1 Chronicles 6:3 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:3-15

And the children of Amram, Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam ,.... Very memorable persons: Aaron was the high priest, Moses the prophet and lawgiver, and Miriam a prophetess, see Micah 6:4 , the sons also of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar ; the two first were destroyed by fire from heaven for offering strange fire, Leviticus 10:1 and the third succeeded his father in the high priesthood; the line of which is drawn from Aaron through him unto the Babylonish captivity, from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:1-3

EXPOSITION The tribe of Levi is now taken. The first three verses prepare the way for running rapidly down the line of high priest descent, from Aaron's son Eleazar to Jehozadak, who is reached at the twenty-fifth name from Levi, though not necessarily the twenty-fifth generation, as there appear ( 1 Chronicles 6:11-13 ) to be some omissions. Nor are all the names which are given those of high priests, for the genealogy of Jehozadak did not always pass though such. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:3

Once more, Aaron is singled out, and Eleazar , the third of his four sons, fixes the exact channel of descent required. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:1-81

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Chronicles 6:3

children = sons. Aaron, and Moses. One of the six passages where Aaron precedes Moses (1 Chronicles 23:13 .Exodus 6:20 , Exodus 6:26 . Numbers 3:1 ; Numbers 26:59 ). Nadab, and Abihu. Perished at Sinai for offering "strange fire". See note on Leviticus 10:1 . Compare Numbers 3:4 .Numbers 24:2 . Eleazar. His line given without a break up to the Captivity. Compare 1 Chronicles 6:15 . In Ezra 7:1-5 an abbreviated genealogy is given. Moses not enumerated here, though a priest (Psalms 99:6 ),... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Chronicles 6:1-81

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

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 6:1-81

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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Chronicles 6:1-15

(1-15) THE LINE OF AARON THROUGH ELEAZAR TO JEHOZADAK.(1-3) Aaron’s descent from Levi.(1) The sons of Levi; Gershon . . .—So Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16, and uniformly in the Pentateuch. In 1 Chronicles 6:16 we have the spelling Gershom, which perhaps indicates a difference of source.(2) The sons of Kohath.—The names are the same as in Exodus 6:18. Kŏhath, or Kĕhath, was the chief house of Levi. The name is put second in the series, perhaps for euphonic reasons. (Comp. “Sheni, Ham, and Japhet”... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Chronicles 6:1-48

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