1 Chronicles 6 Commentary
According to these records, Moses, the servant of the LORD, and Aaron the High Priest were direct great-grandchildren of Levi, the son of Jacob.
This chapter is a listing of key priestly figures and their family lines. Note that we haven’t seen the names of the High Priest Eli and his children. The LORD had terminated his services because of sin. 1 Samuel 3:13. This study has clearly shown a direct link between sin and a man’s destiny.
The great prophet Samuel is listed here as a priest. That would probably explain why the priest Eli didn’t have problems with Samuel ministering before the Ark of the Covenant. The first verse of First Samuel lists Samuel as an Ephraimite, probably because of residence and not a family line.
The last section of this chapter shows us actual cities allocated to the Levites in each tribal allocation. For example, from Ephraim, they were given Shechem (a city of refuge), and Gezer.
The Levites resided in selected cities throughout the land of Israel. They would be teachers of the Law, in addition to providing priestly services to tribal communities. So was fulfilled what the LORD had said concerning Levi: “… I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.”
The scattering for Levi was upgraded to a privileged position of actual service before the LORD throughout the tribal lands. Scattering, yes, but scattering with a good ending because someone along the way behaved right in the sight of the LORD. This is an encouragement to righteousness seekers. The LORD does take note, always.
It can be very confusing when you sit down to understand the operations of Heaven. Why should an incestuous, and therefore, scripturally sinful relationship between Judah and his daughter-in-law produce an ancestor of the sinless Jesus?
Why should the prostitute Rahab carry in her womb the seed of salvation?
Why should the foreigner Ruth be considered for the privileged position of being a mother of the seed?
Why should the adulterous marriage of David and Bathsheba provide a Solomon who sits on the throne of God’s people, Israel?
We are greatly helped by looking at ourselves. Why should a sinful me find myself in heaven? What good have I done? Very few would qualify on merit!
At many different times in our lives, and God knows, we are all these people. A David here and there; but definitely a Ruth – being a non-Israelite. A Tamar here and there; but definitely a Rahab, combining both disqualifications. It is grace that makes it possible. And so the scattered Levi can experience grace in his land of scattering and be honored as the man of God. Yes. It is possible. And we also think it is fine, after all – God’s perfection!
We also notice that Levi’s line is detailed, like Judah’s line. It underlines both the royal priesthood of Jesus. He is both king and priest!
Ramoth in Gilead could be the same Ramoth-Gilead of Ahab’s time. It was a town allocated to priests. Yet Ahab and the other kings in the northern Israelite kingdom lived and behaved like there weren’t any priests anywhere nearby to guide them in the Law of the LORD!
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