1 Chronicles6

1 Chronicles 6 meticulously details the genealogies and roles of the Levites. It begins with the lineage of the high priests from Aaron to the Babylonian captivity, followed by the broader family lines of Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. The chapter also describes David's appointment of Levites for musical service and outlines the specific cities allotted to each Levitical family throughout Israel.

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The Sons of Levi and the Priestly Line

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, Phinehas was the father of Abishua,

Abishua was the father of Bukki, Bukki was the father of Uzzi,

Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth,

Meraioth was the father of Amariah, Amariah was the father of Ahitub,

Ahitub was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz,

Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, Azariah was the father of Johanan,

Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem,

Azariah was the father of Amariah, Amariah was the father of Ahitub,

Ahitub was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Shallum,

Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, Hilkiah was the father of Azariah,

Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.

Jehozadak went into captivity when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

Detailed Genealogies of the Levitical Clans

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

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

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

The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:

Of Gershom:

Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son.

The descendants of Kohath:

Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,

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

The descendants of Elkanah:

Amasai, Ahimoth, Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son,

Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son.

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

The descendants of Merari:

Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.

The Chief Ministers of Song

These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there.

They ministered with song before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. And they performed their duties according to the regulations given them.

These are the men who served, together with their sons. From the Kohathites:

Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,

the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,

the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,

the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.

Heman’s kinsman was Asaph, who served at his right hand:

Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea, the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,

the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,

the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,

the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

On the left were their kinsmen, the sons of Merari:

Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,

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

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

Their fellow Levites were assigned to every kind of service of the tabernacle, the house of God.

The Exclusive Duties of the Priesthood

But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

These were the descendants of Aaron:

Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,

Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,

Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.

Distribution of Levitical Cities

Now these were the territories assigned to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clan for their settlements, because the first lot fell to them:

They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands.

But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.

So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,

Hilen, Debir,

Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh, together with their pasturelands.

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.

To the rest of the Kohathites, ten cities were allotted from the half-tribe of Manasseh.

The Gershomites, according to their clans, were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan.

The Merarites, according to their families, were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands.

They assigned by lot the cities named above from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

And some of the clans of the Kohathites were given cities from the tribe of Ephraim for their territory:

They were given Shechem (a city of refuge) with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, and Gezer,

Jokmeam, Beth-horon,

Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon, together with their pasturelands.

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

The Gershomites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands.

From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kedesh, Daberath,

Ramoth, and Anem, together with their pasturelands.

From the tribe of Asher they were given Mashal, Abdon,

Hukok, and Rehob, together with their pasturelands.

And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.

The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands.

From the tribe of Reuben east of the Jordan opposite Jericho they were given Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah,

Kedemoth, and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands.

And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,

Heshbon, and Jazer, together with their pasturelands.

Study Notes for 1 Chronicles 6

Verse 1

This chapter focuses exclusively on the tribe of Levi, detailing the crucial priestly and musical families. The structure of the chapter highlights the three main Levitical branches: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Verse 3

The inclusion of Moses and Miriam among Amram's children links the priesthood directly to the foundational period of Israel. The four sons of Aaron establish the priestly succession, though Nadab and Abihu died without legitimate heirs (Leviticus 10).

Verse 10

The genealogy often skips generations, focusing only on the most significant figures. This Azariah is specifically noted as the High Priest who served during the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, emphasizing the continuity of the legitimate high priesthood.

Verse 15

The listing concludes with Jehozadak, who was taken into Babylonian exile (586 BC). This clearly establishes the historical scope of the genealogy for the Chronicler’s post-exilic audience.

Verse 16

This verse repeats the initial list of Levi’s sons, signaling a shift from the exclusive focus on the High Priestly line (Aaronites) to the genealogies of the three main Levitical clans.

Verse 28

Though famous as a prophet and judge, Samuel (Shemuel) was a Levite from the Kohathite branch, demonstrating that key national leadership positions were often filled by Levites, even outside of the strictly defined priestly roles.

Verse 31

This section introduces the three great choir masters—Heman, Asaph, and Ethan—whom David appointed to organize and lead the musical worship, establishing sacred music as a highly structured, permanent Levitical duty.

Verse 32

The Levites’ ministry of song began when the Ark was settled in Jerusalem and continued until the Temple was built. This highlights the theological importance of continuous worship regardless of the physical structure.

Verse 33

Heman, a Kohathite, is listed first and is prominently identified as the grandson of Samuel (Shemuel), tying the musical ministry to an extremely respected lineage.

Verse 39

Asaph, a Gershomite, stood on Heman’s right hand. He is traditionally credited with composing many Psalms (e.g., Ps. 50, 73–83) and became the eponym for a major guild of Temple musicians.

Verse 44

Ethan (often identified with Jeduthun in other texts) represents the Merarite branch, completing the trio of principal singers who presided over the Temple music organization.

Verse 49

This verse sharply distinguishes the ministerial duties of the non-priestly Levites (V. 48) from the exclusive ritual duties of the Sons of Aaron, who alone could offer sacrifices and perform the rites of atonement.

Verse 54

The Levitical families did not receive a tribal land inheritance but were given cities scattered throughout Israel (Num. 35). The priests (Aaronites) are listed first, receiving cities from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

Verse 57

The priests received key cities in the southern territory, notably Hebron, which was one of the six cities of refuge, ensuring their presence near the central political and spiritual hub of Jerusalem.

Verse 61

The remaining non-priestly Kohathites received their allotment of cities from the central tribes, including Ephraim and Manasseh, continuing the strategic placement of Levites across the nation.

Verse 62

The Gershomites received cities in the northern tribes, while the Merarites (V. 63) received cities in the east and north-central region. This dispersion ensured that all tribes had Levitical teachers and ministers among them.

Verse 67

Shechem is listed as a city of refuge for the Kohathites. The provision of these refuge cities was critical for maintaining justice and preventing blood vengeance (Deuteronomy 19:1–13).

Verse 76

Kedesh in Galilee, assigned to the Gershomites, was another designated City of Refuge, reinforcing the Levites' role in upholding justice and sacred law throughout the land.

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1 Chronicles6

The Sons of Levi and the Priestly Line

Detailed Genealogies of the Levitical Clans

The Chief Ministers of Song

The Exclusive Duties of the Priesthood

Distribution of Levitical Cities

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