1 Chronicles 6

1 The sons [descendants, offspring] of Levi [a son of Jacob and Leah]: Gershon [the firstborn], Kohath [a brother of Gershon and Merari], and Merari [meaning ‘bitter’, the third son]. word study 2 The sons [descendants, offspring] of Kohath [a Levite, son of Levi]: Amram [exalted people, high nation], Izhar [shine, splendor], Hebron [alliance, friendship], and Uzziel [my strength is God, God is my power]. word study 3 The children [sons and daughters, descendants] of Amram [exalted people]: Aaron [the high priest], Moses [the lawgiver], and Miriam [the prophetess]. The sons [male descendants, heirs] of Aaron: Nadab [generous, noble], Abihu [my father is he, divine father], Eleazar [God is helper, divine aid], and Ithamar [island of the palm tree, coast of palms]. word study 4 Eleazar [the father, ancestor] was the father [progenitor, ancestor] of Phinehas, Phinehas [a high priest, spiritual leader] was the father [begat, became the father of] of Abishua [a Levite, descendant of Levi], word study 5 Abishua [the father of, begat] was the father of [became the ancestor of] Bukki, Bukki [the father of, begat] was the father of [became the father of] Uzzi, word study 6 Uzzi [the father, ancestor] was the father of Zerahiah [a descendant of Zerah], Zerahiah [a priestly leader] was the father of Meraioth [a Levite, a minister], word study 7 Meraioth [begat] was the father of Amariah, Amariah [begat] was the father of Ahitub, word study 8 Ahitub [the father of a multitude] was the father [begat, became the ancestor] of Zadok [righteous, just], Zadok [the righteous one] was the father [begat, became the ancestor] of Ahimaaz [my brother is anger, brotherly love], word study 9 Ahimaaz [the father, or ancestor] was the father [begat, or became the ancestor] of Azariah [God is my helper], Azariah [God has helped] was the father [begat, or became the ancestor] of Johanan [God is gracious], word study 10 Johanan was the father [begat, became the ancestor] of Azariah, who served [executed the priest’s office, acted as priest] as priest [in the priestly office, with priestly duties] in the temple [house, sacred building] that Solomon built [commanded to be built, constructed] in Jerusalem [the city of God’s peace, the holy city], word study 11 Azariah [the Lord has helped] was the father [begat, became the ancestor] of Amariah, Amariah [the Lord says, has spoken] was the father [begat, became the ancestor] of Ahitub [my brother is good, brotherly goodness], word study 12 Ahitub [begat] was the father of Zadok [a priestly figure], Zadok [the father of, begat] was the father of Shallum [a leader, descendant], word study 13 Shallum [the father, beget] was the father [begat, became the ancestor] of Hilkiah [a leader, a priest], Hilkiah [the high priest, a spiritual leader] was the father [begat, became the father] of Azariah [helped by God, a priest], word study 14 Azariah [a priestly figure] was the father [begat, became the ancestor] of Seraiah, and Seraiah [a leader in the line of priests] was the father [begat, became the ancestor] of Jehozadak [a priest during the Babylonian exile]. word study 15 Jehozadak went into captivity [as a prisoner, into exile] when the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] sent Judah [the southern kingdom of Israel] and Jerusalem [the holy city, the capital] into exile [captive, by force] by the hand [power, authority] of Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon, a foreign ruler]. word study 16 The sons of Levi [a tribe of Israel, the Levites]: Gershom [the firstborn, the eldest], Kohath [the second son, a clan leader], and Merari [the third son, a family head]. word study 17 These [specifically identified] are the names [designations, identities] of the sons [male descendants, offspring] of Gershom [a son of Levi]: Libni [son of Gershom, Levite] and Shimei [son of Gershom, Levite, minister]. word study 18 The sons [descendants, offspring] of Kohath [a Kohathite, from the tribe of Levi]: Amram [the father of Moses], Izhar [having honor], Hebron [alliance, friendship], and Uzziel [God is my strength, my power]. word study 19 The sons [descendants, male offspring] of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans [families, kindreds] of the Levites [priestly tribe, descendants of Levi] listed [recorded, enrolled] according to their fathers [ancestors, paternal lineage]: word study 20 Of Gershom [a descendant of Levi]: Libni [his firstborn son] his son, Jahath [a Levite] his son, Zimmah [a priestly descendant] his son, word study 21 Joah [Jehovah is God] his son [descendant, offspring], Iddo [beloved, loved one] his son, Zerah [blooming, sprouting] his son, and Jeatherai [cast, thrown away] his son. word study 22 The descendants [sons, offspring] of Kohath: Amminadab [his firstborn] his son [a descendant], Korah [a leader, a rebel] his son, Assir [a son of Korah, a Levite] his son, word study 23 Elkanah [a son, descendant, or offspring] his son, Ebiasaph [and, or, as a son] his son, Assir [his descendant, or offspring] his son, word study 24 Tahath [Asaph’s descendant] his son, Uriel [a Levite] his son, Uzziah [Ozias, strong in the Lord] his son, and Shaul [Saul, asked for] his son. word study 25 The descendants [sons, offspring, or posterity] of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth [and other sons, having a family relationship], word study 26 Elkanah [a Levite, son of Jeroham] his son [descendant, offspring], Zophai [his firstborn] his son, Nahath [his descendant, a Levite] his son, word study 27 Eliab [a Levite] his son [descendant, or grandson], Jeroham [his descendant] his son, and Elkanah [his offspring, a Levite] his son. word study 28 The sons [descendants, offspring] of Samuel: Joel [the firstborn, Vashni] his firstborn [oldest child, primary heir] and Abijah [Abiah] his second son [younger child, secondary heir]. word study 29 The descendants [sons, offspring] of Merari [a Levite, head of a family of Levites]: Mahli, Libni [his descendant] his son, Shimei [his child] his son, Uzzah [his offspring] his son, word study 30 Shimea [his descendant] his son, Haggiah [his offspring] his son, and Asaiah [his posterity] his son. word study 31 These are the men [whom David set over, appointed to direct] David put in charge of the music [service of song, singing] in the house [Sacred Tent, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] after the ark [Sacred Chest] rested [came to rest, had rest] there. word study 32 They ministered [served, led out] with song [singing, music] before the tabernacle [dwelling place, Tent of Meeting], the Tent of Meeting [Tabernacle of the Congregation], until Solomon [the king, son of David] built the house [temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, God] in Jerusalem [the holy city]. And they performed [waited on, carried out] their duties [office, service] according to the regulations [order, custom] given them. word study 33 These are the men who served [ministered, waited upon God], together with their sons [children, descendants]. From the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a Levite]: Heman [a singer, musician] the singer [one who leads worship], the son of Joel, the son of Samuel [Shemuel, a prophet and leader], word study 34 the son [descendant, offspring] of Elkanah [father of Samuel], the son of Jeroham [a Levite], the son of Eliel [my God is God], the son of Toah [broken, humble], word study 35 the son [descendant, offspring] of Zuph, the son [child, heir] of Elkanah, the son [offspring, progeny] of Mahath, the son [heir, descendant] of Amasai [a leader in Israel], word study 36 the son [offspring, descendant] of Elkanah [a Levite, a minister], the son of Joel [one who is from God, a prophet], the son of Azariah [God has helped, a priest], the son of Zephaniah [God has hidden, a prophet], word study 37 the son [descendant, offspring] of Tahath [perhaps rebellious, as in Meraioth], the son [of the lineage] of Assir [or Asir, possibly a variant], the son [heir, successor] of Ebiasaph [my father has gathered, or gathered by my father], the son [in the line of] of Korah [bald, or ice, possibly a reference to his character], word study 38 the son [descendant, offspring] of Izhar [son of Kohath, a Levite], the son [offspring, child] of Kohath [a prominent Levite], the son [descendant, heir] of Levi [the third son of Jacob], the son [child, descendant] of Israel [the nation, God’s chosen people]. word study 39 Heman’s kinsman [relative, brother] was Asaph, who served [stood, ministered] at his right hand: Asaph [a leader in worship, a son of Berechiah] the son of Berechiah [a descendant of Shimea], the son of Shimea [a family member of the Levites], word study 40 the son [descendant, offspring] of Michael, the son [descendant, offspring] of Baaseiah, the son [offspring, heir] of Malchijah [Malchiah, a Levite], word study 41 the son [descendant, offspring] of Ethni [a fatherly lineage], the son [a male child] of Zerah [a name meaning’blossom’ or’flower’], the son of Adaiah [a name signifying’ornament of the Lord’ or’God has adorned’], word study 42 the son [descendant, male child] of Ethan, the son [offspring, heir] of Zimmah, the son [child, descendant] of Shimei [a Levite, a minister], word study 43 the son [descendant, offspring] of Jahath [Yahath, the one given by God], the son [male child] of Gershom [Gershon, a stranger there], the son [offspring, descendant] of Levi [the joined one, joined to God]. word study 44 On the left [to the left hand, on the left side] were their kinsmen [brethren, relatives], the sons of Merari [Merari’s family, descendants of Merari]: Ethan [the strong one, firm] the son of Kishi [the son of Malluch], the son of Abdi [the servant of God], the son of Malluch [the king], word study 45 the son [offspring, descendant] of Hashabiah [a leader, chief], the son [offspring, descendant] of Amaziah [strength of the Lord, courageous], the son [offspring, descendant] of Hilkiah [my portion is the Lord, faithful one], word study 46 the son [descendant, offspring] of Amzi, the son [child, heir] of Bani, the son [offspring, inheritor] of Shemer [Shamer, a Levite], word study 47 the son [descendant, offspring] of Mahli, the son [child, heir] of Mushi, the son [descendant, family member] of Merari, the son [offspring, tribe member] of Levi [a Levite, from the tribe of Levi]. word study 48 Their fellow [brethren, relatives] Levites [descendants of Levi, appointed for service] were assigned [appointed, designated] to every kind [all manner, various types] of service [ministry, work] of the tabernacle [sacred tent, place of worship], the house [dwelling place, sanctuary] of God [the Almighty, Creator]. word study 49 But Aaron [and his descendants] and his sons did all the work [labor, service] of the Most Holy Place [the sacred inner sanctuary]. They presented [offered, burned] the offerings [sacrifices, gifts] on the altar [table, platform] of burnt offering [atoning sacrifice, purification] and on the altar [incense stand, fragrant offering] of incense [prayer, worship] to make atonement [reconciliation, forgiveness] for Israel [God’s chosen people, the nation], according to all that Moses [leader] the servant of God [divine messenger, prophet] had commanded [instructed, guided]. word study 50 These [specific, notable] were the descendants [sons, offspring] of Aaron: Eleazar [his firstborn son] his son, Phinehas [a priestly leader] his son, Abishua [a descendant, son] his son, word study 51 Bukki [Abishua’s son, a descendant] his son [a male child, a grandson], Uzzi [a son of Bukki] his son [a male child, a grandson], Zerahiah [Uzzi’s son, a descendant] his son [a male child, a grandson], word study 52 Meraioth [a priestly figure, son of Zerahiah] his son, Amariah [faithful to Yahweh] his son, Ahitub [brother of goodness, my brother is good] his son, word study 53 Zadok [a righteous one, descendant of Aaron] his son, and Ahimaaz [my brother is anger, a high priest] his son. word study 54 Now these were the territories [dwelling places, areas of settlement] assigned to the descendants [sons, offspring] of Aaron [the first high priest] from the Kohathite [a family of Levites] clan for their settlements [cities, places of residence], because the first lot [allotment, inheritance] fell to them [was given to them, belonged to them]: word study 55 They were given [allotted, assigned] Hebron [a city of refuge] in the land [territory, region] of Judah [a tribe of Israel, descended from Jacob’s son] and its surrounding [adjacent, neighboring] pasturelands [open fields, common grazing areas]. word study 56 But the fields [open country, pasture] and villages [small places, towns] around the city [surrounding area, suburbs] were given to Caleb [a faithful Israelite] son of Jephunneh [a descendant of Judah]. word study 57 So the descendants [sons, offspring] of Aaron [the first high priest] were given Hebron [a place of safety] (a city of refuge), Libnah [with its suburbs, surrounding areas], Jattir [and Eshtemoa, cities of Judah], Eshtemoa [with their suburbs, pasture lands], word study 58 Hilen [with its suburbs, pasture lands], Debir [with its outskirts, suburbs], word study 59 Ashan [with its suburbs], Juttah, and Beth-shemesh [with her outskirts], together with their pasturelands [common areas, open lands]. word study 60 And from the tribe [family, clan] of Benjamin they were given Gibeon [a city], Geba [a town], Alemeth [a city, with its suburbs], and Anathoth [a city, with its outskirts], together with their pasturelands [open lands, grazing areas]. So they had thirteen cities [towns, communities] in all among their families [clans, households]. word study 61 To the rest [remaining, leftover] of the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a priestly family], ten cities [towns, inhabited places] were allotted [given, assigned by lot] from the half-tribe [one of two divisions, a part] of Manasseh [a son of Joseph, a tribe of Israel]. word study 62 The Gershomites [descendants of Gershon, a Levitical family] , according to their clans [family groups, tribes], were allotted [assigned, given as an inheritance] thirteen cities [towns, communities] from the tribes [family groups, nations] of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh [a tribe in Bashan, a region east of the Jordan] in Bashan [a region in eastern Israel, near the Jordan River]. word study 63 The Merarites [sons of Merari, descendants of Merari], according to their families [by their families, throughout their families], were allotted [given by lot, received] twelve cities [towns, settlements] from the tribes [tribal territories] of Reuben [firstborn son of Jacob], Gad [son of Jacob], and Zebulun [son of Jacob, tenth son of Jacob]. word study 64 So the Israelites [children of Israel, the people of God] gave to the Levites [descendants of Levi, the priestly tribe] these cities [towns, with their suburbs] and their pasturelands [common lands, open spaces, with their margins]. word study 65 They assigned by lot [through a divine decision, by the Lord’s decision] the cities named above [which are mentioned by name, which they called by their names] from the tribes [family groups, clans] of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin [the sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel]. word study 66 And some [certain, specific] of the clans [families, tribes] of the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a son of Levi] were given [allotted, assigned] cities [towns, settlements] from the tribe [family, people] of Ephraim [one of the twelve tribes of Israel, named after Joseph’s son] for their territory [land, inheritance, border]: word study 67 They were given Shechem [a town to which men might go in flight] (a city of refuge) with its pasturelands [suburbs, outskirts] in the hill country [mountain region] of Ephraim, and Gezer [with its pasture lands, with its suburbs], word study 68 Jokmeam, Beth-horon [with its suburbs, with its pasture lands, with its outskirts], word study 69 Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon, together with their pasturelands [suburbs, outskirts, pasture lands]. word study 70 And from the half-tribe of Manasseh [the descendants of Joseph] the remaining clans [families, groups] of the Kohathites were given Aner [a city, a place] and Bileam [a city, a place], together with their pasturelands [suburbs, outskirts]. word study 71 The Gershomites received the following: From the clan [family, lineage] of the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan [a city] in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands [suburbs, outskirts]. word study 72 From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kedesh [a city of refuge], Daberath [a town], word study 74 From the tribe of Asher they were given Mashal, Abdon [with its suburbs, with its pasture lands, with its outskirts], word study 75 Hukok, and Rehob [a place], together with their pasturelands [suburbs, outskirts, pasture lands]. word study 76 And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh [a city of refuge] in Galilee, Hammon [Hammon with its pasture lands, a city], and Kiriathaim [Kiriathaim with its suburbs, a city], together with their pasturelands [suburbs, outskirts]. word study 77 The Merarites [sons of Merari] (the rest of the Levites) received [were given, were allotted] the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they were given [allotted] Rimmono [Rimmon] and Tabor, together with their pasturelands [suburbs, outskirts]. word study 78 From the tribe of Reuben [descendants of Reuben, the firstborn] east [to the east, on the eastern side] of the Jordan [River] opposite Jericho [near Jericho] they were given Bezer [a fortified city] in the wilderness [desert, arid region], Jahzah [and Jahzah, a city], word study 80 And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead [with its suburbs, and its pasture lands], Mahanaim [with its suburbs, and its outskirts], word study 81 Heshbon, and Jazer, together with their pasturelands [suburbs, outskirts, pasture lands]. word study