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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
6:1-81 The Tribe of Levi. The significance of Levi is shown both by the amount of space devoted to this tribe and by its central position within this section of the book. Just as Judah (2:3-4:23) heads the genealogies of Israel (because of the leadership provided by the Davidic monarchy), and Benjamin (8:1-40) concludes them (because of its close association with the preexilic kingdom of Judah and the restoration community), Levi is placed in the literary and spiritual center of the Chronicler's ideal conception of Israel. The Chronicler will show that the Davidic monarchy and the Jerusalem temple (which is served in every respect by the Levites) together constitute the institutional foundations of Israel's existence, and in fact have a mutually supportive relationship. Primacy among the Levites belongs to the Aaronic high priests (6:1-15), who offered sacrifices of atonement for a guilty nation (v. 49)--one of the principal themes of the book (see 2 Chron. 7:12-14; 29:24). Other Levites were charged with the ministry of worship in Gibeon and Jerusalem (1 Chron. 6:31-48), another matter to which the Chronicler will frequently draw attention (see 16:7, 37; 23:1-27:34; 2 Chron. 29:27-28). At the same time, the Levites, who possessed no tribal territory themselves, are distributed throughout the cities of Israel (1 Chron. 6:54-81).
6:1-15 Drawing from Ex. 6:16-25 for 1 Chron. 6:1-4a, this genealogy focuses on the line of Eleazar descended through Kohath from Levi, as the origin of the high-priestly line down to the exiled Jehozadak. The list of high priests is incomplete, omitting several mentioned in other parts of this book (Jehoiada, 2 Chron. 22:11; two other Azariahs, 2 Chron. 26:20, 31:10) and elsewhere in the OT (Eli and his descendants, 1 Sam. 14:3; Uriah, 2 Kings 16:10). The concluding note on the deportation of Jehozadak is a sober reminder that sin and its consequences touched even the most sacred person among the people (see 2 Chron. 36:14). Nevertheless, Jehozadak's line was preserved into the postexilic period (see Ezra 5:2, where he is called Jozadak), just as David's line was (1 Chron. 3:17-24), as indications of God's continuing commitment to his people. One of the insistent themes of Chronicles is that God's grace is not nullified by human disobedience, but that rather God creates fresh opportunities for each generation to trust and obey.
6:10 Azariah. See note on 1 Kings 4:2.
6:16-30 This section details the three main divisions or clans of the Levites, descended from Gershom (the Chronicler's usual spelling for "Gershon"), Kohath, and Merari. Verses 16-19a are based on Num. 3:17-20. Seven generations are given for the descendants of Gershom and Merari, probably taking them down to the time of David, who reorganized the duties of the Levites (on Asaiah, 1 Chron. 6:30, see 15:6).
6:22-27 The Kohathite line is a little more difficult to follow. Amminadab may be an alternative name for Izhar (see v. 38) or Amram (v. 18). Verses 22-27 present the vertical line of descent from Korah, also giving seven generations, from Kohath through Assir to Shaul. Combined with this are horizontal lines of the family tree (Elkanah and Ebiasaph, v. 23, are Assir's brothers).
6:28 The genealogy of the prophet Samuel identifies him as a Kohathite. First Samuel 1:1 states that his father Elkanah was from an "Ephraimite" family, but this may indicate the locality in which they lived as part of a Kohathite clan (see Josh. 21:20-21) rather than their tribal identity. A clear genealogical link with the Kohathite singer Heman is established in 1 Chron. 6:33-38 (basically the same as vv. 22-28, with the names arranged in a single vertical line).
6:31-48 Genealogical details are provided of the Levites whom David put in charge of the service of song (v. 31) before the ark in Jerusalem and the tabernacle in Gibeon (explained in detail in 16:4-6, 41-42). Their leaders were appointed from each of the Levitical clans: Heman, from the Kohathites (6:33-38); Asaph, from the Gershomites (vv. 39-43); and Ethan, from the Merarites (vv. 44-47). Each line is traced back vertically to Levi.
6:49-53 The work of the Aaronic priests in making atonement for Israel will be a recurrent theme in the narrative as the means of restoring and maintaining Israel's relationship with God (see 2 Chron. 13:10-11; 29:21). Verses 50-53 of 1 Chronicles 6 repeat vv. 4-8 to enclose the Levitical genealogies within the line of Aaronides down to Zadok and Ahimaaz, who were contemporaries of Solomon. Aaron's first two sons, Nadab and Abihu, who died for their disobedience, are not mentioned here (cf. v. 3; 24:1-2; also Ex. 6:23; 24:9; Lev. 10:1-7; Num. 3:2-4; 26:60-61).
6:54-81 Summarized from Joshua 21 with some small omissions and variations of order. As a sign of their central role in the nation's life and well-being, it was intended that the Levites, with no allocated tribal land of their own, should reside throughout the tribal territory of Israel as spiritual representatives and leaders of the people.
