1 CHRONICLES LESSON 9


     We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 6:48 "Their brethren
also the Levites [were] appointed unto all manner of service of the
tabernacle of the house of God."

     We have just finished studying about the Levitical tribe, who had
been called into the ministry of music and singing. Just as in a
modern church, there are ministers called to do a specific thing,
there are those of the Levitical tribe called to do specific things.
All are chosen of God for their specific ministry. The tabernacle was
a very complicated operation. Every little thing had to be observed.
There could be no changes made by the people ministering. They were to
function in their roles exactly the way the LORD would have them to.

     I Chronicles 6:49  "But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar
of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, [and were
appointed] for all the work of the [place] most holy, and to make an
atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God
had commanded."

     Aaron, and his descendents, were to be the priests and high
priest of the LORD. Their task was of a very serious nature. The high
priest was to represent the people to God, and represent God to the
people.  The great high priest of all believers is the Lord Jesus
Christ. He represents us to God, and He represents God to us. The
office of high priest was the most important calling. Jesus fulfills
that for us. He is the head of the church. We read in Leviticus, the
detailed instructions on how each of the functions of their ministry
was to be carried out. The following Scripture is just one of many.
Leviticus 1:8 "And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the
head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that [is] on the fire which
[is] upon the altar:" We see that the high priest, in this case, Aaron
was the only one to enter the most holy place. The priests could
minister in other areas in the tabernacle.

     I Chronicles 6:50 "And these [are] the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his
son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,"

     The two first sons of Aaron were killed by the LORD, when they
offered strange fire. They are omitted in the verse above. Eleazar was
the next high priest after Aaron. Phinehas was the third high priest.
We spoke more of him in the previous lesson. Abishua became the fourth
high priest in Israel. "Abishua" means father of salvation.

     I Chronicles 6:51 "Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his
son," I Chronicles 6:52 "Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his
son," I Chronicles 6:53 "Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son."

     After Uzzi, Eli becomes high priest. In Zadok, the high
priesthood would come back to the lineage of Phinehas.

     I Chronicles 6:54  "Now these [are] their dwelling places
throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the
families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot."

     The Levites' inheritance was the LORD. They received cities to
dwell in. They were called Levitical cities. In Numbers chapter 35
verses 1 through 8, we see this in detail. Turn there and read of
their dwelling places. "Castles" is taken from a word that means
fortress, habitation, or palace. Castle, then, is not speaking of a
place of luxury. It is speaking of a nice place to live. The Levites
were well cared for by their people they ministered to.

     I Chronicles 6:55 "And they gave them Hebron in the land of
Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it."

     Hebron is a town in the mountains of Judah. It was located
between Beersheba and Jerusalem. The suburbs were for their gardens
and their animals.

     I Chronicles 6:56 "But the fields of the city, and the villages
thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh."

     Caleb's father, Jephunneh, was a Kenezite. This is the same Caleb
who brought back the good report, when he searched out the promised
land. Moses gave him this land for his faith in God, when ten of the
spies doubted. This was a choice area.

     I Chronicles 6:57 "And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities
of Judah, [namely], Hebron, [the city] of refuge, and Libnah with her
suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,"

     The tabernacle's final resting place would be Jerusalem. It would
be appropriate for those who would work directly in service in the
tabernacle to live in and near Jerusalem. Hebron is located 20 miles
out of Jerusalem. The city of refuge was a place for those, who had
accidentally killed someone, to go. Libnah is, also, located near
Jerusalem.  It became a Levitical city, when it was taken by Joshua.
Jattir was visited often by king David. Eshtemoa is located south of
Hebron.  Ishbah was said to be the father of Eshtemoa.

     I Chronicles 6:58 "And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her
suburbs,"

     Hilen is, probably, the same as Holon. Debir was a highland city
of Judah, 12 miles southwest of Hebron. The Canaanites called it
Kiriath-sepher.

     I Chronicles 6:59 "And Ashan with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh
with her suburbs:"

     Ashan is referred to by Ain, as well. It, probably, lay north-
west of Beer-sheba. Beth-shemesh was where the ark was returned to
Israel. It is, also, the place where thousands were killed for looking
into the ark. It was located in a valley on the north boundary of
Judah.
     I Chronicles 6:60 "And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with
her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her
suburbs.  All their cities throughout their families [were] thirteen
cities."

     The cities, in the verses prior to this one, were from Judah.
Now, we are dealing with the cities in the area of Benjamin. Geba is
north of Jerusalem. Alemeth is not mentioned further. Anathoth was a
city of refuge, as well as being a Levitical city. It is the
birthplace of Jeremiah. It was overlooking the Jordan and the north
part of the Dead Sea. It was 3 miles northeast of Jerusalem. The
thirteen cities of the Levites were surrounding Jerusalem, where the
priests and high priest served the LORD.

     I Chronicles 6:61 "And unto the sons of Kohath, [which were] left
of the family of that tribe, [were cities given] out of the half
tribe, [namely, out of] the half [tribe] of Manasseh, by lot, ten
cities."

     Not all of the family of Kohath were priests and high priest.
This is speaking of the rest of the family, who were not ministering
on a daily basis as high priest, or priests. It was not as necessary
for them to be extremely close to Jerusalem. Ten cities out of the
half tribe of Manasseh were given to the families of Kohath.

     I Chronicles 6:62 "And to the sons of Gershom throughout their
families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher,
and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in
Bashan, thirteen cities."

     These were still Levites, and they did not get land inheritance.
They served the LORD, but not in the same capacity as Aaron's family.
Gershom's inheritance of 13 cities was located in the land allotted to
Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the other half tribe of Manasseh.

     I Chronicles 6:63 "Unto the sons of Merari [were given] by lot,
throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the
tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities."

     There is a little addition in this verse. The city each family
received to live in was chosen by lot. This is still speaking of
Levites. We learned earlier, that many of these Levites were singers
and musicians for the LORD. The cities in the land belonging to Reuben
and Gad were east of the Jordan. Zebulun was west of the Jordan. The
families of Merari received 12 cities.

     I Chronicles 6:64 "And the children of Israel gave to the Levites
[these] cities with their suburbs." I Chronicles 6:65 "And they gave
by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe
of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of
Benjamin, these cities, which are called by [their] names."
I Chronicles 6:66 "And [the residue] of the families of the sons of
Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim."

     Those who had not been allotted a city in the other tribes' land
would have cities in Ephraim. This is speaking of the scattered
remnant.

     I Chronicles 6:67 "And they gave unto them, [of] the cities of
refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; [they gave] also
Gezer with her suburbs," I Chronicles 6:68 "And Jokmeam with her
suburbs, and Beth-horon with her suburbs,"  I Chronicles 6:69 "And
Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs:"
I Chronicles 6:70 "And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with
her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the
remnant of the sons of Kohath."

     The cities of refuge had to be scattered through the land of the
12 tribes, because they had to be in easy running distance for the
manslayer. This was a place of safety for one who had accidentally
killed someone to run, until they could have a trial. All of the
cities listed above, were on the western side of the Jordan River.

     I Chronicles 6:71 "Unto the sons of Gershom [were given] out of
the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her
suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:"

     Golan, and Ashtaroth, were both of the half tribe of Manasseh
east of the Jordan. Bezer of the tribe of Reuben and Ramoth a city of
Gad were, also, places of refuge on the eastern side of the Jordan.
There was said to be but three, so perhaps, two of the cities given
are actually one city. It appears, that other Scriptures do not
mention Ashtaroth. Deuteronomy 4:43 "[Namely], Bezer in the
wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in
Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites."

     I Chronicles 6:72 "And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with
her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,"  I Chronicles 6:73 "And
Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:"

     This Kedesh is, possibly, the same as Kishon in Joshua chapter 21
verse 28. Daberath was west of mount Tabor. In Joshua, Ramoth is
called Jarmuth.  Anem is, probably, the same as Engannim. They are all
from the tribe of Issachar.

     I Chronicles 6:74 "And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her
suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs," I Chronicles 6:75 "And Hukok
with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:"

     Mashal is the same as Mishal. Abdon is the same in Joshua. Hukok
is the same as Helkath, and Rehob is the same as Joshua.

     I Chronicles 6:76 "And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in
Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim
with her suburbs."

     Hammon is the same as Hammoth-dor in Joshua. Kirjathaim seems to
be the same as Kartan.

     I Chronicles 6:77 "Unto the rest of the children of Merari [were
given] out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor
with her suburbs:"

     Joshua 21:34  "And unto the families of the children of Merari,
the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her
suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,"  Joshua 21:35 "Dimnah with her
suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities."

     I Chronicles 6:78 "And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on
the east side of Jordan, [were given them] out of the tribe of Reuben,
Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her
suburbs,"  I Chronicles 6:79 "Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and
Mephaath with her suburbs:"

     Bezer, we mentioned earlier in this lesson. These other cities
are in addition to the three cities mentioned in Deuteronomy. There
was only one city of refuge from the tribe of Reuben mentioned in
Deuteronomy.

     I Chronicles 6:80 "And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead
with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs," I Chronicles 6:81
"And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs."

     Ramoth is the only one of these cities mentioned in Deuteronomy.




























                      1 Chronicles 9 Questions


1.  How does verse 1 relate to our modern churches?
2.  What tribe were all who ministered in the tabernacle from?
3.  What family was chosen out of the Levites to offer offerings upon
    the altar?
4.  They were to be the ________ and _______ _________ in the
    tabernacle.
5.  Who is the great High Priest?
6.  Quote Leviticus chapter 1 verse 8.
7.  Who were Aaron's sons?
8.  What happened to the first two sons of Aaron?
9.  What does "Abishua mean?
10. After Uzzi, who became high priest?
11. What was the inheritance of the Levites?
12. Where can we find out more about the dwelling places of the
    Levites?
13. Hebron is a town in the mountains of _________.
14. Who was Caleb?
15. What was Hebron, besides a Levitical city?
16. Where would be the final resting place of the tabernacle?
17. Where is Hebron located?
18. A city of refuge was used for what?
19. What were the cities of Benjamin, which became Levitical cities?
20. Who is verse 61 speaking of?
21. How were the cities, they were to live in, decided?
22. Why was it necessary for the cities of refuge to be scattered
    among the tribes?
23. How many cities of refuge were to be on the east side of Jordan?
24. Quote Joshua chapter 21 verse 34.