1 Chronicles 6

1 Sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Levi’s sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

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

Kohath’s sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

3 And sons of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and [his daughter] Miriam. And sons of Aaron: Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Amram’s children were Miriam and [her younger brothers] Aaron and Moses. Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

4 Eleazar begot Phinehas, Phinehas begot Abishua,

Eleazar was the father of Phinehas. Phinehas was the father of Abishua.

5 and Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begot Uzzi,

Abishua was the father of Bukki. Bukki was the father of Uzzi.

6 and Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth,

Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.

7 Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub,

Meraioth was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

8 and Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Ahimaaz,

Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.

9 and Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariah begot Johanan,

Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah. Azariah was the father of Johanan.

10 and Johanan begot Azariah—him who acted as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem.

Johanan was the father of Azariah. Azariah was a priest in the temple that Solomon commanded to be built in Jerusalem.

11 And Azariah begets Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub,

Azariah was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

12 and Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Shallum,

Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Shallum.

13 and Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah,

Shallum was the father of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.

14 and Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak;

Azariah was the father of Seraiah. Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.

15 and Jehozadak has gone in YHWH’s removing Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

Jehozadak was forced to leave his home when Yahweh sent [King] Nebuchadnezzar’s [army] [MTY] to capture many people in Jerusalem and other places in Judah and compel them [to go to Babylonia].

16 Sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

Levi’s sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

17 And these [are] names of sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.

Gershon’s sons were Libni and Shimei.

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

Kohath’s sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

19 Sons of Merari; Mahli and Mushi. And these [are] families of the Levite according to their fathers;

Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi. Here is a list of the descendants of Levi, who became leaders of their clans.

20 of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,

Gershon’s [oldest] son was Libni. Libni’s son was Jehath. Jehath’s son was Zimmah.

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

Zimmah’s son was Joah. Joah’s son was Iddo. Iddo’s son was Zerah. Zerah’s son was Jeatherai.

22 Sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,

Kohath’s [other] son was Amminadab. Amminadab’s son was Korah. Korah’s son was Assir.

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

Assir’s son was Elkanah. Elkanah’s son was Ebiasaph. Ebiasaph’s son was Assir.

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

Assir’s son was Tahath. Tahath’s son was Uriel. Uriel’s son was Uzziah. Uzziah’s son was Shaul.

25 And sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth.

Elkanah’s [other] sons were Amasai and Ahimoth.

26 Elkanah—sons of Elkanah: Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,

Ahimoth’s son was Elkanah. Elkanah’s son was Zophai. Zophai’s son was Nahath.

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

Nahath’s son was Eliab. Eliab’s son was Jeroham. Jeroham’s son was Elkanah. Elkanah’s son was Samuel.

28 And sons of Samuel: the firstborn Vashni, and the second Abijah.

Samuel’s oldest son was Joel; his other son was Abijah.

29 Sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,

Merari’s oldest son was Mahli. Mahli’s son was Libni. Libni’s son was Shimei. Shimei’s son was Uzzah.

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

Uzzah’s son was Shimea. Shimea’s son was Haggiah. Haggiah’s son was Asaiah.

31 And these [are] they whom David stationed over the parts of the song of the house of YHWH, from the resting of the Ark,

After the Sacred Chest was brought [to Jerusalem, King] David appointed some of the men who were descendants of Levi to be in charge of the music in [the Sacred Tent where the people worshiped] Yahweh.

32 and they are ministering before the Dwelling Place of the Tent of Meeting, in song, until the building by Solomon of the house of YHWH in Jerusalem; and they stand according to their ordinance over their service.

Those musicians first sang and played their instruments in the Sacred Tent, which was also called the Tent of Meeting, and they continued to do that until Solomon’s [workers] built the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem. In all their work, they obeyed the instructions [that David had given them].

33 And these [are] those standing, and their sons, of the sons of the Kohathite: Heman the singer, son of Joel, son of Shemuel,

Here is a list of the musicians and their sons: From Kohath’s descendants there was Heman, the leader of the singers. Heman was the son of Joel. Joel was the son of Samuel.

34 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah,

Samuel was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Eliel. Eliel was the son of Toah.

35 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai,

Toah was the son of Zuph. Zuph was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Mahath. Mahath was the son of Amasai.

36 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah,

Amasai was the son of [another man whose name was] Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Joel. Joel was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Zephaniah.

37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah,

Zephaniah was the son of Tahath. Tahath was the son of Assir. Assir was the son of Ebiasaph. Ebiasaph was the son of Korah.

38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel.

Korah was the son of Izhar. Izhar was the son of Kohath. Kohath was the son of Levi. Levi was the son of Jacob.

39 And his brother Asaph, who is standing on his right—Asaph, son of Berachiah, son of Shimea,

Heman’s helper was Asaph. His group [of singers] stood at the right side of Heman. Asaph was the son of Berekiah. Berekiah was the son of Shimea.

40 son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchiah,

Shimea was the son of Michael. Michael was the son of Baaseiah. Baaseiah was the son of Malkijah.

41 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah,

Malkijah was the son of Ethni. Ethni was the son of Zerah. Zerah was the son of Adaiah.

42 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei,

Adaiah was the son of Ethan. Ethan was the son of Zimmah. Zimmah was the son of Shimei.

43 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi.

Shimei was the son of Jahath. Jahath was the son of Gershon, and Gershon was the son of Levi.

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

[A group of singers from] Merari’s family helped Heman and Asaph. They stood to the left of Heman. The leader of this group was Ethan, the son of Kishi. Kishi was the son of Abdi. Abdi was the son of Malluch.

45 son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah,

Malluch was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Amaziah. Amaziah was the son of Hilkiah.

46 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shamer,

Hilkiah was the son of Amzi. Amzi was the son of Bani. Bani was the son of Shemer.

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

Shemer was the son of Mahli. Mahli was the son of Mushi. Mushi was the son of Merari, and Merari was the son of Levi.

48 And their brothers the Levites are put to all the service of the Dwelling Place of the house of God.

The other descendants of Levi were appointed to do other work in the sacred tent, the place [where the people worshiped] Yahweh.

49 And Aaron and his sons are making incense on the altar of the burnt-offering, and on the altar of the incense, for all the work of the Holy of Holies, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses servant of God commanded.

Aaron and his descendants were the ones who placed on the altar the sacrifices that were to be burned completely, and they burned incense on another altar. Those sacrifices were in order that Yahweh would no longer be angry with the people of Israel for having sinned. Those men also did other work in the Very Holy Place in the sacred tent, obeying the instructions that Moses, who served God [well], had given to them.

50 And these [are] sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,

These were the descendants of Aaron: Aaron’s son was Eleazar. Eleazar’s son was Phinehas. Phinehas’s son was Abishua.

51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,

Abishua’s son was Bukki. Bukki’s son was Uzzi. Uzzi’s son was Zerahiah.

52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,

Zerahiah’s son was Meraioth. Meraioth’s son was Amariah. Amariah’s son was Ahitub.

53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

Ahitub’s son was Zadok, and Zadok’s son was Ahimaaz.

54 And these [are] their dwellings, throughout their towers, in their borders, of the sons of Aaron, of the family of the Kohathite, for the lot was theirs;

Here is a list of the places where Aaron’s descendants lived. Those who were descendants of Kohath were the first group to be allotted cities to live in.

55 and they give to them Hebron in the land of Judah and its outskirts around it;

They were allotted Hebron [city] in Judah and the pastureland around the city,

56 and they gave the field of the city and its villages to Caleb son of Jephunneh.

but the fields farther from the city and the villages near the city were given to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh.

57 And they gave the cities of refuge to the sons of Aaron: Hebron, and Libnah and its outskirts, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa and its outskirts,

The descendants of Aaron [who were descendants of Kohath] were allotted Hebron, one of the cities [to which people could flee] and be protected [if they accidentally killed someone]. They also were allotted the towns and pastureland near Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,

58 and Hilen and its outskirts, Debir and its outskirts,

Hilen, Debir,

59 and Ashan and its outskirts, and Beth-Shemesh and its outskirts.

Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-Shemesh.

60 And from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba and its outskirts, and Allemeth and its outskirts, and Anathoth and its outskirts. All their cities [are] thirteen cities among their families.

They were also allotted Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth [cities] from the tribe of Benjamin. Altogether, these clans descended from Kohath were allotted 13 towns.

61 And to the sons of Kohath, those left of the family of the tribe, from the half of the tribe, the half of Manasseh, by lot, [are] ten cities.

The other clans descended from Kohath were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribe of Manasseh [that lived west of the Jordan River].

62 And to the sons of Gershom, for their families, from the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribe of Asher, and from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, [are] thirteen cities.

The descendants of Gershon were allotted 13 cities and towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the part of the tribe of Manasseh that lived in [the] Bashan [region on the east side of the Jordan River].

63 To the sons of Merari, for their families, from the tribe of Reuben, and from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun, by lot, [are] twelve cities.

The descendants of Merari were allotted twelve cities and towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

64 And the sons of Israel give the cities and their outskirts to the Levites.

The leaders of Israel allotted those towns and the nearby pasturelands to the descendants of Levi.

65 And they give by lot from the tribe of the sons of Judah, and from the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and from the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, these cities which they call by name;

They also allotted to them the cities and towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin that were listed previously.

66 and some of the families of the sons of Kohath have cities of their border from the tribe of Ephraim;

Some of the descendants of Kohath were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim.

67 and they give the cities of refuge to them: Shechem and its outskirts in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Gezer and its outskirts,

They were allotted Shechem, which was one of the cities [to which people could flee] and be protected [if they accidentally killed someone], along with the nearby pastureland in the hills of Ephraim. They were also allotted these towns and pastureland near them: Gezer,

68 and Jokmeam and its outskirts, and Beth-Horan and its outskirts,

Jokmeam, Beth-Horon,

69 and Aijalon and its outskirts, and Gath-Rimmon and its outskirts;

Aijalon, and Gath-Rimmon.

70 and from the half tribe of Manasseh: Aner and its outskirts, and Bileam and its outskirts, for the family of the sons of Kohath who are left.

The other descendants of Kohath were allotted Aner and Bileam towns and the nearby pastureland from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that lived west [of the Jordan River].

71 To the sons of Gershom from the family of the half of the tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan and its outskirts, and Ashtaroth and its outskirts;

The descendants of Gershon, who were part of the tribe of Manasseh, lived east [of the Jordan River]. They were allotted the cities and towns and pastureland near them: Golan in [the] Bashan and Ashtaroth [regions].

72 and from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh and its outskirts, Daberath and its outskirts,

From the tribe of Issachar they were allotted cities and towns and pastureland near Kedesh, Daberath,

73 and Ramoth and its outskirts, and Anem and its outskirts;

Ramoth, and Anem.

74 and from the tribe of Asher: Mashal and its outskirts, and Abdon and its outskirts,

From the tribe of Asher they were allotted cities and towns and pastureland near Mashal, Abdon,

75 and Hukok and its outskirts, and Rehob and its outskirts;

Hukok, and Rehob.

76 and from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee and its outskirts, and Hammon and its outskirts, and Kirjathaim and its outskirts.

And from the tribe of Naphtali they were allotted cities and towns and pastureland near Kedesh in [the] Galilee [region], and Hammon and Kiriathaim [towns].

77 To the sons of Merari who are left, from the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmon and its outskirts, Tabor and its outskirts;

The other descendants of Levi, those descended from Merari, were allotted towns and pasturelands from the tribe of Zebulun near Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono, and Tabor.

78 and from beyond the Jordan by Jericho, at the east of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness and its outskirts, and Jahzah and its outskirts,

From the tribe of Reuben they were allotted cities and towns and pastureland near Bezer in the desert, Jahzah, Kedemoth, and Mephaath. The tribe of Reuben lived east of the Jordan [River], across from Jericho.

79 and Kedemoth and its outskirts, and Mephaath and its outskirts;

80 and from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead and its outskirts, and Mahanaim and its outskirts,

From the tribe of Gad, they were allotted cities and towns and pastureland near Ramoth in [the] Gilead [region], [the cities of] Mahanaim,

81 and Heshbon and its outskirts, and Jazer and its outskirts.

Heshbon, and Jazer.