Chapter 6

Levi had three sons, Gerson, Caath and Merari.

Caath was the father of Amram, Isaar, Hebron and Oziel,

Amram of Aaron, Moses and Mary, Aaron of Nadab, Abiu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

From Eleazar, through Phinees, Abisue,

Bocci, Ozi,

Zaraias, Meraioth,

Amarias, Achitob,

Sadoc, Achimaas,

Azarias and Johanan

came the Azarias who was high priest when Solomon built his temple at Jerusalem.

From this Azarias, through Amarias, Achitob,

Sadoc, Sellum,

Helcias, Azarias

and Saraia came Josedec,

who went out into exile when the Lord banished the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem through Nabuchodonosor.

All Levi’s sons, Gerson, Caath and Merari had issue;

Gerson was the father of Lobni and Semei,

Caath of Amram, Isaar, Hebron and Oziel,

Merari of Moholi and Musi. The lines of descent from Levi ran thus,

from Gerson, Lobni, Jahath, Zamma,

Joah, Addo, Zara, Jethrai.

From Caath, Aminadab, Core, Asir,

Elcana, Abiasaph, Asir,

Thahath, Uriel, Ozias, Saul.

(Elcana had three sons, Amasai, Achimoth

and Elcana; from this Elcana the line ran through Sophai, Nahath,

Eliab and Jeroham to another Elcana again ….

The sons of Samuel were called Vasseni and Abia.)

From Merari, Moholi, Lobni, Semei, Oza,

Sammaa, Haggia, Asaia.

It was from these that David chose singers for the Lord’s house, as soon as the ark found a resting-place;

and in the tabernacle (until Solomon built the Lord a temple at Jerusalem) they rendered service of song, as well as waiting on the Lord in their turn.

This hereditary service was rendered for the Caathites by a singer called Heman, descended through Johel, Samuel,

Elcana, Jeroham, Eliel, Thohu,

Suph, Elcana, Mahath, Amasai,

Elcana, Joel, Azarias, Sophonias,

Thahath, Asir, Abiasaph, Core

and Isaar from Caath; and so from Levi and Israel.

On his right stood his confrater Asaph, descended through Barachias, Samaa,

Michael, Basaia, Melchias,

Athanai, Zara, Adaia,

Ethan, Zamma, Semei,

and Jeth from Gerson, and so from Levi.

On his left stood the confraters from Merari, led by Ethan, who was descended through Cusi, Abdi, Maloch,

Hasabias, Amasias, Helcias,

Amasai, Boni, Somer,

(Moholi) and Musi from Merari; and so from Levi.

Their fellow Levites were appointed to wait on all the needs of the tabernacle, the Lord’s dwelling-place;

but only Aaron and his descendants made offering on the altar of burnt-sacrifice and the altar of incense, busied themselves with the inner sanctuary, and made intercession for Israel; such was the command given through God’s servant Moses.

The line of Aaron descended through Eleazar, Phinees, Abisue,

Bocci, Ozi, Zarahia,

Meraioth, Amarias, Achitob

and Sadoc to Achimaas.

The descendants of Aaron had towns and enclosures to dwell in among the Caathites, appointed to them by lot.

Juda gave them Hebron with the lands round it;

the open country, with its villages, belonged to Caleb, son of Jephone.

And besides Hebron, the city of refuge, Aaron’s race held Lobna,

Jether, Esthemo, Helon, Dabir,

Asan … and Bethsames, with the lands round them;

and Benjamin gave them Gabee, Almath and Anathoth, with the lands round them; thus in all they had thirteen cities.

The rest of the Caathite clan received ten cities from … the western half of Manasses;

the Gersonites thirteen cities from Issachar, Aser, Nephthali, and the Manassites of Basan;

and the Merarites twelve from Ruben, Gad and Zabulon.

The Israelites gave the Levites cities and lands round them,

just as Juda, Simeon and Benjamin allotted to them the cities which have been named.

The Caathites had cities of their own in Ephraim;

Sichem in the hill-country of Ephraim was given to them as a city of refuge, and besides this Gazer,

Jecmaam, Bethoron,

Helon and Gethremmon …

and the western half of Manasses gave them Aner and Baalam; all these cities, with the lands round them, belonged to the rest of the Caathites.

The Gersonites received from the eastern half of Manasses Gaulon and Astharoth;

from Issachar Cedes, Dabereth,

Ramoth and Anem;

from Aser Masal, Abdon,

Hucac and Rohob;

from Nephthali Cedes in Galilee, Hamon and Cariathaim, with the lands round them.

The Merarites received from Zabulon Remmono and Thabor;

and on the further side of Jordan, opposite Jericho, Ruben gave them Bosor, Jassa,

Cademoth and Mephaat;

Gad gave them Ramoth-Galaad, Manaim,

Hesebon and Jezer; and they had lands round each of these cities.