The First Book of the Chronicles
1 Chronicles 6
Chapter VI · Vol. II, pp. 812–815
1 The sons of Levi. 4 The line of the priests unto the captivity. 16 The families of Gershom, Merari, and Kohath. 49 The office of Aaron, and his line unto Ahimaaz. 54 The cities of the priests and Levites.
3 And dthe children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The esons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
e Le.10.1,12. Ex.28.1. ch.24.1,2. Nu.26.60,61; 3.2,4.
5 And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,
6 And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,
7 Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
9 And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,
10 And hJohanan begat Azariah, (he it is ithat executed the priest's office in the ktemple1 that Solomon built2 in Jerusalem,)3
h Perhaps Jehoiada, 2 Ki.xi.xii.
1 Heb. in the house.
2 This is an intimation that the writer lived when the second temple was built or building. The person mentioned is supposed to have been that Azariah who vigorously opposed Uzziah's presumptuous attempt to burn incense. His father Johanan is thought by some to have been the same as Jehoiada, the firm friend to religion and the family of David during Athaliah's usurpation; otherwise Jehoiada is not mentioned.—I.
3 Who, consequently, witnessed there the glory of the Shechinah, and the completion of those shadowy ordinances that set forth the body of Christ, He.10.1.—C.
11 And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
14 And Azariah begat nSeraiah,4 and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,
n 2 Ki.25.18. Ezr.7.1. Ne.11.11.
4 With him ended the succession of priests in the first temple.—C.
15 And oJehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD pcarried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.5
16 The sons of 6Levi; qGershom,r Kohath, and Merari.
6 The principal persons who presided over the three families of Levi, till the time of David, seem to be mentioned in these verses. The marginal references contain the variation in the names given to the same persons in different parts of sacred history, as far as it can be ascertained; and nearly the whole that is at present known concerning them may be learned by carefully consulting them. Samuel, the son of Elkanah, was not a priest, but descended from Izhar, Aaron's uncle; yet, as a prophet, he sacrificed personally, and not by the ministration of the priests.—I.
q Or, Gershon, ver.1.
r Ex.6.16. ver.1.
17 And these be the names of sthe sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.7
s Ex.6.17. ch.23.7.
7 B.C. 1700.
18 And the tsons of Kohath, were Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
t ver.2?; ch.23.12. Ex.6.18.
19 The usons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites, according to their fathers.
21 Joahy his son, zIddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.
y Or, Ethan, ver.42, not Ps.89. title.
z Or, Adaiah, ver.41.
22 The sons of Kohath; aAmminadabb his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
a Or, Ethni, ver.41.
b Or, Izhar, ver.2,18,33-38. Ex.6.21,24.
24 Tahath his son, cUriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
c Or, Zephaniah, Azariah, Joel, ver.36.
26 As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophaie his son, and Nahath his son,
e Or, Zuph, 1 Sa.1.1. ver.35.
28 And the sons of Samuel; the first-born1 hVashni,2 and Abiah.
1 B.C. 1095.
h Called also Joel, ver.33. 1 Sa.8.2.
2 From 1 Sa. 8. 2, and from 1 Ch. 6. 33, it appears that the name of Samuel's eldest son was Joel, and not Vashni. Some suppose the word Joel to have dropped out of the text, and that Vashni, which signifies second, is an epithet to be joined with Abiah. There seems no necessity for this conjectural emendation, as the first-born of Samuel may have been called both Joel and Vashni.—C.
30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.
31 And these are they whom David set over the service3 of song in the house of the LORD, after that the kark4 had rest.5
3 'Over the hands,' inasmuch as the hands were largely used in the instrumental music, divinely authorized and appointed, as a significant and delightful accompaniment of the Jewish worship.—C.
k ch.16.1. 2 Sa.6.17. 1 Ki.8.4-6.
4 B.C. 1045.
5 Two states of the church are represented by the ark—the one, uncertainty of abiding, and many removals—the other, rest and permanence. The one, the church on earth—the other, the church in heaven.—C.
32 And they lministered 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.
l ch.16.37-42; 24.30; xxv.
33 And these are they that mwaited, with their children: of the sons of the Kohathites; nHeman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,
m Stood, Ps.134.1, 2.ch.25.9; ver.22-28.
n ch.15.17,19; 25.4; ver.28. Ps.88. title.
34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of oEliel, the son of Toah,
o Or, Eliab, Nahath, ver.26,27.
35 The son of pZuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
p Or, Zophai, ver.26,27.
36 The son of Elkanah, the son of qJoel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
A.M. 2959. B.C. 1045.
q Shaul, Uzziah, Uriel, ver.24.
37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of rKorah,
r Nu.16.1-37; 26.10,11. Ps.xiii. xliv.-xlix. lxxxiv.lxxxv. title.
38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
39 And his brother sAsaph,6 (who stood on his right hand,) even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,
s ch.15.17,19; 25.2; ver.20,21. Ps.l. lxxiii.-lxxxiii. title. ver.20,21.
6 To whom are ascribed twelve of the psalms. C.——As Asaph was of the same tribe with Heman, he is called his brother, though belonging to a different family of that tribe, for he was descended from Gershom; but Heman from Kohath. These persons are celebrated in these books and in the Psalms for their skill in singing, and the part they performed in the public worship of God. It is very likely that their singing was only a kind of recitative or chanting, such as we still find in the synagogues.—I.
40 The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,
41 The son of tEthni, the son of Zerah, the son of uAdaiah,
t Or, Jeaterai, ver.21.
u Or, Iddo, ver.21.
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: wEthan the son of xKishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
w Or, Jeduthun, ch.9.16; 25.3,6. Ps.89. title.
x Or, Kushaiah, ch.15.17.
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 yMerari, the son of Levi.
y ch.22.21,28. Nu.3.20,33-36. Ex.6.19. Jos.21.7,34-40.
48 Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
49 But zAaron 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 athe sons of Aaron; Eleazar7 his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
a ver.3-9. Ezr.7.1-5.
7 B.C. 1000.
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 bthese8 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.9
b Jos.21.9-19, in this list of the cities of the priests Gibeon and Juttah are omitted.
8 'These things seem to be mentioned so often, with such exactness, that it might appear what care was taken by God for the maintenance of his ministers, of all sorts; and for the instruction of his people, among whom he dispersed the Levites, who were peculiarly devoted to this service.'—(Patrick) In this list of the cities of the priests, which gives eleven instead of thirteen, Gibeon and Juttah are omitted. None of the versions give the full number of names here, though they all give the whole sum. Probably those two cities had been destroyed, and lay in ruins when this book was written.—I.
9 Other tribes obtained by investment on request, and in virtue of continued military service—as the tribe of Reuben and half-tribe of Manasseh, east of Jordan—others obtained directly by conquest, some earlier, some later; but Levi, in all his branches, obtained his possessions only by lot, the emblem of every spiritual blessing which must be 'the gift of God,' first to Christ, our High-priest, Ps.24.25, and then, from and through him, to all his members, Ep.4.8.—C.
56 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
57 Andd 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,
59 And fAshan with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs:
A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000.
f Or, Ain, Jos.21.16.
60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and gAlemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities, throughout their families, were thirteen cities.9
g Or, Almon, Jos.21.18.
9 Eleven here, two more, Jos. 21. 16, 17. The eleven were their dwelling-places, ver. 54, the thirteen their right by lot and inheritance, ver. 60. These represent the Israelitish family. When Levi ceased to be a portioned tribe, and was given for the first-born (Nu. 3. 12), there remained eleven, for Ephraim and Manasseh were not of Jacob, but of Joseph. But when all were counted there were thirteen tribes, for every one of whom there is a representative city of refuge. C.—The text in this list of Levitical cities being ill-arranged and corrupted, must be rectified from Jos. xxi.; for internal and collateral evidence shows that to be the accurate copy. Geddes has been at much pains to point out and remove the discrepancies, and restore the true order.—I.
61 And hunto 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,1 by lot, ten cities.
h Jos.21.5,20-26. ver.67-70.
1 And out of the tribes of Ephraim and Dan.
62 And ito 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.
i Jos.21.6,27-33. ver.71-76.
63 Unto the ksons 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.
k Jos.21.7,34-40. ver.77-81.
65 And they mgave 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 2names.3
m ver.57-60. Jos.21.9-19.
2 Probably each family gave its own name to the city that fell to its lot.—I.
3 Each of the other tribes received a compact territory, except the tribe of Manasseh, which was divided into two separate portions, and a few additional allotments to some tribes within the limits of their neighbours. But Levi receives no extended territory in any one place, but merely cities and their suburbs—a gracious arrangement providing for the equable extension of religious education to all the tribes, and the due administration of the law, of which the priests were the principal judges, while it fulfilled the prophecies of Jacob and Moses concerning their future destination, Ge.49.7. De.33.10.—C.
66 Andn 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 oGezer with her suburbs,
o 1 Ki.9.15.
69 And qAijalon with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs:
q Jos.21.23,24.
70 And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh; Anerr with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.
r Jos.21.25.
71 Unto sthe 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; tKedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,
t Jos.21.28.
76 Andx out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.
x Jos.21.32.
77 Untoy the rest of4 the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun,5 Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:
A.M. 2560. B.C. 1444.
4 The Levites.
5 Some of the cities mentioned in this chapter had changed their names, or been exchanged for other cities after the time of Joshua.
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; zRamoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
z 1 Ki.4.13.
81 And aHeshbon with her suburbs, and bJazer with her suburbs.6
a Nu.21.34.
b Nu.32.3,35. Jos.21.39. ch.26.31.
6 The number of cities and extended suburbs allotted to Levi may seem a large and even undue proportion to so small a tribe; but it is to be recollected that these cities and suburbs were evidently held, not in exclusive possession by the Levites, but in some species of copartnership with the secular tribe by whom they were granted, and that consequently the Levitical possessions were reduced to little more than a mere residence. C.—None of the Lord's people, and especially of his ministers, should be unemployed; they who through want of ability or change of circumstances are precluded from one method of glorifying God, should set themselves to devise another. And if they deem nothing which may conduce to the advancement of true religion too laborious, mean, disgusting or discouraging—if they be disposed to be instant in season and out of season, to instruct or encourage one, ten, or ten thousand, in public or in private, in a cottage, an hospital, a prison, or a palace, in safe and easy, or in difficult or perilous circumstances—if they consider nothing too little to be attended to, and nothing too arduous to be attempted—and if they do all in sincerity, humility, and simplicity of spirit—they cannot long be unoccupied or useless.'—Scott.
Notes
Reflections.—If God so care for the remembrance of Levites, singers, and ceremonial priests, how fixed in his book of life must be the names of those who, through trusting in Jesus' blood, are made kings and priests to him and his Father! With exact care ought every one in the church, particularly ministers, to see to the regular observation of the ordinances of God. These Levites were most commodiously stationed for the instruction of the Israelites, when they were thus, according to Jacob's threatening, divided and scattered. But what comfortable provision God requires for his ministers; and what joint concurrence of his people in procuring it according to their several abilities!