Tyndale Open Study Notes1 Chronicles 6

This section gives the family histories of the three main groups of the tribe of Levi:

1. The high priests (1 Chronicles 6:1–15)

2. The three clans of Levites (1 Chronicles 6:16–30)

3. The singers (1 Chronicles 6:31–47)

Each family history starts with an introduction and then lists the names.

This section highlights the importance of the priestly tribe of Levi due to its central position in the genealogical lists.

The three sons of Levi are mentioned, but their family trees are given after the list of high priests.

After the exile in Babylon, the Judean community needed to confirm the legitimate ancestry of the priests. This genealogy of Kohath linked the ancestors from the Pentateuch to the high priests up to Judah's exile in 586 BC. Other records connected the priests after the exile to this lineage (see Ezra 3:2; 7:1–6; Haggai 1:1). Not all high priests were included in this list.

Most Old Testament scholars agree that the phrase about the high priest at the Temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem should be in 1 Chronicles 6:9 (related to the first Azariah). They believe a scribal error changed the order. Correcting this shows 12 generations between Aaron and the Temple's construction, matching the date in 1 Kings 6:1 (480 years equals 12 generations of 40 years each in numerical typology). The correction also shows 12 generations between the Temple's construction under Azariah and its rebuilding under Jeshua (Ezra 3:2).

The second introduction of the Levites (1 Chronicles 6:16–19a) presents the leaders of all the Levitical families (6:19b–30). The list includes the family trees of:

• Gershon (1 Chronicles 6:20–21)

• Kohath (1 Chronicles 6:22–24)

• Merari (1 Chronicles 6:29–30)

When Samuel worked for Eli, he took on a role similar to a Levite (1 Samuel 3:1).

This genealogy lists the lead singers from Kohath (1 Chronicles 6:33), Gershon (6:39), and Merari (6:44), the main Levitical families.

Heman was the lead singer among David’s musicians (see Psalm 88:1).

Asaph wrote several psalms (Psalms 50; 73–83).

This explanation of the priests' rights introduces the following list.

The list of priests from Aaron to Ahimaaz introduces the territorial list (1 Chronicles 6:54–81). The list continues to the time of David, when Ahimaaz served (2 Samuel 15:36; 17:17–29; 18:19–29).

The list of Levitical cities comes from Joshua 21. It follows a geographical order, with families grouped by specific areas. This list shows Israel's unity and completeness. It presents the Levites as settled in the land just like the other tribes.