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:
These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.
Significance
The Chronicler reproduces the three-branch Levitical structure from Numbers 3:17-20: Gershon (Libni, Shimei), Kohath (Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel), and Merari (Mahli, Mushi). Both texts organize the Levites by these mishpachot ("clans"), establishing the administrative framework for temple service. The Chronicler's inclusion of this Numbers genealogy grounds the post-exilic Levitical organization in Mosaic-era precedent, legitimizing the temple personnel structure of the Second Temple period by tracing it to the wilderness-era clan assignments.
Found via
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type
Allusion
Connection Method(s)
Longitudinal Theme — Numbers 3's wilderness organization of the Levites into the Gershonite, Kohathite, and Merarite clans is reproduced in 1 Chr 6:16-19 as the abiding framework of temple service; the clan structure is a single institutional thread running from tabernacle to temple — the ordered ministry that finds its telos in Christ, priest and temple in one.
