1 Chronicles 6:1-81 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

¹ The sons ^H1121 of Levi; ^H3878 Gershon, ^H1648 Kohath, ^H6955 and Merari. ^H4847

² And the sons ^H1121 of Kohath; ^H6955 Amram, ^H6019 Izhar, ^H3324 and Hebron, ^H2275 and Uzziel. ^H5816

³ And the children ^H1121 of Amram; ^H6019 Aaron, ^H175 and Moses, ^H4872 and Miriam. ^H4813 The sons ^H1121 also of Aaron; ^H175 Nadab, ^H5070 and Abihu, ^H30 Eleazar, ^H499 and Ithamar. ^H385

⁴ Eleazar ^H499 begat ^H3205 Phinehas, ^H6372 Phinehas ^H6372 begat ^H3205 Abishua, ^H50

⁵ And Abishua ^H50 begat ^H3205 Bukki, ^H1231 and Bukki ^H1231 begat ^H3205 Uzzi, ^H5813

⁶ And Uzzi ^H5813 begat ^H3205 Zerahiah, ^H2228 and Zerahiah ^H2228 begat ^H3205 Meraioth, ^H4812

⁷ Meraioth ^H4812 begat ^H3205 Amariah, ^H568 and Amariah ^H568 begat ^H3205 Ahitub, ^H285

⁸ And Ahitub ^H285 begat ^H3205 Zadok, ^H6659 and Zadok ^H6659 begat ^H3205 Ahimaaz, ^H290

⁹ And Ahimaaz ^H290 begat ^H3205 Azariah, ^H5838 and Azariah ^H5838 begat ^H3205 Johanan, ^H3110

¹⁰ And Johanan ^H3110 begat ^H3205 Azariah, ^H5838 (he it is that executed the priest's office ^H3547 in the temple ^H1004 that Solomon ^H8010 built ^H1129 in Jerusalem:) ^H3389

¹¹ And Azariah ^H5838 begat ^H3205 Amariah, ^H568 and Amariah ^H568 begat ^H3205 Ahitub, ^H285

¹² And Ahitub ^H285 begat ^H3205 Zadok, ^H6659 and Zadok ^H6659 begat ^H3205 Shallum, ^H7967

¹³ And Shallum ^H7967 begat ^H3205 Hilkiah, ^H2518 and Hilkiah ^H2518 begat ^H3205 Azariah, ^H5838

¹⁴ And Azariah ^H5838 begat ^H3205 Seraiah, ^H8304 and Seraiah ^H8304 begat ^H3205 Jehozadak, ^H3087

¹⁵ And Jehozadak ^H3087 went ^H1980 into captivity, when the LORD ^H3068 carried away ^H1540 Judah ^H3063 and Jerusalem ^H3389 by the hand ^H3027 of Nebuchadnezzar. ^H5019

¹⁶ The sons ^H1121 of Levi; ^H3878 Gershom, ^H1647 Kohath, ^H6955 and Merari. ^H4847

¹⁷ And these be the names ^H8034 of the sons ^H1121 of Gershom; ^H1647 Libni, ^H3845 and Shimei. ^H8096

¹⁸ And the sons ^H1121 of Kohath ^H6955 were, Amram, ^H6019 and Izhar, ^H3324 and Hebron, ^H2275 and Uzziel. ^H5816

¹⁹ The sons ^H1121 of Merari; ^H4847 Mahli, ^H4249 and Mushi. ^H4187 And these are the families ^H4940 of the Levites ^H3881 according to their fathers. ^H1

²⁰ Of Gershom; ^H1647 Libni ^H3845 his son, ^H1121 Jahath ^H3189 his son, ^H1121 Zimmah ^H2155 his son, ^H1121

²¹ Joah ^H3098 his son, ^H1121 Iddo ^H5714 his son, ^H1121 Zerah ^H2226 his son, ^H1121 Jeaterai ^H2979 his son. ^H1121

²² The sons ^H1121 of Kohath; ^H6955 Amminadab ^H5992 his son, ^H1121 Korah ^H7141 his son, ^H1121 Assir ^H617 his son, ^H1121

²³ Elkanah ^H511 his son, ^H1121 and Ebiasaph ^H43 his son, ^H1121 and Assir ^H617 his son, ^H1121

²⁴ Tahath ^H8480 his son, ^H1121 Uriel ^H222 his son, ^H1121 Uzziah ^H5818 his son, ^H1121 and Shaul ^H7586 his son. ^H1121

²⁵ And the sons ^H1121 of Elkanah; ^H511 Amasai, ^H6022 and Ahimoth. ^H287

²⁶ As for Elkanah: ^H511 the sons ^H1121 of Elkanah; ^H511 Zophai ^H6689 his son, ^H1121 and Nahath ^H5184 his son, ^H1121

²⁷ Eliab ^H446 his son, ^H1121 Jeroham ^H3395 his son, ^H1121 Elkanah ^H511 his son. ^H1121

²⁸ And the sons ^H1121 of Samuel; ^H8050 the firstborn ^H1060 Vashni, ^H2059 and Abiah. ^H29

²⁹ The sons ^H1121 of Merari; ^H4847 Mahli, ^H4249 Libni ^H3845 his son, ^H1121 Shimei ^H8096 his son, ^H1121 Uzza ^H5798 his son, ^H1121

³⁰ Shimea ^H8092 his son, ^H1121 Haggiah ^H2293 his son, ^H1121 Asaiah ^H6222 his son. ^H1121

³¹ And these are they whom David ^H1732 set ^H5975 over the service ^H3027 of song ^H7892 in the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 after that the ark ^H727 had rest. ^H4494

³² And they ministered ^H8334 before ^H6440 the dwelling ^H4908 place of the tabernacle ^H168 of the congregation ^H4150 with singing, ^H7892 until Solomon ^H8010 had built ^H1129 the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068 in Jerusalem: ^H3389 and then they waited ^H5975 on their office ^H5656 according to their order. ^H4941

³³ And these are they that waited ^H5975 with their children. ^H1121 Of the sons ^H1121 of the Kohathites: ^H6956 Heman ^H1968 a singer, ^H7891 the son ^H1121 of Joel, ^H3100 the son ^H1121 of Shemuel, ^H8050

³⁴ The son ^H1121 of Elkanah, ^H511 the son ^H1121 of Jeroham, ^H3395 the son ^H1121 of Eliel, ^H447 the son ^H1121 of Toah, ^H8430

³⁵ The son ^H1121 of Zuph, ^H6689 the son ^H1121 of Elkanah, ^H511 the son ^H1121 of Mahath, ^H4287 the son ^H1121 of Amasai, ^H6022

³⁶ The son ^H1121 of Elkanah, ^H511 the son ^H1121 of Joel, ^H3100 the son ^H1121 of Azariah, ^H5838 the son ^H1121 of Zephaniah, ^H6846

³⁷ The son ^H1121 of Tahath, ^H8480 the son ^H1121 of Assir, ^H617 the son ^H1121 of Ebiasaph, ^H43 the son ^H1121 of Korah, ^H7141

³⁸ The son ^H1121 of Izhar, ^H3324 the son ^H1121 of Kohath, ^H6955 the son ^H1121 of Levi, ^H3878 the son ^H1121 of Israel. ^H3478

³⁹ And his brother ^H251 Asaph, ^H623 who stood ^H5975 on his right hand, ^H3225 even Asaph ^H623 the son ^H1121 of Berachiah, ^H1296 the son ^H1121 of Shimea, ^H8092

⁴⁰ The son ^H1121 of Michael, ^H4317 the son ^H1121 of Baaseiah, ^H1202 the son ^H1121 of Malchiah, ^H4441

⁴¹ The son ^H1121 of Ethni, ^H867 the son ^H1121 of Zerah, ^H2226 the son ^H1121 of Adaiah, ^H5718

⁴² The son ^H1121 of Ethan, ^H387 the son ^H1121 of Zimmah, ^H2155 the son ^H1121 of Shimei, ^H8096

⁴³ The son ^H1121 of Jahath, ^H3189 the son ^H1121 of Gershom, ^H1647 the son ^H1121 of Levi. ^H3878

⁴⁴ And their brethren ^H251 the sons ^H1121 of Merari ^H4847 stood on the left hand: ^H8040 Ethan ^H387 the son ^H1121 of Kishi, ^H7029 the son ^H1121 of Abdi, ^H5660 the son ^H1121 of Malluch, ^H4409

⁴⁵ The son ^H1121 of Hashabiah, ^H2811 the son ^H1121 of Amaziah, ^H558 the son ^H1121 of Hilkiah, ^H2518

⁴⁶ The son ^H1121 of Amzi, ^H557 the son ^H1121 of Bani, ^H1137 the son ^H1121 of Shamer, ^H8106

⁴⁷ The son ^H1121 of Mahli, ^H4249 the son ^H1121 of Mushi, ^H4187 the son ^H1121 of Merari, ^H4847 the son ^H1121 of Levi. ^H3878

⁴⁸ Their brethren ^H251 also the Levites ^H3881 were appointed ^H5414 unto all manner of service ^H5656 of the tabernacle ^H4908 of the house ^H1004 of God. ^H430

⁴⁹ But Aaron ^H175 and his sons ^H1121 offered ^H6999 upon the altar ^H4196 of the burnt offering, ^H5930 and on the altar ^H4196 of incense, ^H7004 and were appointed for all the work ^H4399 of the place most ^H6944 holy, ^H6944 and to make an atonement ^H3722 for Israel, ^H3478 according to all that Moses ^H4872 the servant ^H5650 of God ^H430 had commanded. ^H6680

⁵⁰ And these are the sons ^H1121 of Aaron; ^H175 Eleazar ^H499 his son, ^H1121 Phinehas ^H6372 his son, ^H1121 Abishua ^H50 his son, ^H1121

⁵¹ Bukki ^H1231 his son, ^H1121 Uzzi ^H5813 his son, ^H1121 Zerahiah ^H2228 his son, ^H1121

⁵² Meraioth ^H4812 his son, ^H1121 Amariah ^H568 his son, ^H1121 Ahitub ^H285 his son, ^H1121

⁵³ Zadok ^H6659 his son, ^H1121 Ahimaaz ^H290 his son. ^H1121

⁵⁴ Now these are their dwelling places ^H4186 throughout their castles ^H2918 in their coasts, ^H1366 of the sons ^H1121 of Aaron, ^H175 of the families ^H4940 of the Kohathites: ^H6956 for theirs was the lot. ^H1486

⁵⁵ And they gave ^H5414 them Hebron ^H2275 in the land ^H776 of Judah, ^H3063 and the suburbs ^H4054 thereof round about ^H5439 it.

⁵⁶ But the fields ^H7704 of the city, ^H5892 and the villages ^H2691 thereof, they gave ^H5414 to Caleb ^H3612 the son ^H1121 of Jephunneh. ^H3312

⁵⁷ And to the sons ^H1121 of Aaron ^H175 they gave ^H5414 the cities ^H5892 of Judah, namely, Hebron, ^H2275 the city of refuge, ^H4733 and Libnah ^H3841 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Jattir, ^H3492 and Eshtemoa, ^H851 with their suburbs, ^H4054

⁵⁸ And Hilen ^H2432 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Debir ^H1688 with her suburbs, ^H4054

⁵⁹ And Ashan ^H6228 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Bethshemesh ^H1053 with her suburbs: ^H4054

⁶⁰ And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Benjamin; ^H1144 Geba ^H1387 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Alemeth ^H5964 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Anathoth ^H6068 with her suburbs. ^H4054 All their cities ^H5892 throughout their families ^H4940 were thirteen ^H7969 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892

⁶¹ And unto the sons ^H1121 of Kohath, ^H6955 which were left ^H3498 of the family ^H4940 of that tribe, ^H4294 were cities given out of the half ^H2677 tribe, ^H4294 namely, out of the half ^H4276 tribe of Manasseh, ^H4519 by lot, ^H1486 ten ^H6235 cities. ^H5892

⁶² And to the sons ^H1121 of Gershom ^H1647 throughout their families ^H4940 out of the tribe ^H4294 of Issachar, ^H3485 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Asher, ^H836 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Naphtali, ^H5321 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh ^H4519 in Bashan, ^H1316 thirteen ^H7969 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892

⁶³ Unto the sons ^H1121 of Merari ^H4847 were given by lot, ^H1486 throughout their families, ^H4940 out of the tribe ^H4294 of Reuben, ^H7205 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Gad, ^H1410 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Zebulun, ^H2074 twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892

⁶⁴ And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 gave ^H5414 to the Levites ^H3881 these cities ^H5892 with their suburbs. ^H4054

⁶⁵ And they gave ^H5414 by lot ^H1486 out of the tribe ^H4294 of the children ^H1121 of Judah, ^H3063 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of the children ^H1121 of Simeon, ^H8095 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of the children ^H1121 of Benjamin, ^H1144 these cities, ^H5892 which are called ^H7121 by their names. ^H8034

⁶⁶ And the residue of the families ^H4940 of the sons ^H1121 of Kohath ^H6955 had cities ^H5892 of their coasts ^H1366 out of the tribe ^H4294 of Ephraim. ^H669

⁶⁷ And they gave ^H5414 unto them, of the cities ^H5892 of refuge, ^H4733 Shechem ^H7927 in mount ^H2022 Ephraim ^H669 with her suburbs; ^H4054 they gave also Gezer ^H1507 with her suburbs, ^H4054

⁶⁸ And Jokmeam ^H3361 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Bethhoron ^H1032 with her suburbs, ^H4054

⁶⁹ And Aijalon ^H357 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Gathrimmon ^H1667 with her suburbs: ^H4054

⁷⁰ And out of the half ^H4276 tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh; ^H4519 Aner ^H6063 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Bileam ^H1109 with her suburbs, ^H4054 for the family ^H4940 of the remnant ^H3498 of the sons ^H1121 of Kohath. ^H6955

⁷¹ Unto the sons ^H1121 of Gershom ^H1647 were given out of the family ^H4940 of the half ^H2677 tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh, ^H4519 Golan ^H1474 in Bashan ^H1316 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Ashtaroth ^H6252 with her suburbs: ^H4054

⁷² And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Issachar; ^H3485 Kedesh ^H6943 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Daberath ^H1705 with her suburbs, ^H4054

⁷³ And Ramoth ^H7216 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Anem ^H6046 with her suburbs: ^H4054

⁷⁴ And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Asher; ^H836 Mashal ^H4913 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Abdon ^H5658 with her suburbs, ^H4054

⁷⁵ And Hukok ^H2712 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Rehob ^H7340 with her suburbs: ^H4054

⁷⁶ And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Naphtali; ^H5321 Kedesh ^H6943 in Galilee ^H1551 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Hammon ^H2540 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Kirjathaim ^H7156 with her suburbs. ^H4054

⁷⁷ Unto the rest ^H3498 of the children ^H1121 of Merari ^H4847 were given out of the tribe ^H4294 of Zebulun, ^H2074 Rimmon ^H7417 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Tabor ^H8396 with her suburbs: ^H4054

⁷⁸ And on the other side ^H5676 Jordan ^H3383 by Jericho, ^H3405 on the east side ^H4217 of Jordan, ^H3383 were given them out of the tribe ^H4294 of Reuben, ^H7205 Bezer ^H1221 in the wilderness ^H4057 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Jahzah ^H3096 with her suburbs, ^H4054

⁷⁹ Kedemoth ^H6932 also with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Mephaath ^H4158 with her suburbs: ^H4054

⁸⁰ And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Gad; ^H1410 Ramoth ^H7216 in Gilead ^H1568 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Mahanaim ^H4266 with her suburbs, ^H4054

⁸¹ And Heshbon ^H2809 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Jazer ^H3270 with her suburbs. ^H4054

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 6 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 6

Though Joseph and Judah shared between them the forfeited honours of the birthright, yet Levi was first of all the tribes, dignified and distinguished with an honour more valuable than either the precedency or the double portion, and that was the priesthood. That tribe God set apart for himself; it was Moses's tribe, and perhaps for his sake was thus favoured. Of that tribe we have an account in this chapter.

I. Their pedigree, the first fathers of the tribe (v. 1-3), the line of the priests, from Aaron to the captivity (v. 4-15), and of some other of their families (v. 16-30).
II. Their work, the work of the Levites (v. 31-48), of the priests (v. 49-53).
III. The cities appointed them in the land of Canaan (v. 54-81).

1Ch 6:1-30

The priests and Levites were more concerned than any other Israelites to preserve their pedigree clear and to be able to prove it, because all the honours and privileges of their office depended upon their descent. And we read of those who, though perhaps they really were children of the priests, yet, because they could not find the register of their genealogies, nor make out their descent by any authentic record, were, as polluted, put from the priesthood, and forbidden to eat of the holy things, Ezra 2:62, 63. It is but very little that is here recorded of the genealogies of this sacred tribe.

1. The first fathers of it are here named twice, v. 1, 16. Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, are three names which we were very conversant with in the book of Numbers, when the families of the Levites were marshalled and had their work assigned to them. Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam, we have known much more of than their names, and cannot pass them over here without remembering that this was that Moses and Aaron whom God honoured in making them instruments of Israel's deliverance and settlement and figures of him that was to come, Moses as a prophet and Aaron as a priest. And the mention of Nadab and Abihu (though, having no children, there was no occasion to bring them into the genealogy) cannot but remind us of the terrors of that divine justice which they were made monuments of for offering strange fire, that we may always fear before him.
2. The line of Eleazar, the successor of Aaron, is here drawn down to the time of the captivity, v. 4-15. It begins with Eleazar, who came out of the house of bondage in Egypt, and ends with Jehozadak, who went into the house of bondage in Babylon. Thus, for their sins, they were left as they were found, which might also intimate that the Levitical priesthood did not make anything perfect, but this was to be done by the bringing in of a better hope. All these here named were not high priests; for, in the time of the judges, that dignity was, upon some occasion or other, brought into the family of Ithamar, of which Eli was; but in Zadok it returned again to the right line. Of Azariah it is here said (v. 10), He it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built. It is supposed that this was that Azariah who bravely opposed the presumption of king Uzziah when he invaded the priest's office (2 Chr. 26:17, 18), though he ventured his neck by so doing. This was done like a priest, like one that was truly zealous for his God. He that thus boldly maintained and defended the priest's office, and made good its barriers against such a daring insult, might well be said to execute it; and this honour is put upon him for it; while Urijah, one of his successors, for a base compliance with King Ahaz, in building him an idolatrous altar, has the disgrace put upon him of being left out of this genealogy, as perhaps some others are. But some think that this remark upon this Azariah should have been added to his grandfather of the same name (v. 9), who was the son of Ahimaaz, and that he was the priest who first officiated in Solomon's temple.
3. Some other of the families of the Levites are here accounted for. One of the families of Gershom (that of Libni) is here drawn down as far as Samuel, who had the honour of a prophet added to that of a Levite. One of the families of Merari (that of Mahli) is likewise drawn down for several descents, v. 29, 30.

1Ch 6:31-53

When the Levites were first ordained in the wilderness much of the work then appointed them lay in carrying and taking care of the tabernacle and the utensils of it, while they were in their march through the wilderness. In David's time their number was increased; and, though the greater part of them was dispersed all the nation over, to teach the people the good knowledge of the Lord, yet those that attended the house of God were so numerous that there was not constant work for them all; and therefore David, by special commission and direction from God, new-modelled the Levites, as we shall find in the latter part of this book. Here we are told what the work was which he assigned them.

I. Singing-work, v. 31. David was raised up on high to be the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Sa. 23:1), not only to pen psalms, but to appoint the singing of them in the house of the Lord (not so much because he was musical as because he was devout), and this he did after that the ark had rest. While that was in captivity, obscure, and unsettled, the harps were hung upon the willow-trees: singing was then thought unseasonable (when the bridegroom is taken away they shall fast); but the harps being resumed, and the songs revived, at the bringing up of the ark, they were continued afterwards. For we should rejoice as much in the prolonging of our spiritual privileges as in the restoring of them. When the service of the ark was much superseded by its rest they had other work cut out for them (for Levites should never be idle) and were employed in the service of song. Thus when the people of God come to the rest which remains for them above they shall take leave of all their burdens and be employed in everlasting songs. These singers kept up that service in the tabernacle till the temple was built, and then they waited on their office there, v. 32. When they came to that stately magnificent house they kept as close both to their office and to their order as they had done in the tabernacle. It is a pity that the preferment of the Levites should ever make them remiss in their business. We have here an account of the three great masters who were employed in the service of the sacred song, with their respective families; for they waited with their children, that is, such as descended from them or were allied to them, v. 33. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were the three that were appointed to this service, one of each of the three houses of the Levites, that there might be an equality in the distribution of this work and honour, and that every one might know his post, such an admirable order was there in this choir service.
- 1. Of the house of Kohath was Heman with his family (v. 33), a man of a sorrowful spirit, if it be the same Heman that penned the 88th psalm, and yet a singer. He was the grandson of Samuel the prophet, the son of Joel, of whom it is said that he walked not in the ways of Samuel (1 Sa. 8:2, 3); but it seems, though the son did not, the grandson did. Thus does the blessing entailed on the seed of the upright sometimes pass over one generation and fasten upon the next. And this Heman, though the grandson of that mighty prince, did not think it below him to be a precentor in the house of God. David himself was willing to be a door-keeper. Rather we may look upon this preferment of the grandson in the church as a recompense for the humble modest resignation which the grandfather made of his authority in the state. Many such ways God has of making up his people's losses and balancing their disgraces. Perhaps David, in making Heman the chief, had some respect to his old friend Samuel.
- 2. Of the house of Gershom was Asaph, called his brother, because in the same office and of the same tribe, though of another family. He was posted on Heman's right hand in the choir, v. 39. Several of the psalms bear his name, being either penned by him or tuned by him as the chief musician. It is plain that he was the penman of some psalms; for we read of those that praised the Lord in the words of David and of Asaph. He was a seer as well as a singer, 2 Chr. 29:30. His pedigree is traced up here, through names utterly unknown, as high as Levi, v. 39-43.
- 3. Of the house of Merari was Ethan (v. 44), who was appointed to Heman's left hand. His pedigree is also traced up to Levi, v. 47. If these were the Heman and Ethan that penned the 88th and 89th psalms, there appears no reason here why they should be called Ezrahites (see the titles of those psalms), as there does why those should be called so who are mentioned ch. 2:6, and who were the sons of Zerah.
II. There was serving-work, abundance of service to be done in the tabernacle of the house of God (v. 48), to provide water and fuel,-to wash and sweep, and carry out ashes,-to kill, and flay, and boil the sacrifices; and to all such services there were Levites appointed, those of other families, or perhaps those that were not fit to be singers, that had either no good voice or no good ear. As every one has received the gift, so let him minister. Those that could not sing must not therefore be laid aside as good for nothing; though they were not fit for that service, there was other service they might be useful in.
III. There was sacrificing-work, and that was to be done by the priests only, v. 49. They only were to sprinkle the blood and burn the incense; as for the work of the most holy place, that was to be done by the high priest only. Each had his work, and they both needed one another and both helped one another in it. Concerning the work of the priests we are here told,
- 1. What was the end they were to have in their eye. They were to make an atonement for Israel, to mediate between the people and God; not to magnify and enrich themselves, but to serve the public. They were ordained for men.
- 2. What was the rule they were to have in their eye. They presided in God's house, yet must do as they were bidden, according to all that God commanded. That law the highest are subject to.

1Ch 6:54-81

We have here an account of the Levites' cities. They are here called their castles (v. 54), not only because walled and fortified, and well guarded by the country (for it is the interest of every nation to protect its ministers), but because they and their possessions were, in a particular manner, the care of the divine providence: as God was their portion, so God was their protection; and a cottage will be a castle to those that abide under the shadow of the Almighty. This account is much the same with that which we had, Jos. 21. We need not be critical in comparing them (what good will it do us?) nor will it do any hurt to the credit of the holy scripture if the names of some of the places be not spelt just the same here as they were there. We know it is common for cities to have several names. Sarum and Salisbury, Salop and Shrewsbury, are more unlike than Hilen (v. 58) and Holon (Jos. 21:15), Ashan (v. 59) and Ain (Jos. 21:16), Alemeth (v. 60) and Almon (Jos. 21:18); and time changes names. We are only to observe that in this appointment of cities for the Levites God took care,

1. For the accomplishment of dying Jacob's prediction concerning this tribe, that it should be scattered in Israel, Gen. 49:7.
2. For the diffusing of the knowledge of himself and his law to all parts of the land of Israel. Every tribe had Levites' cities in it; and so every room was furnished with a candle, so that none could be ignorant of his duty but it was either his own fault or the Levites'.
3. For a comfortable maintenance for those that ministered in holy things. Besides their tithes and offerings, they had glebe-lands and cities of their own to dwell in. Some of the most considerable cities of Israel fell to the Levites' lot. Every tribe had benefit by the Levites, and therefore every tribe must contribute to their support. Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth, and do it cheerfully.

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1 Chronicles 6:1-81 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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Commentary on 1 Chronicles 6 Matthew Henry Commentary

Chapter 6