1 Chronicles 6

1 The 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, the children of Amram, Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam, —and, 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, begat Phinehas, Phinehas, begat Abishua;

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

5 and, Abishua, begat Bukki, and, Bukki, begat Uzzi;

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

6 and, Uzzi, begat Zerahiah, and, Zerahiah, begat Meraioth;

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

7 Meraioth, begat Amariah, and, Amariah, begat Ahitub;

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

8 and, Ahitub, begat Zadok, and, Zadok, begat Ahimaaz;

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

9 and, Ahimaaz, begat Azariah, and, Azariah, begat Johanan,

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

10 and, Johanan, begat Azariah, —he, it was who ministered as priest, in the house which 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 begat Amariah, —and, Amariah, begat Ahitub;

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

12 and, Ahitub, begat Zadok, and, Zadok, begat Shallum;

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

13 and, Shallum, begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah, begat Azariah;

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

14 and, Azariah, begat Seraiah, and, Seraiah, begat Jehozadak;

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

15 and, Jehozadak, departed, when Yahweh carried away Judah and Jerusalem into captivity, —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 And, these, are the names of the sons of Gershom, Libni and Shimei.

Gershon’s sons were Libni and Shimei.

18 And, 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. And, these, are the families of Levi by 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 To Gershom, pertained 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 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, the sons of Elkanah, Amasai, and Ahimoth.

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

26 As for Elkanah, the 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, the sons of Samuel, the firstborn, [Joel], and, the second, Abiah.

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

29 the 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 caused to stand, as the servants of song, in the house of Yahweh, when he had given rest unto 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 so they became attendants before the habitation of the tent of meeting, with song, until Solomon built the house of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, —and they took their stand according to their prescribed manner over their work.

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 Yea, these, are they who stood, with their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites, Heman the singer, son of Joel, 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 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 stood on his right hand, Asaph son of Berechiah, 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 Malchijah, —

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, the sons of Merari, their brethren, on the left hand, 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 Shemer; —

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 Howbeit, their brethren, the Levites, were given, for all the work of the habitation, 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, were to make perfume upon the altar of ascending-sacrifice, and upon the altar of incense, according to all the service of the holy of holies, —even for putting a propitiatory-covering over Israel, according go all that, Moses, the 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 the 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 dwelling-places, according to their encampments, in their boundary, —pertaining to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, for, theirs, was the 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 so they gave them Hebron, in the land of Judah, and the pasture lands thereof, round about it;

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

56 but, the field-land of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they 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, to the sons of Aaron, gave they, the cities of refuge—Hebron, and Libnah, with her pasture lands, —and Jattir and Eshtemoa, with her pasture lands;

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 her pasture lands, Debir, with her pasture lands;

Hilen, Debir,

59 and Ashan, with her pasture lands, and Bethshemesh, with her pasture lands;

Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-Shemesh.

60 and, out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba, with her pasture lands, and Allemeth, with her pasture lands, —and Anathoth, with her pasture lands; —all their cities, were thirteen cities, throughout 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, unto the rest of the sons of Kohath—of the families of the tribe of Ephraim and of the tribe of Dan, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, by lot 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, by their families—out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and 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 And, unto sons of Merari, by their families—out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, by lot twelve cities.

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

64 So then the sons of Israel gave, to the Levites, —the cities and the pasture lands thereof;

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

65 yea they gave, by lot, out of the tribe of the sons of Judah, and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the sons 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 But, as for some of the families of the sons of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot, out of the tribe of Ephraim;

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

67 and they gave unto them the cities of refuge—Shechem and her pasture lands, in the hill country of Ephraim, —and Gezer, with her pasture lands;

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 her pasture lands, and Beth-heron, with her pasture lands;

Jokmeam, Beth-Horon,

69 and Aijalon, with her pasture lands, and Gath-rimmon, with her pasture lands;

Aijalon, and Gath-Rimmon.

70 and, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner, with her pasture lands, and Bileam, with her pasture lands, —for the rest of the family of the sons 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 Unto the sons of Gershom—out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan, with her pasture lands, —and Ashtaroth, with her pasture lands.

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 her pasture lands, —Daberath, with her pasture lands;

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

73 and Ramoth, with her pasture lands, and Anem, with her pasture lands.

Ramoth, and Anem.

74 And, out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal, with her pasture lands, —and Abdon, with her pasture lands;

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

75 and Hukok, with her pasture lands, —and Rehob, with her pasture lands.

Hukok, and Rehob.

76 And, out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee, with her pasture lands, and Hammon, with her pasture lands, —and Kiryathaim, with her pasture lands.

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 Unto the rest of the sons of Merari—out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono, with her pasture lands, —Tabor, with her pasture lands.

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 of the Jordan—out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness, with her pasture lands, —and Jahzah, with her pasture lands;

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 her pasture lands, and Mephaath, with her pasture lands.

80 And, out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead, with her pasture lands, —and Mahanaim, with her pasture lands;

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 her pasture lands, and Jazer, with her pasture lands.

Heshbon, and Jazer.