Read 1 Chronicles 6
Levi
6 The sons of Levi:
Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
2 The sons of Kohath:
Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
3 The children of Amram:
Aaron, Moses and Miriam.
The sons of Aaron:
Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
4 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas,
Phinehas the father of Abishua,
5 Abishua the father of Bukki,
Bukki the father of Uzzi,
6 Uzzi the father of Zerahiah,
Zerahiah the father of Meraioth,
7 Meraioth the father of Amariah,
Amariah the father of Ahitub,
8 Ahitub the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Ahimaaz,
9 Ahimaaz the father of Azariah,
Azariah the father of Johanan,
10 Johanan the father of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem),
11 Azariah the father of Amariah,
Amariah the father of Ahitub,
12 Ahitub the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Shallum,
13 Shallum the father of Hilkiah,
Hilkiah the father of Azariah,
14 Azariah the father of Seraiah,
and Seraiah the father of Jozadak.
15 Jozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
16 The sons of Levi:
Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon:
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 listed according to their fathers:
20 Of Gershon:
Libni his son, Jahath his son,
Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son,
Iddo his son, Zerah his son
and Jeatherai his son.
22 The descendants of Kohath:
Amminadab his son, Korah his son,
Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son,
Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,
24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son,
Uzziah his son and Shaul his son.
25 The descendants of Elkanah:
Amasai, Ahimoth,
26 Elkanah his son, Zophai his son,
Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son,
Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son
and Samuel his son.
28 The sons of Samuel:
Joel the firstborn
and Abijah the second son.
29 The descendants of Merari:
Mahli, Libni his son,
Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son
and Asaiah his son.
The Temple Musicians
31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.
33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons:
From the Kohathites:
Heman, the musician,
the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham,
the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah,
the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel,
the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir,
the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath,
the son of Levi, the son of Israel;
39 and Heman’s associate Asaph, who served at his right hand:
Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea,
40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah,
the son of Malkijah, 41 the son of Ethni,
the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah,
the son of Shimei, 43 the son of Jahath,
the son of Gershon, the son of Levi;
44 and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand:
Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi,
the son of Malluk, 45 the son of Hashabiah,
the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani,
the son of Shemer, 47 the son of Mahli,
the son of Mushi, the son of Merari,
the son of Levi.
48 Their fellow Levites were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God. 49 But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
50 These were the descendants of Aaron:
Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son,
Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son,
Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son,
Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son
and Ahimaaz his son.
54 These were the locations of their settlements allotted as their territory (they were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clan, because the first lot was for them):
55 They were given Hebron in Judah with its surrounding pasturelands. 56 But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
57 So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), and Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, 58 Hilen, Debir, 59 Ashan, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands. 60 And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands.
The total number of towns distributed among the Kohathite clans came to thirteen.
61 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of half the tribe of Manasseh.
62 The descendants of Gershon, clan by clan, were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali, and from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that is in Bashan.
63 The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, were allotted twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.
64 So the Israelites gave the Levites these towns and their pasturelands. 65 From the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin they allotted the previously named towns.
66 Some of the Kohathite clans were given as their territory towns from the tribe of Ephraim.
67 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge), and Gezer, 68 Jokmeam, Beth Horon, 69 Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands.
70 And from half the tribe of Manasseh the Israelites gave Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands, to the rest of the Kohathite clans.
71 The Gershonites received the following:
From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh
they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands;
72 from the tribe of Issachar
they received Kedesh, Daberath, 73 Ramoth and Anem, together with their pasturelands;
74 from the tribe of Asher
they received Mashal, Abdon, 75 Hukok and Rehob, together with their pasturelands;
76 and from the tribe of Naphtali
they received Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.
77 The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following:
From the tribe of Zebulun
they received Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands;
78 from the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan east of Jericho
they received Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah, 79 Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands;
80 and from the tribe of Gad
they received Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, 81 Heshbon and Jazer,together with their pasturelands.
Go Deeper
As we encounter 1 Chronicles 6 today, it feels like another trip through ancestry.com, reading lists of mostly unfamiliar names in a genealogy. As we’ve established over the previous few days, this may present a challenge or an excuse to skim quickly. But there is a benefit to us, the readers, as we don’t just read, but study these names.
With context and recognition of the purpose of the list, this day’s reading can encourage and remind us of God’s never-failing plan to redeem and restore. God established a priestly line (or family) as He organized the Israelites through Moses’ instruction. The details of this lineage and a reminder of their roles was significant to the recipients of this chronicle: the returning exiles of Judah from seventy years of Babylonian captivity. It is not hard to imagine there would be a loss of memory or any understanding of their roles as they head back to Judah. Seventy years is at least two generations!
Tracing their line as a member of the tribe of Levi gave the exiled family of Levi a designated role and a crucial purpose in the restoration of their nation. Those of Aaron’s line would serve as the priests who would present offerings in the Most Holy Place of the temple (to be rebuilt) and make atonement (payment) for the people of Israel’s sins as Moses prescribed by God. King David assigned certain Levites to minister with music as part of their worship. Two names recorded here, Heman and Asaph, are attributed to penning several of the Psalms. Other Levites contributed to the other duties related to the house of God.
This list of names begins to come to life as we view it through the lens of context and purpose. How can this list encourage us today? The priestly duty of Aaron’s line included making atonement for the sins of God’s people. This provision, established by God, pointed to a better, eternal atonement offered by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins. Today, as we are reminded of God’s provision recorded through His people and their families, we can give thanks that His ultimate never-failing plan to restore and redeem us came through Christ Jesus, the better, superior priest.
Questions
- Who do you recall from your past that has left a legacy of faith for you? If no one comes to mind, how could you begin that legacy for those that follow you?
- How have you benefited from the ministry of music as you worship? Take a moment to thank God for those who serve in this role.
- Who needs to know of God’s provision to redeem through Jesus? How will you share that great news this week?
Did You Know?
Asaph (referenced in v. 39) is credited with writing at least 11 psalms. Check out this article from GotQuestions.org for more information on Asaph.
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2 thoughts on “1 Chronicles 6”
The tribe of Levi was a priestly line. Woven into this long list of names, there are a few familiar ones—Moses, Aaron & Miriam, who all played a grand role in God delivering his people from the tyrant Pharaoh. Also mentioned is Samuel, a brilliant, God-appointed leader, who like Esther was born for “such a time as this” to deliver a nation from ruin. Also listed are musicians. I’m reminded that the Word of God and music will be present in heaven. It’s a rich experience to be led by our team at HC into praise of our Father and all he has done. Their talents certainly honor Him.
There are many people listed here that we will see and hear about in other books. Some we have already meet and read about. They are listed so that we know how and who loved God enough to follow Him and do His asking. God asks us to continue bringing His people to have a relationship with Him. We are His hands and feet to share the gospel. I am certainly not qualified but I am willing. Do I accomplish sharing Jesus daily? No. I pray about it, think about it, try to make it happen in my head (that is where I get into trouble), and sometimes it just flows out and happens. Thank You God!!! But this is what we have in common with this list of people, they were not perfect, they failed but they were willing to be used by God. As far as the musical aspect I am beyond super excited about what I can only imagine it will be like to worship MY GOD at His throne! WOOHOO!!! I love, love, love praise and worship here but oh my what it will be like there is exciting!
God thank You for how much You want me! Thank You for showing, helping, and guiding me to be better at being Your hands and feet. Thank You for Your words coming out of my mouth and that my ideas of what should or could happen dissolve away. Thank You for such a great imagination to be able to visualize what could be a possibility of praising You looks like. Even if it is so much greater than my brain can imagine, I am thankful for being able to love You in this capacity at this time. God You are so amazing to give me Your word. Thank You for all in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!