How does this chapter connect Levi’s families with service in the house of the Lord and their dwelling places?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

It records their family lines, names the singers David appointed and the work of Aaron’s sons and the other Levites, then lists the cities and suburbs given to those families.

Chapter breakdown

This chapter names Levi’s families, the singers and other servants of the house of the Lord, and the cities given to the Levites.

Levi’s sons were Gerson, Caath and Merari. Caath’s sons were Amram, Isaar, Hebron and Oziel. Amram’s children were Aaron, Moses and Mary. Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abiu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

The father-to-son line from Eleazar runs through Phinees, Abisue, Bocci, Ozi, Zaraias, Maraioth, Amarias, Achitob, Sadoc, Achimaas, Azarias, Johanan and another Azarias. This last Azarias served as priest in the house Solomon built in Jerusalem. His line continues through Amarias, Achitob, Sadoc, Sellum, Helcias, Azarias, Saraias and Josedec. Josedec went out when the Lord carried away Juda and Jerusalem by the hands of Nabuchodonosor.

The account returns to Levi’s three sons. Gerson’s sons were Lobni and Semei; Caath’s were Amram, Isaar, Hebron and Oziel; Merari’s were Moholi and Musi. The successive sons listed from Gerson are Lobni, Jahath, Zamma, Joah, Addo, Zara and Jethrai. The Caath line lists Aminadab, Core, Asir, Elcana, Abiasaph, another Asir, Thahath, Uriel, Ozias and Saul.

Elcana’s sons were Amasai and Achimoth. The next entry names Elcana, then lists the sons in Elcana’s line as Sophai, Nahath, Eliab, Jeroham and Elcana. Samuel’s sons were Vasseni, the firstborn, and Abia. Under Merari, the line from Moholi runs through Lobni, Semei, Oza, Sammaa, Haggia and Asaia.

After the ark was placed, David set these men over the singers of the house of the Lord. They served with singing before the tabernacle of the testimony until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. They stood in their order of service.

Hemam, a singer from Caath’s family, stood with his sons. His ancestry is given backward from father to father: Joel, Sammuel, Elcana, Jeroham, Eliel, Thohu, Suph, Elcana, Mahath, Amasai, Elcana, Johel, Azarias, Sophonias, Thahath, Asir, Abiasaph, Core, Isaar, Caath, Levi and Israel.

His brother Asaph stood on his right. Asaph’s ancestry, again traced backward, is Barachias, Samaa, Michael, Basaia, Melchia, Athanai, Zara, Adaia, Ethan, Zamma, Semei, Jeth, Gerson and Levi.

Their brothers from Merari stood on the left. Ethan’s ancestry runs backward through Cusi, Abdi, Meloch, Hasabia, Amasai, Helcias, another Amasai, Boni, Somer, Moholi, Musi, Merari and Levi.

Their brothers, the Levites, were appointed to all the service of the tabernacle of the house of the Lord. Aaron and his sons offered burnt offerings on the altar of holocausts and on the altar of incense, for every work of the holy of holies, and prayed for Israel according to everything Moses, the servant of God, had commanded.

The account again lists Aaron’s descendants as successive sons: Eleazar, Phinees, Abisue, Bocci, Ozi, Zarahia, Meraioth, Amarias, Achitob, Sadoc and Achimaas. These are the spellings used in this second list.

The dwelling places of Aaron’s sons, of the Caathite families, fell to them by lot. They received Hebron in Juda and its surrounding suburbs, but the city’s fields and villages went to Caleb, son of Jephone. The cities given to Aaron’s sons include Hebron for refuge, Lobna, Jether, Esthemo, Helon, Dabir, Asan and Bethsames, with their suburbs. From Benjamin they received Gabee, Almath and Anathoth with their suburbs. The stated total for their families is thirteen cities.

The remaining sons of Caath received ten cities in possession from the half tribe of Manasses. Gerson’s families received thirteen cities from Issachar, Aser, Nephtali and Manasses in Basan. Merari’s families received twelve cities by lot from Ruben, Gad and Zabulon.

Israel gave the Levites cities and suburbs. The named cities from Juda, Simeon and Benjamin were given by lot. The borders of other Caathite families lay in Ephraim. Their listed cities include Sichem, a city of refuge in mount Ephraim, Gazer, Jecmaan, Beth-horon, Helon and Gethremmon, all with suburbs. The remaining Caathite families also received Aner and Baalam with their suburbs from half Manasses.

The sons of Gersom received Gaulon in Basan and Astharoth with their suburbs from half Manasses. From Issachar came Cedes, Dabereth, Ramoth and Anem with their suburbs; from Aser, Masal, Abdon, Hucac and Rohol with their suburbs; and from Nephtali, Cedes in Galilee, Hamon and Cariathaim with their suburbs.

The remaining sons of Merari received Remmono and Thabor with their suburbs from Zabulon. Beyond the Jordan, opposite Jericho on the east side, they received Bosor in the wilderness, Jassa, Cademoth and Mephaath with their suburbs from Ruben. From Gad they received Ramoth in Galaad, Manaim, Hesebon and Jazer with their suburbs.

The story inside

The family record reaches beyond a list of ancestors. Eleazar’s line reaches the Azarias who served in Solomon’s house and ends with Josedec going out when Juda and Jerusalem were carried away. The account then traces the families serving with song: David’s appointment follows the placing of the ark, and their service before the tabernacle lasts until Solomon builds the house in Jerusalem. Hemam, Asaph and Ethan are placed within their named family lines and standing positions. Aaron’s sons and the other Levites have stated work to do. Finally, those family groups receive named dwelling places, with the fields and villages of Hebron expressly reserved to Caleb. The chapter connects descent, assigned work and dwelling places without giving a separate explanation of how every listed person held office.

Lessons worth keeping

1
A family line does not by itself describe every person’s office. The chapter specifically says Azarias served as priest in Solomon’s house and Josedec went out when Juda and Jerusalem were carried away. The repair keeps those notices while retaining every ancestor and avoiding a claim that each man held an uninterrupted high-priestly office.
2
The singing has a stated starting point, setting and time limit. David appoints the singers after the ark is placed; they sing before the tabernacle until Solomon builds the house in Jerusalem. Asaph stands on the right and the Merari brothers on the left. The text does not describe perpetual praise or a later restoration plan.
3
The city gifts include suburbs and a specific exception at Hebron. Its fields and villages go to Caleb, son of Jephone. The family totals are thirteen for Aaron’s sons, ten for the remaining Caathites, thirteen for Gerson and twelve for Merari. Those totals add to forty-eight, but the account does not call every named city a city of refuge or explain a wider system of instruction.

Test your recall

The ark is placed → David appoints the singers. Solomon builds the house in Jerusalem → the stated period of singing before the tabernacle reaches its limit. Moses’s commands guide Aaron’s sons’ offerings and prayer. Cities and suburbs go to the Levite families by the stated allotments, while Hebron’s fields and villages go to Caleb. Josedec goes out when the Lord carries away Juda and Jerusalem through Nabuchodonosor.

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 41802–41805
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 6 The genealogies of Levi, and of Aaron: the cities of the Levites.
Lines 41806–41812
6:1. The sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari. 6:2. The sons of Caath: Amram, Isaar, Hebron, and Oziel. 6:3. The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Mary. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abiu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
Lines 41813–41837
6:4. Eleazar begot Phinees, and Phinees begot Abisue, 6:5. And Abisue begot Bocci, and Bocci begot Ozi. 6:6. Ozi begot Zaraias, and Zaraias begot Maraioth. 6:7. And Maraioth begot Amarias, and Amarias begot Achitob. 6:8. Achitob begot Sadoc, and Sadoc begot Achimaas. 6:9. Achimaas begot Azarias, Azarias begot Johanan, 6:10. Johanan begot Azarias. This is he that executed the priestly office in the house which Solomon built in Jerusalem. 6:11. And Azarias begot Amarias, and Amarias begot Achitob. 6:12. And Achitob begot Sadoc, and Sadoc begot Sellum, 6:13. Sellum begot Helcias, and Helcias begot Azarias, 6:14. Azarias begot Saraias, and Saraias begot Josedec. 6:15. Now Josedec went out, when the Lord carried away Juda, and Jerusalem, by the hands of Nabuchodonosor.
Lines 41838–41857
6:16. So the sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari. 6:17. And these are the names of the sons of Gerson: Lobni and Semei. 6:18. The sons of Caath: Amram, and Isaar, and Hebron, and Oziel. 6:19. The sons of Merari: Moholi and Musi. And these are the kindreds of Levi according to their families. 6:20. Of Gerson: Lobni his son, Jahath his son, Zamma his son, 6:21. Joah his son, Addo his son, Zara his son, Jethrai his son. 6:22. The sons of Caath, Aminadab his son, Core his son, Asir his son, 6:23. Elcana his son, Abiasaph his son, Asir his son, 6:24. Thahath his son, Uriel his son, Ozias his son, Saul his son.
Lines 41858–41869
6:25. The sons of Elcana: Amasai, and Achimoth. 6:26. And Elcana. The sons of Elcana: Sophai his son, Nahath his son, 6:27. Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elcana his son. 6:28. The sons of Samuel: the firstborn Vasseni, and Abia. 6:29. And the sons of Merari, Moholi: Lobni his son, Semei his son, Oza his son, 6:30. Sammaa his son, Haggia his son, Asaia his son.
Lines 41870–41876
6:31. These are they, whom David set over the singing men of the house of the Lord, after that the ark was placed. 6:32. And they ministered before the tabernacle of the testimony, with singing, until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they stood according to their order in the ministry.
Lines 41878–41894
6:33. And these are they that stood with their sons, of the sons of Caath, Hemam a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Sammuel, 6:34. The son of Elcana, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Thohu, 6:35. The son of Suph, the son of Elcana, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 6:36. The son of Elcana, the son of Johel, the son of Azarias, the son of Sophonias, 6:37. The son of Thahath, the son of Asir, the son of Abiasaph, the son of Core, 6:38. The son of Isaar, the son of Caath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
Lines 41896–41905
6:39. And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, Asaph the son of Barachias, the son of Samaa. 6:40. The son of Michael, the son of Basaia, the son of Melchia. 6:41. The son of Athanai, the son of Zara, the son of Adaia. 6:42. The son of Ethan, the son of Zamma, the son of Semei. 6:43. The son of Jeth, the son of Gerson, the son of Levi.
Lines 41907–41915
6:44. And the sons of Merari their brethren, on the left hand, Ethan the son of Cusi, the son of Abdi, the son of Meloch, 6:45. The son of Hasabia, the son of Amasai, the son of Helcias, 6:46. The son of Amasai, the son of Boni, the son of Somer, 6:47. The son of Moholi, the son of Musi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
Lines 41916–41923
6:48. Their brethren also the Levites, who were appointed for all the ministry of the tabernacle of the house of the Lord. 6:49. But Aaron and his sons offered burnt offerings upon the altar of holocausts, and upon the altar of incense, for every work of the holy of holies: and to pray for Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
Lines 41924–41932
6:50. And these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinees his son, Abisue his son, 6:51. Bocci his son, Ozi his son, Zarahia his son, 6:52. Meraioth his son, Amarias his son, Achitob his son, 6:53. Sadoc his son, Achimaas his son.
Lines 41934–41954
6:54. And these are their dwelling places by the towns and confines, to wit, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Caathites: for they fell to them by lot. 6:55. And they gave them Hebron in the land of Juda, and the suburbs thereof round about: 6:56. But the fields of the city, and the villages to Caleb son of Jephone. 6:57. And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities for refuge Hebron, and Lobna, and the suburbs thereof, 6:58. And Jether and Esthemo, with their suburbs, and Helon, and Dabir with their suburbs: 6:59. Asan also, and Bethsames, with their suburbs. 6:60. And out of the tribe of Benjamin: Gabee and its suburbs, Almath with its suburbs, Anathoth also with its suburbs: all their cities throughout their families were thirteen.
Lines 41955–41965
6:61. And to the sons of Caath that remained of their kindred they gave out of the half tribe of Manasses ten cities in possession. 6:62. And to the sons of Gerson by their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Aser, and out of the tribe of Nephtali, and out of the tribe of Manasses in Basan, thirteen cities. 6:63. And to the sons of Merari by their families out of the tribe of Ruben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zabulon, they gave by lot twelve cities.
Lines 41966–41986
6:64. And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities, and their suburbs. 6:65. And they gave them by lot, out of the tribe of the sons of Juda, and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, these cities which they called by their names. 6:66. And to them that were of the kindred of the sons of Caath, and the cities in their borders were of the tribe of Ephraim. 6:67. And they gave the cities of refuge Sichem with its suburbs in mount Ephraim, and Gazer with its suburbs, 6:68. Jecmaan also with its suburbs, and Beth-horon in like manner, 6:69. Helon also with its suburbs, and Gethremmon in like manner, 6:70. And out of the half tribe of Manasses, Aner and its suburbs, Baalam and its suburbs, to wit, to them that were left of the family of the sons of Caath.
Lines 41988–42003
6:71. And to the sons of Gersom, out of the kindred of the half tribe of Manasses, Gaulon, in Basan, and its suburbs, and Astharoth with its suburbs. 6:72. Out of the tribe of Issachar, Cedes and its suburbs, and Dabereth with its suburbs; 6:73. Ramoth also and its suburbs, and Anem with its suburbs. 6:74. And out of the tribe of Aser: Masal with its suburbs, and Abdon in like manner; 6:75. Hucac also and its suburbs, and Rohol with its suburbs. 6:76. And out of the tribe of Nephtali, Cedes in Galilee and its suburbs, Hamon with its suburbs, and Cariathaim, and its suburbs.
Lines 42005–42019
6:77. And to the sons of Merari that remained: out of the tribe of Zabulon, Remmono and its suburbs, and Thabor with its suburbs. 6:78. Beyond the Jordan also over against Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out of the tribe of Ruben, Bosor in the wilderness with its suburbs, and Jassa with its suburbs; 6:79. Cademoth also and its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; 6:80. Moreover also out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Galaad and its suburbs, and Manaim with its suburbs; 6:81. Hesebon also with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs.