I Chronicles 6
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Commentaries
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The sons of Levi - It has been well remarked that the genealogy of Levi is given here more ample and correct than that of any of the others. And this is perhaps an additional proof that the author was a priest, felt much for the priesthood, and took care to give the genealogy of the Levitical and sacerdotal families, from the most correct tables; for with such tables we may presume he was intimately acquainted.
Open source ↗LINE OF THE PRIESTS. (1Ch. 6:1-48) Uzzi--It is supposed that, in his days, the high priesthood was, for unrecorded reasons, transferred from Eleazar's family to Ithamar's, in which it continued for several generations.
Open source ↗The sons of Levi,.... After an account of the chief of the tribes of Judah and Simeon, of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, follows that of Levi, and his posterity; the kingdom being given to Judah, the birthright to Joseph, and the priesthood to Levi: the immediate sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; as in Gen 46:11, from these sprung the three families of the Levites.
Open source ↗The sons of Levi,.... After an account of the chief of the tribes of Judah and Simeon, of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, follows that of Levi, and his posterity; the kingdom being given to Judah, the birthright to Joseph, and the priesthood to Levi: the immediate sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; as in Gen 46:11, from these sprung the three families of the Levites.
Open source ↗The priests and Levites were more concerned than any other Israelites to preserve their pedigree clear and to be able to prove it, because all the honours and privileges of their office depended upon their descent. And we read of those who, though perhaps they really were children of the priests, yet, because they could not find the register of their genealogies, nor make out their descent by any authentic record, were, as polluted, put from the priesthood, and forbidden to eat of the holy things, Ezr 2:62, Ezr 2:63. It is but very little that is here recorded of the genealogies of this sacred tribe. I. The first fathers of it are here named twice, Ch1 6:1, Ch1 6:16. Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, are three names which we were very conversant with in the book of Numbers, when the families of the Levites were marshalled and had their work assigned to them. Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam, we have known much more of than their names, and cannot pass them over here without remembering that this was that Moses and Aaron whom God honoured in making them instruments of Israel's deliverance and settlement and figures of him that was to come, Moses as a prophet and Aaron as a priest. And the mention of Nadab and Abihu (though, having no children, there was no occasion to bring them into the genealogy) cannot but remind us of the terrors of that divine justice which they were made monuments of for offering strange fire, that we may always fear before him. 2. The line of Eleazar, the successor of Aaron, is here drawn down to the time of the captivity, Ch1 6:4-15. It begins with Eleazar, who came out of the house of bondage in Egypt, and ends with Jehozadak, who went into the house of bondage in Babylon. Thus, for their sins, they were left as they were found, which might also intimate…
Open source ↗6:1-81 By its substantial scope and placement in the center of the genealogical lists, this section gives special significance to the priestly tribe of Levi. 6:1-48 This section provides the genealogies of the three most significant groups of the tribe of Levi: the high priests (6:1-15), the three clans of Levites (6:16-30), and the singers (6:31-47). Each genealogy begins with an introduction, followed by the list of names. 6:1 The three sons of Levi are introduced, but their actual genealogies are postponed to follow the list of high priests.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… לֵוִי (Lêvîy, H3878) — Levi, a son of Jacob גֵּרְשׁוֹן (Gêrᵉshôwn, H1648) — Gereshon or Gereshom, an Israelite קְהָת (Qᵉhâth, H6955) — Kehath, an Israelite מְרָרִי (Mᵉrârîy, H4847) — Merari, an Israelite
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… קְהָת (Qᵉhâth, H6955) — Kehath, an Israelite עַמְרָם (ʻAmrâm, H6019) — Amram, the name of two Israelites יִצְהָר (Yitshâr, H3324) — Jitshar, an Israelite חֶבְרוֹן (Chebrôwn, H2275) — Chebron, a place in Palestine, also the name of two Israelites עֻזִּיאֵל (ʻUzzîyʼêl, H5816) — Uzziel, the name of six Israelites
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… עַמְרָם (ʻAmrâm, H6019) — Amram, the name of two Israelites אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver מִרְיָם (Miryâm, H4813) — Mirjam, the name of two Israelitesses נָדָב (Nâdâb, H5070) — Nadab, the name of four Israelites אֲבִיהוּא (ʼĂbîyhûwʼ, H30) — Abihu, a son of Aaron אֶלְעָזָר (ʼElʻâzâr, H499) — Elazar, the name of seven Israelites אִיתָמָר (ʼÎythâmâr, H385) — Ithamar, a son of Aaron
Open source ↗אֶלְעָזָר (ʼElʻâzâr, H499) — Elazar, the name of seven Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… פִּינְחָס (Pîynᵉchâç, H6372) — Pinechas, the name of three Israelites אֲבִישׁוּעַ (ʼĂbîyshûwaʻ, H50) — Abishua, the name of two Israelites
Open source ↗אֲבִישׁוּעַ (ʼĂbîyshûwaʻ, H50) — Abishua, the name of two Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… בֻּקִּי (Buqqîy, H1231) — Bukki, the name of two Israelites עֻזִּי (ʻUzzîy, H5813) — Uzzi, the name of six Israelites
Open source ↗עֻזִּי (ʻUzzîy, H5813) — Uzzi, the name of six Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… זְרַחְיָה (Zᵉrachyâh, H2228) — Zerachjah, the name of two Israelites מְרָיוֹת (Mᵉrâyôwth, H4812) — Merajoth, the name of two Israelites
Open source ↗מְרָיוֹת (Mᵉrâyôwth, H4812) — Merajoth, the name of two Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… אֲמַרְיָה (ʼĂmaryâh, H568) — Amarjah, the name of nine Israelites אֲחִיטוּב (ʼĂchîyṭûwb, H285) — Achitub, the name of several priests
Open source ↗אֲחִיטוּב (ʼĂchîyṭûwb, H285) — Achitub, the name of several priests יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… צָדוֹק (Tsâdôwq, H6659) — Tsadok, the name of eight or nine Israelites אֲחִימַעַץ (ʼĂchîymaʻats, H290) — Achimaats, the name of three Israelites
Open source ↗אֲחִימַעַץ (ʼĂchîymaʻats, H290) — Achimaats, the name of three Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… עֲזַרְיָה (ʻĂzaryâh, H5838) — Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites יוֹחָנָן (Yôwchânân, H3110) — Jochanan, the name of nine Israelites
Open source ↗יוֹחָנָן (Yôwchânân, H3110) — Jochanan, the name of nine Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… עֲזַרְיָה (ʻĂzaryâh, H5838) — Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites כָּהַן (kâhan, H3547) — to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Open source ↗עֲזַרְיָה (ʻĂzaryâh, H5838) — Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… אֲמַרְיָה (ʼĂmaryâh, H568) — Amarjah, the name of nine Israelites אֲחִיטוּב (ʼĂchîyṭûwb, H285) — Achitub, the name of several priests
Open source ↗אֲחִיטוּב (ʼĂchîyṭûwb, H285) — Achitub, the name of several priests יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… צָדוֹק (Tsâdôwq, H6659) — Tsadok, the name of eight or nine Israelites שַׁלּוּם (Shallûwm, H7967) — Shallum, the name of fourteen Israelites
Open source ↗שַׁלּוּם (Shallûwm, H7967) — Shallum, the name of fourteen Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… חִלְקִיָּה (Chilqîyâh, H2518) — Chilhijah, the name of eight Israelites עֲזַרְיָה (ʻĂzaryâh, H5838) — Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites
Open source ↗עֲזַרְיָה (ʻĂzaryâh, H5838) — Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… שְׂרָיָה (Sᵉrâyâh, H8304) — Serajah, the name of nine Israelites יְהוֹצָדָק (Yᵉhôwtsâdâq, H3087) — Jehotsadak, an Israelite
Open source ↗Cross-references
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The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari.
Then David divided the Levites into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
Of Gershom: