The sons of Levi. The most complete genealogy given here in 1 Chronicles is that of the tribe of Levi. The reason undoubtedly is because the priests all had to be descendants of Aaron and the other Levites, and were the only ones to serve in the tabernacle. It was important that the credentials of anyone serving as a priest or Levite have adequate genealogical proof of his Levitical ancestry, especially since they were to be scattered among all the tribes, with no designated division of their own. Kohath, the second son of Levi, was the father of Amram, who was the father of Aaron, from whom all future priests must come.

Jehozadak. Josedech is another form of the name of this last of the priests before the Babylonian captivity. His son, Joshua, was the priest who returned with Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem after the exile (Haggai 1:1, 12, 14).

sons of Samuel. Samuel and his father Elkanah (1 Chronicles 6:27) are shown in this chapter to be descendants of Kohath, the son of Levi (1 Chronicles 6:1). This explains the fact that he was able to offer sacrifices as a priest. Moses and Aaron were also descendants of Levi. However, in 1 Samuel 1:1, Elkanah is said to be from Ephraim. The Levites, of course, had been dispersed among all the tribes of Israel, including Ephraim. Thus, Samuel could be said to be an Ephraimite geographically and a Levite genetically.

service of song. Music had been an important aspect of human life since the beginning, although the first reference to it is in connection with the ungodly line of Cain (Genesis 4:21). However, angels sang at the creation (Job 38:7), and Moses led the children of Israel in a victory song after the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 15:1-21). Deborah and Barak sang after their victory over the Canaanites (Judges 5). It was David, however, who first institutionalized music in the formal worship of God before the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 6:32), and music was used later under Solomon at the temple. David himself was a musician, composing most of the psalms. Although there are very few references to songs in the gospels and epistles (Matthew 26:30; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19), singing will play a prominent role in the heavenly congregation when Christ returns (Revelation 4:11; 5:8-14; 15:2-4).

cities of Judah, namely, Hebron. Aaron's descendants needed to be close to the temple, since only they were qualified as priests to officiate at the sacrificial offerings there. The chief of the cities assigned to them was Hebron, which also was one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7).