4 Elea'zar was the father of Phin'ehas, Phin'ehas of Abishu'a, 5 Abishu'a of Bukki, Bukki of Uzzi, 6 Uzzi of Zerahi'ah, Zerahi'ah of Merai'oth, 7 Merai'oth of Amari'ah, Amari'ah of Ahi'tub, 8 Ahi'tub of Zadok, Zadok of Ahim'a-az, 9 Ahim'a-az of Azari'ah, Azari'ah of Joha'nan, 10 and Joha'nan of Azari'ah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem). 11 Azari'ah was the father of Amari'ah, Amari'ah of Ahi'tub, 12 Ahi'tub of Zadok, Zadok of Shallum, 13 Shallum of Hilki'ah, Hilki'ah of Azari'ah, 14 Azari'ah of Serai'ah, Serai'ah of Jehoz'adak; 15 and Jehoz'adak went into exile when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnez'zar. 16 The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merar'i. 17 And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shim'e-i. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uz'ziel. 19 The sons of Merar'i: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers. 20 Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Jo'ah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Je-ath'erai his son. 22 The sons of Kohath: Ammin'adab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elka'nah his son, Ebi'asaph his son, Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uri'el his son, Uzzi'ah his son, and Sha'ul his son. 25 The sons of Elka'nah: Ama'sai and Ahi'moth, 26 Elka'nah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, 27 Eli'ab his son, Jero'ham his son, Elka'nah his son. 28 The sons of Samuel: Jo'el his first-born, the second Abi'jah. 29 The sons of Merar'i: Mahli, Libni his son, Shim'e-i his son, Uzzah his son, 30 Shim'e-a his son, Haggi'ah his son, and Asai'ah his son.
31 These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; and they performed their service in due order. 33 These are the men who served and their sons. Of the sons of the Ko'hathites: Heman the singer the son of Jo'el, son of Samuel, 34 son of Elka'nah, son of Jero'ham, son of Eli'el, son of To'ah, 35 son of Zuph, son of Elka'nah, son of Mahath, son of Ama'sai, 36 son of Elka'nah, son of Jo'el, son of Azari'ah, son of Zephani'ah, 37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebi'asaph, son of Korah, 38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel; 39 and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the son of Berechi'ah, son of Shim'e-a, 40 son of Michael, son of Ba-ase'iah, son of Malchi'jah, 41 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adai'ah, 42 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shim'e-i, 43 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. 44 On the left hand were their brethren the sons of Merar'i: Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 45 son of Hashabi'ah, son of Amazi'ah, son of Hilki'ah, 46 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, 47 son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merar'i, son of Levi;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 6:4-47
Chapter Contents
Genealogies.
We have an account of Levi in this chapter. The priests and Levites were more concerned than any other Israelites, to preserve their descent clear, and to be able to prove it; because all the honours and privileges of their office depended upon their descent. Now, the Spirit of God calls ministers to their work, without any limit as to the families they came from; and then, as now, though believers and ministers may be very useful to the church, none but our great High Priest can make atonement for sin, nor can any be accepted but through his atonement.