David chose some people to be in charge of the music in the house of the LORD. They began their work after the Ark of the Agreement was put there. They served by making music at the Holy Tent (also called the Meeting Tent), and they served until Solomon built the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They followed the rules for their work.
These are the musicians and their sons:
From Kohath’s family there was Heman the singer. Heman was Joel’s son. Joel was Samuel’s son. Samuel was Elkanah’s son. Elkanah was Jeroham’s son. Jeroham was Eliel’s son. Eliel was Toah’s son. Toah was Zuph’s son. Zuph was Elkanah’s son. Elkanah was Mahath’s son. Mahath was Amasai’s son. Amasai was Elkanah’s son. Elkanah was Joel’s son. Joel was Azariah’s son. Azariah was Zephaniah’s son. Zephaniah was Tahath’s son. Tahath was Assir’s son. Assir was Ebiasaph’s son. Ebiasaph was Korah’s son. Korah was Izhar’s son. Izhar was Kohath’s son. Kohath was Levi’s son. Levi was Israel’s son.
There was Heman’s helper Asaph, whose group stood by Heman’s right side. Asaph was Berekiah’s son. Berekiah was Shimea’s son. Shimea was Michael’s son. Michael was Baaseiah’s son. Baaseiah was Malkijah’s son. Malkijah was Ethni’s son. Ethni was Zerah’s son. Zerah was Adaiah’s son. Adaiah was Ethan’s son. Ethan was Zimmah’s son. Zimmah was Shimei’s son. Shimei was Jahath’s son. Jahath was Gershon’s son, and Gershon was Levi’s son.
Merari’s family were the helpers of Heman and Asaph, and they stood by Heman’s left side. In this group was Ethan son of Kishi. Kishi was Abdi’s son. Abdi was Malluch’s son. Malluch was Hashabiah’s son. Hashabiah was Amaziah’s son. Amaziah was Hilkiah’s son. Hilkiah was Amzi’s son. Amzi was Bani’s son. Bani was Shemer’s son. Shemer was Mahli’s son. Mahli was Mushi’s son. Mushi was Merari’s son, and Merari was Levi’s son.
The other Levites served by doing their own special work in the Holy Tent, the house of God. Aaron and his descendants offered the sacrifices on the altar of burnt offering and burned the incense on the altar of incense. They offered the sacrifices that removed the Israelites’ sins so they could belong to God. They did all the work in the Most Holy Place and followed all the laws that Moses, God’s servant, had commanded.
These were Aaron’s sons: Eleazar was Aaron’s son. Phinehas was Eleazar’s son. Abishua was Phinehas’ son. Bukki was Abishua’s son. Uzzi was Bukki’s son. Zerahiah was Uzzi’s son. Meraioth was Zerahiah’s son. Amariah was Meraioth’s son. Ahitub was Amariah’s son. Zadok was Ahitub’s son, and Ahimaaz was Zadok’s son.
These are the places where Aaron’s descendants lived. His descendants from the Kohath family group received the first share of the land.
They were given the city of Hebron in Judah and the pastures around it, but the fields farther from the city and the villages near Hebron were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron, one of the cities of safety. They also received the towns and pastures of Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Hilen, Debir, Ashan, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh. They also received these towns and pastures from the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth.
The Kohath family groups received a total of thirteen towns.
The rest of the Kohath family group was given ten towns from the family groups of West Manasseh. The towns were chosen by throwing lots.
The Gershon family group received thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the part of Manasseh living in Bashan.
The Merari family group received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. Those towns were chosen by throwing lots.
So the Israelites gave these towns and their pastures to the Levites. The towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, which were named, were chosen by throwing lots.
Some of the Kohath family groups received towns and pastures from the tribe of Ephraim. They received Shechem, one of the cities of safety, with its pastures in the mountains of Ephraim. They also received the towns and pastures of Gezer, Jokmeam, Beth Horon, Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon.
The rest of the people in the Kohath family group received the towns of Aner and Bileam and their pastures from West Manasseh.
From East Manasseh, the Gershon family received the towns and pastures of Golan in Bashan and Ashtaroth.
From the tribe of Issachar, the Gershon family received the towns and pastures of Kedesh, Daberath, Ramoth, and Anem.
From the tribe of Asher, the Gershon family received the towns and pastures of Mashal, Abdon, Hukok, and Rehob.
From the tribe of Naphtali, the Gershon family received the towns and pastures of Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim.
The rest of the Levites, the people from the Merari family, received from the tribe of Zebulun the towns and pastures of Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono, and Tabor.
From the tribe of Reuben, the Merari family received the towns and pastures of Bezer in the desert, Jahzah, Kedemoth, and Mephaath. (The tribe of Reuben lived east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.)
From the tribe of Gad, the Merari family received the towns and pastures of Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer.
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