1 Chronicles 6 – NIV & NIRV

New International Version

1 Chronicles 6:1-81

Levi

In Hebrew texts 6:1-15 is numbered 5:27-41, and 6:16-81 is numbered 6:1-66. 1The sons of Levi:

Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

2The sons of Kohath:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

3The children of Amram:

Aaron, Moses and Miriam.

The sons of Aaron:

Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

4Eleazar was the father of Phinehas,

Phinehas the father of Abishua,

5Abishua the father of Bukki,

Bukki the father of Uzzi,

6Uzzi the father of Zerahiah,

Zerahiah the father of Meraioth,

7Meraioth the father of Amariah,

Amariah the father of Ahitub,

8Ahitub the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Ahimaaz,

9Ahimaaz the father of Azariah,

Azariah the father of Johanan,

10Johanan the father of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem),

11Azariah the father of Amariah,

Amariah the father of Ahitub,

12Ahitub the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Shallum,

13Shallum the father of Hilkiah,

Hilkiah the father of Azariah,

14Azariah the father of Seraiah,

and Seraiah the father of Jozadak.6:14 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak; also in verse 15

15Jozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

16The sons of Levi:

Gershon,6:16 Hebrew Gershom, a variant of Gershon; also in verses 17, 20, 43, 62 and 71 Kohath and Merari.

17These are the names of the sons of Gershon:

Libni and Shimei.

18The sons of Kohath:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

19The sons of Merari:

Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:

20Of Gershon:

Libni his son, Jahath his son,

Zimmah his son, 21Joah his son,

Iddo his son, Zerah his son

and Jeatherai his son.

22The descendants of Kohath:

Amminadab his son, Korah his son,

Assir his son, 23Elkanah his son,

Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,

24Tahath his son, Uriel his son,

Uzziah his son and Shaul his son.

25The descendants of Elkanah:

Amasai, Ahimoth,

26Elkanah his son,6:26 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts Ahimoth 26 and Elkanah. The sons of Elkanah: Zophai his son,

Nahath his son, 27Eliab his son,

Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son

and Samuel his son.6:27 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Samuel 1:19,20 and 1 Chron. 6:33,34); Hebrew does not have and Samuel his son.

28The sons of Samuel:

Joel6:28 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 1 Samuel 8:2 and 1 Chron. 6:33); Hebrew does not have Joel. the firstborn

and Abijah the second son.

29The descendants of Merari:

Mahli, Libni his son,

Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,

30Shimea his son, Haggiah his son

and Asaiah his son.

The Temple Musicians

31These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 32They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.

33Here are the men who served, together with their sons:

From the Kohathites:

Heman, the musician,

the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,

34the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham,

the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

35the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah,

the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,

36the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel,

the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,

37the son of Tahath, the son of Assir,

the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,

38the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath,

the son of Levi, the son of Israel;

39and Heman’s associate Asaph, who served at his right hand:

Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea,

40the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah,6:40 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, one Septuagint manuscript and Syriac Maaseiah

the son of Malkijah, 41the son of Ethni,

the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,

42the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah,

the son of Shimei, 43the son of Jahath,

the son of Gershon, the son of Levi;

44and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand:

Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi,

the son of Malluk, 45the son of Hashabiah,

the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,

46the son of Amzi, the son of Bani,

the son of Shemer, 47the son of Mahli,

the son of Mushi, the son of Merari,

the son of Levi.

48Their fellow Levites were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God. 49But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

50These were the descendants of Aaron:

Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son,

Abishua his son, 51Bukki his son,

Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,

52Meraioth his son, Amariah his son,

Ahitub his son, 53Zadok his son

and Ahimaaz his son.

54These were the locations of their settlements allotted as their territory (they were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clan, because the first lot was for them):

55They were given Hebron in Judah with its surrounding pasturelands. 56But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.

57So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), and Libnah,6:57 See Joshua 21:13; Hebrew given the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah. Jattir, Eshtemoa, 58Hilen, Debir, 59Ashan, Juttah6:59 Syriac (see also Septuagint and Joshua 21:16); Hebrew does not have Juttah. and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands. 60And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon,6:60 See Joshua 21:17; Hebrew does not have Gibeon. Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands.

The total number of towns distributed among the Kohathite clans came to thirteen.

61The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of half the tribe of Manasseh.

62The descendants of Gershon, clan by clan, were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali, and from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that is in Bashan.

63The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, were allotted twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.

64So the Israelites gave the Levites these towns and their pasturelands. 65From the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin they allotted the previously named towns.

66Some of the Kohathite clans were given as their territory towns from the tribe of Ephraim.

67In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge), and Gezer,6:67 See Joshua 21:21; Hebrew given the cities of refuge: Shechem, Gezer. 68Jokmeam, Beth Horon, 69Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands.

70And from half the tribe of Manasseh the Israelites gave Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands, to the rest of the Kohathite clans.

71The Gershonites received the following:

From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh

they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands;

72from the tribe of Issachar

they received Kedesh, Daberath, 73Ramoth and Anem, together with their pasturelands;

74from the tribe of Asher

they received Mashal, Abdon, 75Hukok and Rehob, together with their pasturelands;

76and from the tribe of Naphtali

they received Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.

77The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following:

From the tribe of Zebulun

they received Jokneam, Kartah,6:77 See Septuagint and Joshua 21:34; Hebrew does not have Jokneam, Kartah. Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands;

78from the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan east of Jericho

they received Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah, 79Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands;

80and from the tribe of Gad

they received Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, 81Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands.

New International Reader’s Version

1 Chronicles 6:1-81

The Family Line of Levi

1The sons of Levi were

Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

2The sons of Kohath were

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

3Aaron, Moses and Miriam

were born into the family line of Amram.

The sons of Aaron were

Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

4Eleazar was the father of Phinehas.

Phinehas was the father of Abishua.

5Abishua was the father of Bukki.

Bukki was the father of Uzzi.

6Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah.

Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.

7Meraioth was the father of Amariah.

Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

8Ahitub was the father of Zadok.

Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.

9Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah.

Azariah was the father of Johanan.

10Johanan was the father of Azariah.

Azariah served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.

11Azariah was the father of Amariah.

Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

12Ahitub was the father of Zadok.

Zadok was the father of Shallum.

13Shallum was the father of Hilkiah.

Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.

14Azariah was the father of Seraiah.

And Seraiah was the father of Jozadak.

15Jozadak was taken away from his own land. The Lord took the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the land of Babylon. He used Nebuchadnezzar to take them there as prisoners.

16The sons of Levi were

Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

17The names of the sons of Gershon were

Libni and Shimei.

18The sons of Kohath were

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

19The sons of Merari were

Mahli and Mushi.

Here are the members of the family groups of the Levites. They are listed under the names of their fathers.

20Gershon was the father of Libni.

Jahath was Libni’s son.

Zimmah was Jahath’s son.

21Joah was Zimmah’s son.

Iddo was Joah’s son.

Zerah was Iddo’s son.

And Jeatherai was Zerah’s son.

22The family line of Kohath included his son Amminadab.

Korah was Amminadab’s son.

Assir was Korah’s son.

23Elkanah was Assir’s son.

Ebiasaph was Elkanah’s son.

Assir was Ebiasaph’s son.

24Tahath was Assir’s son.

Uriel was Tahath’s son.

Uzziah was Uriel’s son.

And Shaul was Uzziah’s son.

25The family line of Elkanah included his son Amasai.

Amasai was the father of Ahimoth.

26Elkanah was Ahimoth’s son.

Zophai was Elkanah’s son.

Nahath was Zophai’s son.

27Eliab was Nahath’s son.

Jeroham was Eliab’s son.

Elkanah was Jeroham’s son.

And Samuel was Elkanah’s son.

28The sons of Samuel were

his first son Joel

and his second son Abijah.

29The family line of Merari included his son Mahli.

Libni was Mahli’s son.

Shimei was Libni’s son.

Uzzah was Shimei’s son.

30Shimea was Uzzah’s son.

Haggiah was Shimea’s son.

And Asaiah was Haggiah’s son.

The Levites Who Were in Charge of the Music

31Here are the Levites David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord. He did it after the ark was placed there. 32The men used their music to serve in front of the holy tent, the tent of meeting. They served there until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They did their work according to the rules they had been given.

33Here are the men who served. The list also includes their sons.

The family line of Kohath included

Heman. He led the music.

He was the son of Joel.

Joel was the son of Samuel.

34Samuel was the son of Elkanah.

Elkanah was the son of Jeroham.

Jeroham was the son of Eliel.

Eliel was the son of Toah.

35Toah was the son of Zuph.

Zuph was the son of Elkanah.

Elkanah was the son of Mahath.

Mahath was the son of Amasai.

36Amasai was the son of Elkanah.

Elkanah was the son of Joel.

Joel was the son of Azariah.

Azariah was the son of Zephaniah.

37Zephaniah was the son of Tahath.

Tahath was the son of Assir.

Assir was the son of Ebiasaph.

Ebiasaph was the son of Korah.

38Korah was the son of Izhar.

Izhar was the son of Kohath.

Kohath was the son of Levi.

And Levi was the son of Israel.

39Heman had a relative named Asaph. Asaph served as Heman’s helper at his right side.

Asaph was the son of Berekiah.

Berekiah was the son of Shimea.

40Shimea was the son of Michael.

Michael was the son of Baaseiah.

Baaseiah was the son of Malkijah.

41Malkijah was the son of Ethni.

Ethni was the son of Zerah.

Zerah was the son of Adaiah.

42Adaiah was the son of Ethan.

Ethan was the son of Zimmah.

Zimmah was the son of Shimei.

43Shimei was the son of Jahath.

Jahath was the son of Gershon.

And Gershon was the son of Levi.

44Here are the Levites in the family line of Merari who served as Heman’s helpers at his left side. They were relatives of the Kohathites.

Ethan was the son of Kishi.

Kishi was the son of Abdi.

Abdi was the son of Malluk.

45Malluk was the son of Hashabiah.

Hashabiah was the son of Amaziah.

Amaziah was the son of Hilkiah.

46Hilkiah was the son of Amzi.

Amzi was the son of Bani.

Bani was the son of Shemer.

47Shemer was the son of Mahli.

Mahli was the son of Mushi.

Mushi was the son of Merari.

And Merari was the son of Levi.

48The rest of the Levites were appointed to do all the other work at the holy tent. It was the house of God. 49Aaron and his sons after him brought the offerings. They sacrificed them on the altar of burnt offering. They also burned incense on the altar of incense. That was part of what they did in the Most Holy Room. That’s how they paid for the sin of Israel. They did everything just as Moses, the servant of God, had commanded.

50Here are the members of the family line of Aaron.

Eleazar was Aaron’s son.

Phinehas was Eleazar’s son.

Abishua was Phinehas’s son.

51Bukki was Abishua’s son.

Uzzi was Bukki’s son.

Zerahiah was Uzzi’s son.

52Meraioth was Zerahiah’s son.

Amariah was Meraioth’s son.

Ahitub was Amariah’s son.

53Zadok was Ahitub’s son.

And Ahimaaz was Zadok’s son.

54Here were the places where they made their homes. These places were given to them as their territory. Some were given to the children of Aaron who were from the family group of Kohath. They were given out by casting lots. The first lot was for Kohath.

55In Judah the Kohathites were given Hebron. They also received the grasslands around Hebron. 56But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh. 57So the people in the family line of Aaron received Hebron. It was a city where people could go for safety. Aaron’s family line received Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, 58Hilen and Debir. 59They also received Ashan, Juttah and Beth Shemesh. They were given all these towns together with their grasslands.

60From the tribe of Benjamin they received Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth. They received these towns together with their grasslands.

All these towns were handed out to the family groups of Kohath. The total number of towns was 13.

61The rest of the members of the family line of Kohath were given ten towns. The towns were from the family groups of half of the tribe of Manasseh.

62The members of the family line of Gershon were given 13 towns. They received them family group by family group. Most of the towns were from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali. The rest were from the other half of the tribe of Manasseh. It’s in Bashan.

63The members of the family line of Merari were given 12 towns. They received them family group by family group. The towns were from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.

64So the Israelites gave the Levites all these towns and their grasslands.

65They gave other towns to them from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin.

66Some of the family groups of Kohath were given towns from the tribe of Ephraim as their territory.

67In the hill country of Ephraim they received Shechem. Shechem was a city where people could go for safety. The Kohathites also received Gezer, 68Jokmeam, Beth Horon, 69Aijalon and Gath Rimmon. They were given all these towns together with their grasslands.

70From half of the tribe of Manasseh the people of Israel gave the towns of Aner and Bileam. They gave them to the rest of the family groups of Kohath. They gave them together with their grasslands.

71Here is what the members of the family line of Gershon were given.

From half of the tribe of Manasseh they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth. They received them together with their grasslands.

72From the tribe of Issachar they received Kedesh, Daberath, 73Ramoth and Anem. They received them together with their grasslands.

74From the tribe of Asher they received Mashal, Abdon, 75Hukok and Rehob. They received them together with their grasslands.

76From the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee. They also received Hammon and Kiriathaim. They were given all these towns together with their grasslands.

77The members of the family line of Merari make up the rest of the Levites. Here is what they were given.

From the tribe of Zebulun they received Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono and Tabor. They received them together with their grasslands.

78The tribe of Reuben was across the Jordan River east of Jericho. From that tribe the Merarites received Bezer in the desert, Jahzah, 79Kedemoth and Mephaath. They received them together with their grasslands.

80From the tribe of Gad they received Ramoth in Gilead. They also received Mahanaim, 81Heshbon and Jazer. They received all these towns together with their grasslands.