The sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Which is repeated from 1 Chronicles 6:1 for the sake of their posterity, whose names are given in the three following verses, in the same manner as in Exodus 6:17 . read more
These verses have a re-enumeration of the three sons of Levi, and differ from the enumeration of 1 Chronicles 6:1 , in being followed by the sons of each of these three, and afterwards by the line of descendants from each, instead of by the sons of only one, Kohath, and his descendant in only one stem, the high priest stem, and with only one object. All these names agree with Exodus 6:17-19 and Numbers 3:17-20 (comp. also Numbers 3:21-36 with Numbers 26:57-60 ), with the trifling... read more
1 Chronicles 6:19-20. The families of the Levites according to their fathers That is, these were the heads of the families which sprang from them. And it is thought the following catalogue contains the successive heads or chiefs of their several families until the times of David, by whom they were distributed into several courses. Zimmah his son His grandson by his son Shimei, as appears from 1 Chronicles 6:42-43; the names of father and son being often used in Scripture of more remote... read more
The Levites (6:1-81)Levi had three sons, Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The priesthood in Israel began with Aaron, who was descended from Levi through Kohath. From that time on, all Aaron’s descendants, and no others, were priests. This means that the Levites may be divided into four groups - the priestly Kohathites, the non-priestly Kohathites, the Gershonites and the Merarites.The Chronicler begins with the priestly line descended from Aaron through his son Eleazar, and traces the line to the... read more
4. The family of Levi ch. 6This list clearly defines the priests and Levites’ line of descent. Its purpose seems to be to legitimate and clarify their role and service in the temple. [Note: Idem, "1 Chronicles," in The Old . . ., p. 301.] Only the descendants of Aaron, the priests, could serve in the temple by offering sacrifices on the incense altar (1 Chronicles 6:49; cf. Numbers 3:5-38). Nehemiah correctly barred priests who could not demonstrate that they were descendants of Aaron from... read more
Genealogies (continued)This chapter records the descendants of Levi, traces the line of the high priests to the captivity, and enumerates the cities of the Priests and Levites.3. Nadab, and Abihu] see Leviticus 10:1-2; 1 Chronicles 24:2. Ithamar] The descendants of Ithamar are not given here, but several occur in Samuel and Kings (Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, Ahimelech, Abiathar), and ’courses’ of priests who traced their origin to him are enumerated in 1 Chronicles 24.4. Eleazar begat, etc.] The... read more
(16-19) The three branches of Levi with their main subdivisions. Parallel passages, Exodus 6:16-19; Numbers 3:17-20.(16) Gershom.—See Note on 1 Chronicles 6:1. In the Pentateuch, Gershom is son of Moses; Gershon, son of Levi.(19) And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.—The word’families” (Heb., mishpehuth) does not mean single households, but groups of households, or clans. The sentence concludes the short list of the great Levitical houses, just as at Exodus 6:19.... read more
4. Levi CHAPTER 6 1. The high-priestly line (1 Chronicles 6:1-15 ) 2. Levitical genealogies (1 Chronicles 6:16-30 ) 3. David’s chief musicians (1 Chronicles 6:31-48 ) The high-priestly line is first given, starting with Levi, and followed down to the exile. From Eleazar the son of Aaron, twenty-two generations are named. Moses is not mentioned in this list. With Aaron his brother he is called a priest (Psalms 99:6 ), yet he was chosen as the great leader of the people before the... read more
GENEALOGIES AND PEDIGREES INTRODUCTION With this begins the study of those historical books of the Old Testament written shortly after the return from the Babylonian captivity, the remainder of the series including 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. “Chronicles” means “diaries” or “journal,” and the books recapitulate sacred history from the time of Adam, in which the earlier books of the Old Testament are drawn upon and occasionally supplemented. The Holy Spirit, who is the real... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 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... read more