The Family of Levi and Their Allocated Land

This chapter chronicles the family of Levi, with a special mention of the musicians of the LORD and also the priestly family of Aaron. The 3 sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. From Kohath came the family of Aaron, Moses and Miriam. An it traced the line of Aaron to Eleazar to Phinehas and down to Jehozadak who was the priest when Babylon took Judah into captivity. Samuel the prophet, was also from the line of Kohath, whose descendants also served as musicians in the Temple of the LORD. The other musicians were also descended from Gershon and Merari, sons of Levi, since those who served in the Temple were Levites.

The allocation of land to the Levites were different than the rest of the other tribes. Instead of land as their inheritance, they were given the special privilege to serve the LORD in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. So the settlement of the Levites were distributed among the other tribes of Israel. Mostly they were given so called Common-Lands in the other tribes. Some of the Levites were given cities of refuge such as Hebron. A special mention of Caleb, son of Jephunneh, who was given the fields of the cities and villages in Judah. Hence the tribe of Levites lived distributed over the entire land of the Israel with their brethren tribes.



1 Chronicles 6

The Family of Levi

 1 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 4 Eleazar begot Phinehas, and Phinehas begot Abishua; 5 Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begot Uzzi; 6 Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth; 7 Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub; 8 Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Ahimaaz; 9 Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariah begot Johanan; 10 Johanan begot Azariah (it was he who ministered as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem); 11 Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub; 12 Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Shallum; 13 Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah; 14 Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak. 15 Jehozadak went into captivity when the LORD carried Judah and Jerusalem into captivity by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
16 The sons of Levi were Gershon,[a] Kohath, and Merari. 17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Now these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers: 20 Of Gershon were Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son. 22 The sons of Kohath were Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 25 The sons of Elkanah were Amasai and Ahimoth. 26 As for Elkanah,[b] the sons of Elkanah were Zophai[c] his son, Nahath[d] his son, 27 Eliab[e] his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son. 28 The sons of Samuel were Joel[f] the firstborn, and Abijah the second.[g] 29 The sons of Merari were Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.


Musicians in the House of the LORD
 
31 Now these are the men whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark came to rest. 32 They were ministering with music before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they served in their office according to their order.
33 And these are the ones who ministered with their sons: Of the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, 34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel,[h] the son of Toah,[i] 35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. 39 And his brother Asaph, who stood at his right hand, was Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea, 40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah, 41 the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of ShimeiJahath, the son of Gershon, the son of Levi.
44 Their brethren, the sons of Merari, on the left hand, were Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, 45 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, 46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer, 47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
48 And their brethren, the Levites, were appointed to every kind of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.


The Family of Aaron
 
49 But Aaron and his sons offered sacrifices on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 50 Now these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.


Dwelling Places of the Levites
 
54 Now these are their dwelling places throughout their settlements in their territory, for they were given by lot to the sons of Aaron, of the family of the Kohathites: 55 They gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, with its surrounding common-lands. 56 But the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave one of the cities of refuge, Hebron; also Libnah with its common-lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its common-lands, 58 Hilen[j] with its common-lands, Debir with its common-lands, 59 Ashan[k] with its common-lands, and Beth Shemesh with its common-lands. 60 And from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its common-lands, Alemeth[l] with its common-lands, and Anathoth with its common-lands. All their cities among their families were thirteen.
61 To the rest of the family of the tribe of the Kohathites they gave by lot ten cities from half the tribe of Manasseh. 62 And to the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, they gave thirteen cities from the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 63 To the sons of Merari, throughout their families, they gave twelve cities from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun. 64 So the children of Israel gave these cities with their common-lands to the Levites. 65 And they gave by lot from the tribe of the children of Judah, from the tribe of the children of Simeon, and from the tribe of the children of Benjamin these cities which are called by their names.
66 Now some of the families of the sons of Kohath were given cities as their territory from the tribe of Ephraim. 67 And they gave them one of the cities of refuge, Shechem with its common-lands, in the mountains of Ephraim, also Gezer with its common-lands, 68 Jokmeam with its common-lands, Beth Horon with its common-lands, 69 Aijalon with its common-lands, and Gath Rimmon with its common-lands. 70 And from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Aner with its common-lands and Bileam with its common-lands, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.
71 From the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh the sons of Gershon were given Golan in Bashan with its common-lands and Ashtaroth with its common-lands. 72 And from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its common-lands, Daberath with its common-lands, 73 Ramoth with its common-lands, and Anem with its common-lands. 74 And from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its common-lands, Abdon with its common-lands, 75 Hukok with its common-lands, and Rehob with its common-lands. 76 And from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its common-lands, Hammon with its common-lands, and Kirjathaim with its common-lands.
77 From the tribe of Zebulun the rest of the children of Merari were given Rimmon[m] with its common-lands and Tabor with its common-lands. 78 And on the other side of the Jordan, across from Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, they were given from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its common-lands, Jahzah with its common-lands, 79 Kedemoth with its common-lands, and Mephaath with its common-lands. 80 And from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its common-lands, Mahanaim with its common-lands, 81 Heshbon with its common-lands, and Jazer with its common-lands.

God praises Moses highly

Miriam and Aaron were sister and brother of Moses and they had been supporting him in leading the Israelites out of Egypt and their journey to the promised land. However, on once occassion described below, they criticised Moses because of Moses marriage to an Ethiopian woman. God deliberately punished Miriam over this incident by making Miriam leprous. Even when Moses prayed to God for mercy, God let Miriam went through the leprous state for seven days before being cured miraculously.

The more interesting part of this passage is the deep relationship that God revealed about Moses and him. It was stated that "Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth", and amazing praise on a man. Furthermore, God said about Moses that unlike other prophets whom God communicates via visions and dreams, Moses is the man God speaks face to face, in plain language and who sees the the physical manifestation of the form of God. It is an amazing honour that God placed on Moses, the most humble man on earth.

Numbers 12

Dissension of Aaron and Miriam

 1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
4 Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. 5 Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. 6 Then He said,

      “Hear now My words:
      If there is a prophet among you,
      I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
      I speak to him in a dream.
 7 Not so with My servant Moses;
      He is faithful in all My house.

 8 I speak with him face to face,
      Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;
      And he sees the form of the LORD.
      Why then were you not afraid
      To speak against My servant Moses?”
9 So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed. 10 And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. 11 So Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. 12 Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb!”
13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “Please heal her, O God, I pray!”
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again.” 15 So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again. 16 And afterward the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.

My first thought is that I won't comment on this chapter - instead, I encourage you to read the songs below deeply and Enjoy! Let the full meaning of the words sink in.

I'll just add a few quick comments at the end of this chapter below.



Exodus 15

The Song of Moses

 1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying:

      “I will sing to the LORD,
      For He has triumphed gloriously!
      The horse and its rider
      He has thrown into the sea!
 2 The LORD is my strength and song,
      And He has become my salvation; 
      He is my God, and I will praise Him; 
      My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

 3 The LORD is a man of war;
      The LORD is His name.

 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
      His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.

 5 The depths have covered them;
      They sank to the bottom like a stone.

 6 “Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power;
      Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.

 7 And in the greatness of Your excellence
      You have overthrown those who rose against You;
      You sent forth Your wrath;
      It consumed them like stubble.

 8 And with the blast of Your nostrils
      The waters were gathered together;
      The floods stood upright like a heap;
      The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

 9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue,
      I will overtake,
      I will divide the spoil;
      My desire shall be satisfied on them.
      I will draw my sword,
      My hand shall destroy them.’

 10 You blew with Your wind,
      The sea covered them;
      They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

 11 “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?
      Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
      Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 12 You stretched out Your right hand;
      The earth swallowed them.

 13 You in Your mercy have led forth
      The people whom You have redeemed;
      You have guided them in Your strength
      To Your holy habitation.

 14 “The people will hear and be afraid;
      Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.

 15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;
      The mighty men of Moab,
      Trembling will take hold of them;
      All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.

 16 Fear and dread will fall on them;
      By the greatness of Your arm
      They will be as still as a stone,
      Till Your people pass over, O LORD,
      Till the people pass over
      Whom You have purchased.

 17 You will bring them in and plant them
      In the mountain of Your inheritance,
      In the place, O LORD, which You have made
      For Your own dwelling,
      The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

 18 “The LORD shall reign forever and ever.”
19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

The Song of Miriam
  
20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them:

      “Sing to the LORD,
      For He has triumphed gloriously!
      The horse and its rider
      He has thrown into the sea!”

Bitter Waters Made Sweet
  
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.[a] 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.

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Verse 2 made a strong impression on me. These are songs to meditate upon and enjoy. Meditation in the Christian sense is to think deeply about God. Please take your time and re-read the songs above again and let the full force of the meaning hit you. 

Just this week, I was thinking how to get closer to a God who does not usually talk to you in an audible voice. Then I thought, why not just remember the great things of what He did and who He is. Suddenly something wonderful burst inside me that I cannot describe with words even now, but that something is like  causing me to feel "My God, My God, you are who you are, thank you ...."

We can never know the joy of Moses and Miriam when they wrote or sing those songs. However, we can empty our minds, then think about God, and read those songs and imagine we are in the position of the Israelites at that place and time after the Exodus.