1 The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.

And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,

And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,

And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,

Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,

And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,

And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,

10 And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)

11 And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,

12 And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,

13 And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,

14 And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,

15 And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

16 The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

17 And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.

18 And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.

19 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.

20 Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,

21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.

22 The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,

23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,

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

25 And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.

26 As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,

27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.

28 And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.

29 The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,

30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.

31 And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after that the ark had rest.

32 And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.

33 And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,

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 his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,

40 The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,

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 Gershom, the son of Levi.

44 And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,

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 Shamer,

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

48 Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

49 But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

50 And these are the sons 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, Ahimaaz his son.

54 Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.

55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.

56 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,

58 And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,

59 And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs:

60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.

61 And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.

62 And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

63 Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.

65 And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.

66 And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.

67 And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,

68 And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,

69 And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs:

70 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.

71 Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:

72 And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,

73 And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:

74 And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,

75 And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:

76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.

77 Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:

78 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,

79 Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:

80 And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

81 And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.

Commentary

Verse 1

McArther Bible Commentary
The family of Levi.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 46:11 Exodus 6:16 Numbers 26:57 1 Chronicles 6:2 1 Chronicles 23:6

Verse 2

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:18 1 Chronicles 6:1 1 Chronicles 6:3

Verse 3

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:23 Exodus 15:20 1 Chronicles 6:2 1 Chronicles 6:4

Verse 4

Bible Cross References
2 Samuel 8:17 1 Chronicles 6:3 1 Chronicles 6:5 1 Chronicles 6:50 Ezra 7:1

Verse 5

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:4 1 Chronicles 6:6

Verse 6

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:5 1 Chronicles 6:7

Verse 7

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:6 1 Chronicles 6:8

Verse 8

McArther Bible Commentary
Zadok. By the time of David's reign, the high priestly line had wrongly been shifted to the sons of Ithamar as represented by Abiathar. When Abiathar sided with Adonijah rather than Solomon, Zadok became the ruling high priest (1Ki 2:26-27) and restored the high-priesthood to the Levitical line through Phinehas (cf. Num 25:10-13).
Bible Cross References
2 Samuel 8:17 2 Samuel 15:27 1 Chronicles 6:7 1 Chronicles 6:9 1 Chronicles 12:28 1 Chronicles 24:3 2 Chronicles 31:10

Verse 9

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:8 1 Chronicles 6:10 2 Chronicles 31:10

Verse 10

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The priest's office - So did all the rest, but it is implied that he did it worthily, he filled his place, and valiantly discharged his office in Uzziah's time. Solomon built - In Solomon's temple; so called to distinguish it from the second temple which was built or in building when these books were written.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 4:2 1 Kings 6:1 1 Chronicles 6:9 2 Chronicles 3:1 2 Chronicles 26:17

Verse 11

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:12 Ezra 7:3

Verse 12

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:11 1 Chronicles 6:13

Verse 13

McArther Bible Commentary
Hilkiah. The high priest who rediscovered the law in Josiah's reign c. 622 B.C. (2Ki 22:8-13; 2Ch 34:14-21).
Bible Cross References
2 Kings 18:18 1 Chronicles 6:12 1 Chronicles 6:14 Jeremiah 29:3

Verse 14

McArther Bible Commentary
Seraiah. The high priest who was executed by the Babylonians after their occupation of Jerusalem c. 586 B.C. (2Ki 25:18-21). Jehozadak (Jozadak). The father of Jeshua, the first high priest in the return (cf. Ezr 3:2; Ezr 5:2).
Bible Cross References
2 Kings 25:18 1 Chronicles 6:13 1 Chronicles 6:15 Nehemiah 11:11 Jeremiah 52:24

Verse 15

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:14 1 Chronicles 6:16

Verse 16

McArther Bible Commentary
The sons of Levi (1Ch 6:16-19) and their families (1Ch 6:20-30) are given here.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 46:11 Exodus 6:16 Numbers 26:57 1 Chronicles 6:15 1 Chronicles 6:17 1 Chronicles 15:4

Verse 17

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:17 1 Chronicles 6:16 1 Chronicles 6:18

Verse 18

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:18 1 Chronicles 6:17 1 Chronicles 6:19

Verse 19

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:19 Numbers 3:33 1 Chronicles 6:18 1 Chronicles 6:20 1 Chronicles 23:21

Verse 20

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:19 1 Chronicles 6:21

Verse 21

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:20 1 Chronicles 6:22

Verse 22

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:24 1 Samuel 1:1 1 Chronicles 6:21 1 Chronicles 6:23

Verse 23

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:24 1 Chronicles 6:22 1 Chronicles 6:24

Verse 24

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:23 1 Chronicles 6:25

Verse 25

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:24 1 Chronicles 6:26

Verse 26

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:25 1 Chronicles 6:27

Verse 27

McArther Bible Commentary
Samuel, a Levite by exceptional, divine direction, offered priestly sacrifices (cf. 1Sa 7:9; 1Sa 10:8; 1Sa 11:14-15). The fact that Elkanah was from Ephraim (1Sa 1:1) indicates where he lived, not his family history (Num 35:6-8).
Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:26 1 Chronicles 6:28

Verse 28

Bible Cross References
1 Samuel 8:2 1 Chronicles 6:27 1 Chronicles 6:29 1 Chronicles 6:33

Verse 29

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:17 1 Chronicles 6:28 1 Chronicles 6:30

Verse 30

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:29 1 Chronicles 6:31

Verse 31

McArther Bible Commentary
The Levitical musicians are listed as they relate to: (1) Kohath and Heman (1Ch 6:33-38); (2) Gershon and Asaph (1Ch 6:39-43); and (3) Merari and Ethan (1Ch 6:44-47).
Bible Cross References
2 Samuel 6:17 1 Kings 8:4 1 Chronicles 6:30 1 Chronicles 6:32 1 Chronicles 9:33 1 Chronicles 15:1 1 Chronicles 15:16 1 Chronicles 15:27 1 Chronicles 16:4 Ezra 3:10 Ezekiel 40:44

Verse 32

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:31 1 Chronicles 6:33 Ezekiel 40:44

Verse 33

Bible Cross References
1 Samuel 1:1 1 Chronicles 6:28 1 Chronicles 6:32 1 Chronicles 6:34 1 Chronicles 16:41 1 Chronicles 25:1

Verse 34

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:33 1 Chronicles 6:35

Verse 35

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:34 1 Chronicles 6:36

Verse 36

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:35 1 Chronicles 6:37

Verse 37

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:21 1 Chronicles 6:36 1 Chronicles 6:38

Verse 38

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:18 Exodus 6:21 1 Chronicles 6:37 1 Chronicles 6:39

Verse 39

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:38 1 Chronicles 6:40 1 Chronicles 25:1

Verse 40

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:39 1 Chronicles 6:41 Ezra 10:25 Ezra 10:31 Jeremiah 21:1

Verse 41

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:40 1 Chronicles 6:42

Verse 42

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:41 1 Chronicles 6:43

Verse 43

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:42 1 Chronicles 6:44

Verse 44

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Ethan - Called also Jeduthun, (1 Chronicles 9:16) , (2 Chronicles 35:15) , and in the titles of divers psalms.
Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:43 1 Chronicles 6:45

Verse 45

Bible Cross References
2 Kings 18:18 1 Chronicles 6:44 1 Chronicles 6:46

Verse 46

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:45 1 Chronicles 6:47

Verse 47

Bible Cross References
Exodus 6:19 1 Chronicles 6:46 1 Chronicles 6:48

Verse 48

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:47 1 Chronicles 6:49

Verse 49

McArther Bible Commentary
This is a repeat of the high-priestly line enumerated in 1Ch 6:4-8 through Zadok. This repeated genealogy could possibly point to the Zadokian high priesthood for the temple in the millennium (cf. Eze 40:46; Eze 43:19; Eze 44:15; Eze 48:11).
Bible Cross References
Exodus 27:1 Exodus 30:1 Exodus 30:10 1 Chronicles 6:48

Verse 50

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:4 1 Chronicles 6:51 Ezra 7:5

Verse 51

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:50 1 Chronicles 6:52

Verse 52

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:51 1 Chronicles 6:53

Verse 53

Bible Cross References
1 Kings 2:35 1 Chronicles 6:52 1 Chronicles 6:54 1 Chronicles 12:28

Verse 54

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Castles - So called, not only because, walled and well guarded by the country; but because they and their possessions were in a particular manner the care of divine providence. As God was their portion, so God was their protector. And a cottage will be a castle to those that abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The lot - Or, the first lot.
McArther Bible Commentary
This section rehearses the forty-eight cities given to the Levites instead of a section of land (cf. Num 35:1-8; Jos 21:1-42) which signals God's intention for the Jewish nation to have a priesthood and future in the land first given to Abraham (cf. Gen 12:1-3).
Bible Cross References
Numbers 3:27 Joshua 21:4 Joshua 21:10 1 Chronicles 6:53

Verse 55

Bible Cross References
Joshua 14:13 Joshua 21:11

Verse 56

Bible Cross References
Numbers 13:6 Joshua 15:13

Verse 57

Bible Cross References
Joshua 21:13 Joshua 21:19 1 Chronicles 6:58 1 Chronicles 6:65

Verse 58

Bible Cross References
Joshua 10:38 1 Chronicles 6:57 1 Chronicles 6:59

Verse 59

Bible Cross References
Joshua 15:10 1 Chronicles 6:58 1 Chronicles 6:60

Verse 60

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:59 1 Chronicles 6:61 Jeremiah 1:1

Verse 61

Bible Cross References
Joshua 21:5 1 Chronicles 6:60 1 Chronicles 6:62 1 Chronicles 6:66

Verse 62

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:61 1 Chronicles 6:63

Verse 63

Bible Cross References
Joshua 21:7 Joshua 21:34 1 Chronicles 6:62

Verse 64

Bible Cross References
Numbers 35:1 Joshua 21:3 Joshua 21:41

Verse 65

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:57 1 Chronicles 6:66

Verse 66

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Coasts - Or, of their borders, of their country contained within its borders.
Bible Cross References
Joshua 21:20 1 Chronicles 6:61 1 Chronicles 6:67

Verse 67

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:66 1 Chronicles 6:68

Verse 68

Bible Cross References
Joshua 10:10 1 Kings 4:12 1 Chronicles 6:67 1 Chronicles 6:69

Verse 69

Bible Cross References
Joshua 10:12 Joshua 19:45 1 Chronicles 6:68 1 Chronicles 6:70

Verse 70

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:69 1 Chronicles 6:71

Verse 71

Bible Cross References
Joshua 13:31 Joshua 21:27 1 Chronicles 6:70 1 Chronicles 6:72

Verse 72

Bible Cross References
Joshua 19:12 1 Chronicles 6:71 1 Chronicles 6:73

Verse 73

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:72 1 Chronicles 6:74

Verse 74

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:73 1 Chronicles 6:75

Verse 75

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:74 1 Chronicles 6:76

Verse 76

Bible Cross References
Joshua 20:7 1 Chronicles 6:75 1 Chronicles 6:77

Verse 77

Bible Cross References
Joshua 21:34 1 Chronicles 6:76 1 Chronicles 6:78

Verse 78

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:77 1 Chronicles 6:79

Verse 79

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:78 1 Chronicles 6:80

Verse 80

Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:79 1 Chronicles 6:81

Verse 81

Bible Cross References
Joshua 13:25 1 Chronicles 6:80 1 Chronicles 7:1 1 Chronicles 26:31