1 Chronicles 6:1 – 29 “The Descendants of Levi
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas was the father of Abishua, Abishua was the father of Bukki,
Bukki was the father of Uzzi, Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth, Meraioth was the father of Amariah, Amariah was the father of Ahitub, Ahitub was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz, Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, Azariah was the father of Johanan, Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem,
Azariah was the father of Amariah, Amariah was the father of Ahitub, Ahitub was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Shallum, Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, Hilkiah was the father of Azariah, Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak. Jehozadak went into captivity when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. (The Babylonian captivity)
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.
These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers: Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son.
The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
The descendants of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth, Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son.
The sons of Samuel: Joel his firstborn and Abijah his second son.
The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.
WHY WAS THE TRIBE OF LEVI CHOSEN IN THE FIRST PLACE?? It all started at Mount Sinai when Aaron caved in to popular demand and created a golden calf, copying one of the Egyptian gods. When Moses came down from the mountain, he found the Israelites engaged in an all – out orgy. Exodus 32:29 – 29: “Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies. So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.
He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’ ”
The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.
Afterward, Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so the LORD has bestowed a blessing on you this day.” (Some sources say “have ordained yourselves”)
The Levites separated themselves to God by paying an appalling price – redeeming Israel by sacrificing their friends and relatives at the edge of the sword. What must it have been like to be one of those Levites who moved throughout the camp, not even sparing those closest to them? Our first response might be to deny that such an act could possibly be God’s will. Why would a loving Heavenly Father order such carnage? But unless you have had close experience with the demonic, it may be difficult for you to understand.
The people who fell to the swords of the Levites did not suddenly wake up that morning and decide to have an orgy; no, these were people who had probably been secretly worshiping Egyptian gods that they had brought with them when they left Egypt. These people were idolaters waiting for any excuse to cut loose, and when Aaron caved in to their pressure, they took full advantage of the situation. If God moved the Levites to kill, then God also showed the Levites whom to kill. Had these people survived, they could have easily led the rest of the Israelites astray within a few short weeks.
These lists of Levites include the good, the bad, and the downright horrible. Among these lists are the names of the faithful who kept the temple fires lit even while paganism raged and roared just outside the temple. Some of these men taught kings the ways of God and brought revival. Some of these men were martyred for their faith. And some of these men proved to be sad disappointments, allowing pagan altars and even prostitution into God’s temple.
Later on, these lists would prove critically important for the exiles from Judah and Benjamin who would follow Ezra and Nehemiah back from Babylon to Jerusalem. To establish worship, those leaders would need Levitical priests.
APPLICATION: To be descended from Levi was both a blessing and a curse. Families of Levites were set apart and were considered as special people; but on the other hand, there were many restrictions on Levites as well. But once given such a heritage of faith, it was up to individuals to maintain it.
1 The Son of God goes forth to war,
a kingly crown to gain;
his blood-red banner streams afar:
who follows in his train?
Who best can drink his cup of woe,
triumphant over pain,
who patient bears his cross below,
he follows in his train.
2 The martyr first, whose eagle eye
could pierce beyond the grave,
who saw his Master in the sky
and called on him to save:
like him, with pardon on his tongue
in midst of mortal pain,
he prayed for them that did the wrong:
who follows in his train?
3 A glorious band, the chosen few
on whom the Spirit came,
twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
and mocked the cross and flame:
they met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
the lion’s gory mane;
they bowed their necks the death to feel:
who follows in their train?
4 A noble army, men and boys,
the matron and the maid,
around the Savior’s throne rejoice,
in robes of light arrayed:
they climbed the steep ascent of heav’n
through peril, toil, and pain:
O God, to us may grace be giv’n
to follow in their train.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Help us to love You more each day than we did the day before. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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