81 verses are devoted to the tribe of Levi, as 1 Chronicles 6 continues the genealogical record of Israel. More space is given to the Levites than to several of the other tribes put together. Why the preoccupation with Levi? The priesthood came from this tribe, and only priests were allowed to carry out the sacrificial system, by which people’s relationship with God was restored and maintained. The list of the names of the family of Levi is carefully constructed. Levi was third of the twelve sons born to Jacob, and Levi himself had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Of these three, the middle son’s descendants are listed first, tracing how Kohath was the ancestor of Moses and Aaron. Only those Levites who were then descended from Aaron could legitimately do the work of a priest at the tabernacle, and later the temple (v 49). So the priesthood stood in a pivotal position of mediating between God and man. Forgiveness of sins depended on the faithful fulfillment of their duties. The descendants of Aaron did not earn the right to serve as mediators, but in His grace, God chose them for this significant role. The listing of the line of priests comes to an end as the nation is taken into exile, for the priesthood only has meaning as the people are dwelling in the land (v 1-15). The next section of the list gives equal importance to all of Levi’s sons, Gershon and Merari, as well as Kohath. A horizontal line of the cousins of the first generation is followed by a vertical line for each family. Samuel and his father Elkanah are two familiar names in this section (v 16-30). What was the function of those Levites who were not descended from Aaron? Some of them served as musicians on the praise team, “in charge of the service of song in the house of the LORD” (v 31). Others performed various duties to keep this busy facility operational, but only the Kohathite line of Aaron offered the sacrifices (v 31-53). The Chroniclers’ interest in the family of Levi includes not only the physical lineage of their descendants, but also the geographical borders of their inheritance. The Levites were not given a territory like the other tribes, but a large number of towns and villages scattered throughout the land. Unless it was their turn to perform specific duties at the house of God, they lived among Israelites of other tribes, supporting themselves by farming or other trades as everyone else (v 54-81). For further meditation: