In The Word
Read: 1 Chronicles 6-9
Genealogy: The Priestly Line
6 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 The sons of Kohath wereAmram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.4 Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua, 5 Abishua fathered Bukki, Bukki fathered Uzzi, 6 Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, Zerahiah fathered Meraioth,7 Meraioth fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, 8 Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Ahimaaz, 9 Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, Azariah fathered Johanan,10 Johanan fathered Azariah (it was he who served as the priest in the house which Solomon built in Jerusalem), 11 Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, 12 Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Shallum, 13 Shallum fathered Hilkiah, Hilkiah fathered Azariah, 14 Azariah fathered Seraiah, and Seraiah fathered Jehozadak; 15 Jehozadak went along when the Lord led Judah and Jerusalem into exile by Nebuchadnezzar.
16 The sons of Levi were Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17 These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ households. 20 Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son. 22 The sons of Kohath were Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 25 The sons of Elkanah were Amasai and Ahimoth. 26 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah wereZophai his son, Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son. 28 The sons of Samuel were Joel, the firstborn, and Abijah, the second.29 The sons of Merari were Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.
31 Now these are the ones whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark rested there. 32 They were ministering in song in front of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon’s building of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; and they served in their office according to their order.33 These are the ones who served with their sons: From the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, 34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, 35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. 39 Heman’s brother Asaph stood at his right hand, Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea, 40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah, 41 the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, 43 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi. 44 On the left hand were their kinsmen the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, 45 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, 46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, 47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 48 Their kinsmen the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
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, in accordance with everything that Moses the servant of God had commanded.50 These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.
54 Now these are their settlements according to their camps within their borders. To the sons of Aaron of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the first lot),55 to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its pasture lands around it;56 but they gave the fields of the city and its settlements to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 57 To the sons of Aaron they gave the following cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah together with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands, 58 Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, 59 Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands; 60 and from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its pasture lands, Allemeth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pasture lands. Their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities in all.
61 Then to the rest of the sons of Kohath were given by lot, from the family of the tribe, from the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities. 62 To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, were given from the tribe of Issachar, the tribe of Asher, the tribe of Naphtali, and the tribe of Manasseh, thirteen cities in Bashan. 63 To the sons of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.64 So the sons of Israel gave the Levites the cities with their pasture lands. 65 They gave by lot from the tribe of the sons of Judah, the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name.
66 Now some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their territory from the tribe of Ephraim. 67 They gave to them the following cities of refuge: Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its pasture lands, Gezer with its pasture lands,68 Jokmeam with its pasture lands, Beth-horon with its pasture lands, 69 Aijalon with its pasture lands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; 70 and from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Aner with its pasture lands and Bileam with its pasture lands, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.
71 To the sons of Gershom were given, from the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands; 72 and from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 73 Ramoth with its pasture lands, and Anem with its pasture lands; 74 and from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, 75 Hukok with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands;76 and from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands, and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands.
77 To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, from the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono with its pasture lands, Tabor with its pasture lands, 78 and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them, from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands, 79 Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands; 80 and from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture lands, 81 Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.
Genealogy from Issachar
7 Now the sons of Issachar were four: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. 2 The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Samuel, heads of their fathers’ households. The sons of Tola were valiant warriors in their generations. Their number in the days of David was 22,600. 3 The son of Uzzi wasIzrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah; all five of them were chief men. 4 And with them by their generations according to their fathers’ households were thirty-six thousand troops of the army for war; for they had many wives and sons. 5 Their relatives among all the families of Issachar werevaliant warriors, registered by genealogy, eighty-seven thousand in all.
Descendants of Benjamin
6 Benjamin had three sons: Bela, Becher, and Jediael. 7 The sons of Bela were five: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. They were heads of fathers’ households, valiant warriors, 22,034 registered by genealogy. 8 The sons of Becher wereZemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher. 9 They were registered by genealogy according to their generations, heads of their fathers’ households, 20,200 valiant warriors.10 The son of Jediael was Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 11 All these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers’ households, 17,200 valiant warriors who were ready to go out with the army to war. 12 Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir; Hushim was the son of Aher.
Sons of Naphtali
13 The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
Descendants of Manasseh
14 The sons of Manasseh were Asriel, to whom his Aramean concubine gave birth; she also gave birth to Machir, the father of Gilead. 15 Machir took a wife from Huppim and Shuppim, whose name was Maacah. And the name of the second was Zelophehad, and Zelophehad had daughters. 16 Maacah the wife of Machir gave birth to a son, and she named him Peresh; the name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17 The son of Ulam was Bedan. These werethe sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. 18 His sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. 19 The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.
Descendants of Ephraim
20 The sons of Ephraim were Shuthelah and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, 21 Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to take their livestock. 22 Their father Ephraim mourned for many days, and his relatives came to comfort him. 23 Then he went in to his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him Beriah, because misfortune had come upon his house. 24 His daughter was Sheerah, who built lower and upper Beth-horon, as well as Uzzen-sheerah. 25 Rephah was his son along with Resheph, Telah his son, Tahan his son, 26 Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, 27 Non his son, and Joshua his son.
28 Their possessions and dwelling places were Bethel with its towns, and to the east, Naaran, and to the west, Gezer with its towns, and Shechem with its towns, as far as Ayyah with its towns, 29 and along the borders of the sons of Manasseh, Beth-shean with its towns, Taanach with its towns, Megiddo with its towns, andDor with its towns. In these regions lived the sons of Joseph the son of Israel.
Descendants of Asher
30 The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah was their sister. 31 The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith. 32 Heber fathered Japhlet, Shomer, and Hotham, and their sister Shua.33 The sons of Japhlet were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the sons of Japhlet. 34 The sons of Shemer were Ahi and Rohgah, and Jehubbah and Aram.35 The sons of his brother Helem were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. 36 The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37 Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera. 38 The sons of Jether were Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara. 39 The sons of Ulla were Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia. 40 All these were the sons of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice, valiant mighty men, and heads of the leaders. And the number of them registered by genealogy for service in war was twenty-six thousand men.
Genealogy from Benjamin
8 And Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3 Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud,4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5 Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. 6 These are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Geba, and they took them into exile to Manahath, 7 namely, Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera—he exiled them; and he fathered Uzza and Ahihud. 8 Shaharaim fathered children in the country of Moab after he had sent his wives Hushim and Baara away. 9 By Hodesh his wife he fathered Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10 Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ households. 11 By Hushim he fathered Abitub and Elpaal. 12 The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with its towns; 13 and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put the inhabitants of Gath to flight; 14 and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth. 15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,16 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah. 17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. 22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.28 These were heads of the fathers’ households according to their generations, chief men who lived in Jerusalem.
29 Now, Jeiel, the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and his wife’s name was Maacah; 30 and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, and Zecher. 32 Mikloth fathered Shimeah. They also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem opposite their other relatives.
Genealogy from King Saul
33 Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 34 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal fathered Micah. 35 The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.36 Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri fathered Moza. 37 Moza fathered Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah, his son, and Azel, his son. 38 Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 The sons of his brother Eshek were Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were valiant mighty men, archers, and they had many sons and grandsons, 150 of them. All these wereamong the sons of Benjamin.
People of Jerusalem
9 So all Israel was enrolled in genealogies; and behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile to Babylon for their infidelity.
2 Now the first inhabitants who lived on their own property in their cities were people of Israel, including the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.3 Some of the sons of Judah, some of the sons of Benjamin, and some of the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem: 4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah.5 From the Shilonites were Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. 6 From the sons of Zerah were Jeuel and their relatives, 690 of them. 7 From the sons of Benjamin were Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah,8 and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah; 9 and their relatives according to their generations, 956. All these men were heads of fathers’ households according to their fathers’ houses.
10 From the priests were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God; 12 and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer; 13 and their relatives, heads of their fathers’ households, 1,760 competent men for the work of the service of the house of God.
14 Of the Levites, there were Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal; and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph, 16 and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the settlements of the Netophathites.
17 Now the gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives (Shallum the chief 18 being stationed until now at the king’s gate to the east). These were the gatekeepers for the camp of the sons of Levi. 19 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives of his father’s house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, doorkeepers of the tent; and their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance. 20 Phinehas the son of Eleazar was supervisor over them previously, and the Lord was with him. 21 Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance of the tent of meeting. 22 Those who were chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212 in all. They were registered by genealogy in their settlements, those whom David and Samuel the seer appointed in their official capacity. 23 So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, the house of the tent, in their divisions of service. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides, to the east, west, north, and south. 25 Their relatives in their settlements were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them; 26 for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, served in an official capacity, and were in charge of the chambers and in charge of the treasuries in the house of God. 27 They spent the night around the house of God, because the watch was committed to them; and they were in charge of opening itmorning by morning.
28 Now some of them were in charge of the utensils of the service, for they counted them when they brought them in and when they took them out. 29 Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the utensils of the sanctuary, and over the finely milled flour, the wine, the olive oil, the frankincense, and the balsam oil. 30 Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the balsam oil. 31 Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the responsibility for the baking of cakes in pans. 32 Some of their relatives of the sons of the Kohathites were in charge of the showbread to prepare it every Sabbath.
33 Now these are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the chambers of the temple free of other duties; for they were engaged in their work day and night. 34 These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites according to their generations, chief men who lived in Jerusalem.
Ancestry and Descendants of Saul
35 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and his wife’s name was Maacah,36 and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth fathered Shimeam. And they also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem opposite their other relatives. 39 Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 40 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal fathered Micah.41 The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz. 42 Ahaz fathered Jarah, Jarah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri fathered Moza.43 Moza fathered Binea, and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.44 Azel had six sons whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
1 Chronicles starts off with an exhaustive list of families. Is this there to bore us? Let’s be honest and admit that we sometimes feel this way. But, there is always a reason for every scripture that is in the Bible. Even when it comes to the reading of family lineages. So what is it we can learn from this detailed family history?
One thing is that family is not perfect. We have all experienced this in our own families. The families of Israel were not always the model family units, but they were family. That matters! Your family may not be perfect, but they are the family that God has given you.
Secondly, we can do more together. We can do more with our family than we can by ourselves. Families are stronger when they are together. God created the family to help us do life. So when we face obstacles, we can overcome them. Even if our family is not blood kin, God has given us a faith family that will do life with us and help us become overcomers. The encouragement today is to embrace the family that God has given you, to thank God for those that He has surrounded us with. Remember: we can do more together.