1 Chronicles 6

1 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

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

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

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

3 The children of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The 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 became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas became the father of Abishua,

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

5 and Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi,

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

6 and Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth,

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

7 Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,

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

8 and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz,

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

9 and Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Johanan,

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

10 and Johanan became the father of Azariah, (he it is who executed the priest's office 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 became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,

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

12 and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Shallum,

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

13 and Shallum became the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah became the father of Azariah,

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

14 and Azariah became the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah became the father of Jehozadak;

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

15 Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away 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 The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

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

17 These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.

Gershon’s sons were Libni and Shimei.

18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.

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

19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.

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, Jeatherai his son.

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

22 The descendants 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 Abiasaph 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 The sons of Elkanah: Amasai, and Ahimoth.

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

26 Elkanah his son, Zuphai 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, Samuel his son.

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

28 The sons of Samuel: the firstborn Joel, and the second Abijah.

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

29 The descendants of Merari: Mahli his son, 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 These are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.

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 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and they waited on their office according to their order.

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 These are those who waited, and their sons. Of the descendants of the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,

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 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the 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 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the 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 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the 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 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Abiasaph, the 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 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the 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 His brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the 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 the son of Michael, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Malchijah,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

44 On the left hand their brothers the descendants of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the 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 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,

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

46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,

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

47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the 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 Their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle 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 But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had 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 These are the descendants 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 Now these are their dwelling places according to their encampments in their borders: to the descendants of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the first lot),

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 to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and its suburbs around it;

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

56 but the fields of the city, and its villages, they gave to Caleb the 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 To the descendants of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,

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 with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs,

Hilen, Debir,

59 and Ashan with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, and Beth Shemesh with its suburbs;

Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-Shemesh.

60 and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs, and Allemeth with its suburbs, and Anathoth with its suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.

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 To the rest of the descendants of Kohath were given by lot, out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, 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 To the descendants of Gershom, according to 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.

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 descendants of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

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

64 The children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with their suburbs.

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

65 They gave by lot out of the tribe of the descendants of Judah, and out of the tribe of the people of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the people of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name.

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

66 Some of the families of the descendants of Kohath, of the Levites, even the rest of the descendants of Kohath, had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.

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

67 They gave to them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its suburbs; Gezer also with its suburbs,

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 with its suburbs, and Beth Horon with its suburbs,

Jokmeam, Beth-Horon,

69 and Aijalon with its suburbs, and Gath Rimmon with its suburbs;

Aijalon, and Gath-Rimmon.

70 and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Ibleam with its suburbs, for the rest of the family of the descendants of Kohath.

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 descendants of Gershom were given, out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, and Ashtaroth with its suburbs;

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 out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,

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

73 and Ramoth with its suburbs, and Anem with its suburbs;

Ramoth, and Anem.

74 and out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with its suburbs, and Abdon with its suburbs,

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

75 and Hukok with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs;

Hukok, and Rehob.

76 and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, and Hammon with its suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its suburbs.

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 rest of the Levites, the descendants of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, Rimmon with its suburbs, and Tabor with its suburbs, and Nahalal with its suburbs.

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 beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them, out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with its suburbs, and Jahzah with its suburbs,

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 with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs;

80 and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,

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 with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs.

Heshbon, and Jazer.