us instructions that do not seem relevant to us at the moment. But later we can see the importance of those instructions. Don't discard the lessons of the Bible because certain details seem irrelevant. Obey God now—in the future you will have a clearer understanding of the reasons for his instructions.
6:61The Israelites cast lots in order to take the decision-making
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Study feature · page 629
6:10 Hebrew the house. 6:16a Verses 6:16-81 are numbered 6:1-66 in Hebrew text. 6:16b Hebrew Gershom, a variant spelling of Gershon (see 6:1); also in 6:17, 20, 43, 62,71. 6:23 Hebrew Eb/asaph, a variant spelling of Abiasaph (also in 6:37); compare parallel text at Exod 6:24, 6:27 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 6:33-34); Hebrew lacks and Samuel. 6:28 As in some Greek manuscripts and the Syriac version (see also 6:33 and 1 Sam 8:2); Hebrew tacks Joel.
Study feature · page 631
LG Process out of human hands and put it into God’s hands. Casting —_after seeking God’s guidance in prayer. (For more information lots was like drawing straws or throwing dice. Lots were cast only _ on casting lots, see the note on Joshua 18:8.)
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