New Living Translation (NLT)

1 Chronicles 6:1-81

1 Chronicles 6:1-81, NLT

1 Chronicles 6

The Priestly Line

1*6:1 Verses 6:1-15 are numbered 5:27-41 in Hebrew text.The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

2The descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

3The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

4Eleazar was the father of Phinehas.

Phinehas was the father of Abishua.

5Abishua was the father of Bukki.

Bukki was the father of Uzzi.

6Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah.

Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.

7Meraioth was the father of Amariah.

Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

8Ahitub was the father of Zadok.

Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.

9Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah.

Azariah was the father of Johanan.

10Johanan was the father of Azariah, the high priest at the Temple*6:10 Hebrew the house. built by Solomon in Jerusalem.

11Azariah was the father of Amariah.

Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

12Ahitub was the father of Zadok.

Zadok was the father of Shallum.

13Shallum was the father of Hilkiah.

Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.

14Azariah was the father of Seraiah.

Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak,

15who went into exile when the Lord sent the people of Judah and Jerusalem into captivity under Nebuchadnezzar.

The Levite Clans

16*6:16a Verses 6:16-81 are numbered 6:1-66 in Hebrew text.The sons of Levi were Gershon,*6:16b Hebrew Gershom, a variant spelling of Gershon (see 6:1); also in 6:17, 20, 43, 62, 71. Kohath, and Merari.

17The descendants of Gershon included Libni and Shimei.

18The descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

19The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi.

The following were the Levite clans, listed according to their ancestral descent:

20The descendants of Gershon included Libni, Jahath, Zimmah,

21Joah, Iddo, Zerah, and Jeatherai.

22The descendants of Kohath included Amminadab, Korah, Assir,

23Elkanah, Abiasaph,*6:23 Hebrew Ebiasaph, a variant spelling of Abiasaph (also in 6:37); compare parallel text at Exod 6:24. Assir, 24Tahath, Uriel, Uzziah, and Shaul.

25The descendants of Elkanah included Amasai, Ahimoth,

26Elkanah, Zophai, Nahath, 27Eliab, Jeroham, Elkanah, and Samuel.*6:27 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 6:33-34); Hebrew lacks and Samuel.

28The sons of Samuel were Joel*6:28 As in some Greek manuscripts and the Syriac version (see also 6:33 and 1 Sam 8:2); Hebrew lacks Joel. (the older) and Abijah (the second).

29The descendants of Merari included Mahli, Libni, Shimei, Uzzah,

30Shimea, Haggiah, and Asaiah.

The Temple Musicians

31David assigned the following men to lead the music at the house of the Lord after the Ark was placed there.

32They ministered with music at the Tabernacle*6:32 Hebrew the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. until Solomon built the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They carried out their work, following all the regulations handed down to them. 33These are the men who served, along with their sons:

Heman the musician was from the clan of Kohath. His genealogy was traced back through Joel, Samuel,

34Elkanah, Jeroham, Eliel, Toah, 35Zuph, Elkanah, Mahath, Amasai, 36Elkanah, Joel, Azariah, Zephaniah, 37Tahath, Assir, Abiasaph, Korah, 38Izhar, Kohath, Levi, and Israel.*6:38 Israel is the name that God gave to Jacob.

39Heman’s first assistant was Asaph from the clan of Gershon.*6:39 Hebrew lacks from the clan of Gershon; see 6:43. Asaph’s genealogy was traced back through Berekiah, Shimea,

40Michael, Baaseiah, Malkijah, 41Ethni, Zerah, Adaiah, 42Ethan, Zimmah, Shimei, 43Jahath, Gershon, and Levi.

44Heman’s second assistant was Ethan from the clan of Merari. Ethan’s genealogy was traced back through Kishi, Abdi, Malluch,

45Hashabiah, Amaziah, Hilkiah, 46Amzi, Bani, Shemer, 47Mahli, Mushi, Merari, and Levi.

48Their fellow Levites were appointed to various other tasks in the Tabernacle, the house of God.

Aaron’s Descendants

49Only Aaron and his descendants served as priests. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, and they performed all the other duties related to the Most Holy Place. They made atonement for Israel by doing everything that Moses, the servant of God, had commanded them.

50The descendants of Aaron were Eleazar, Phinehas, Abishua,

51Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah, 52Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub, 53Zadok, and Ahimaaz.

Territory for the Levites

54This is a record of the towns and territory assigned by means of sacred lots to the descendants of Aaron, who were from the clan of Kohath.

55This territory included Hebron and its surrounding pasturelands in Judah, 56but the fields and outlying areas belonging to the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. 57So the descendants of Aaron were given the following towns, each with its pasturelands: Hebron (a city of refuge),*6:57 As in parallel text at Josh 21:13; Hebrew reads were given the cities of refuge: Hebron, and the following towns, each with its pasturelands. Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, 58Holon,*6:58 As in parallel text at Josh 21:15; Masoretic Text reads Hilez; other manuscripts read Hilen. Debir, 59Ain,*6:59a As in parallel text at Josh 21:16; Hebrew reads Ashan. Juttah,*6:59b As in Syriac version (see also Josh 21:16); Hebrew lacks Juttah. and Beth-shemesh. 60And from the territory of Benjamin they were given Gibeon,*6:60 As in parallel text at Josh 21:17; Hebrew lacks Gibeon. Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, each with its pasturelands. So thirteen towns were given to the descendants of Aaron. 61The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten towns from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh by means of sacred lots.

62The descendants of Gershon received by sacred lots thirteen towns from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and from the Bashan area of Manasseh, east of the Jordan.

63The descendants of Merari received by sacred lots twelve towns from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

64So the people of Israel assigned all these towns and pasturelands to the Levites.

65The towns in the territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, mentioned above, were assigned to them by means of sacred lots.

66The descendants of Kohath were given the following towns from the territory of Ephraim, each with its pasturelands:

67Shechem (a city of refuge in the hill country of Ephraim),*6:66-67 As in parallel text at Josh 21:21; Hebrew text reads were given the cities of refuge: Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and the following towns, each with its pasturelands. Gezer, 68Jokmeam, Beth-horon, 69Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon. 70The remaining descendants of Kohath were assigned the towns of Aner and Bileam from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.

71The descendants of Gershon received the towns of Golan (in Bashan) and Ashtaroth from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.

72From the territory of Issachar, they were given Kedesh, Daberath, 73Ramoth, and Anem, each with its pasturelands. 74From the territory of Asher, they received Mashal, Abdon, 75Hukok, and Rehob, each with its pasturelands. 76From the territory of Naphtali, they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, each with its pasturelands.

77The remaining descendants of Merari received the towns of Jokneam, Kartah,*6:77a As in Greek version (see also Josh 21:34); Hebrew lacks Jokneam, Kartah. Rimmon,*6:77b As in Greek version (see also Josh 19:13); Hebrew reads Rimmono. and Tabor from the territory of Zebulun, each with its pasturelands.

78From the territory of Reuben, east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho, they received Bezer (a desert town), Jahaz,*6:78 Hebrew Jahzah, a variant spelling of Jahaz. 79Kedemoth, and Mephaath, each with its pasturelands. 80And from the territory of Gad, they received Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, 81Heshbon, and Jazer, each with its pasturelands.