Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:

1 CHRONICLES 15:6KJV
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1 Chronicles 15:6 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 15:6 mean?

1 Chronicles 15:6 lists Asaiah as the chief among the sons of Merari, along with 220 of his relatives. This verse is part of a record showing who was chosen from the Levite families to help move the Ark of the Covenant.

King David is organizing the Levites for the important task of carrying the Ark to Jerusalem. The verse names Asaiah as the leader (chief) from the Merari family group, highlighting both his role and the number of his fellow Levites involved. This detail shows the careful planning and respect for family lines in Israel’s worship practices.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 15:6

  • "sons" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word refers to male descendants or members of a family line, emphasizing that those chosen were from the Merari family group.
  • "Merari" (מְרָרִי, mərārî): Merari was one of the three main sons of Levi, and his descendants had specific duties in caring for the tabernacle and its furnishings.
  • "Asaiah" (עֲשָׂיָה, ʿasayah): Asaiah is named as the chief representative of the Merari clan here, showing his leadership role.
  • "chief" (שַׂר, sar): This term means a leader, prince, or official, indicating that Asaiah had authority among his relatives.
  • "brethren" (אַח, ʾāḥ): This word means brothers or close relatives, showing that the group was made up of Asaiah’s kin.
  • "hundred" (מֵאָה, mēʾāh) and "twenty" (עֶשְׂרִים, ʿeśrîm): These are the Hebrew words for the numbers, confirming the specific count of 220 men from this family group.

Why 1 Chronicles 15:6 matters

  • This verse shows the importance of organization and family roles in Israel’s worship, as each Levite family had a set place and responsibility.
  • Naming Asaiah as chief highlights the leadership structure among the Levites and the trust placed in certain individuals.
  • The careful listing of numbers and names underlines how seriously the Israelites took the task of moving the Ark, treating it as a sacred duty that required both order and respect for tradition.

Where else these words appear

“Asaiah” Hebrew H6222 · used in 8 verses

  • 2 Kings 22:12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,
  • 1 Chronicles 4:36 And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
  • 1 Chronicles 9:5 And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.

“Merari” Hebrew H4847 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 46:11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
  • Numbers 7:8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
  • 1 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.