44. Merari’s descendants were the relatives of Heman and Asaph. They were the singing group on Heman’s left side. Ethan was Kishi’s son. Kishi was Abdi’s son. Abdi was Malluch’s son.
45. Malluch was Hashabiah’s son. Hashabiah was Amaziah’s son. Amaziah was Hilkiah’s son.
46. Hilkiah was Amzi’s son. Amzi was Bani’s son. Bani was Shemer’s son.
47. Shemer was Mahli’s son. Mahli was Mushi’s son. Mushi was Merari’s son. Merari was Levi’s son.
48. Heman and Asaph’s brothers were from the tribe of Levi. The tribe of Levi was also called Levites. The Levites were chosen to do the work in the Holy Tent. The Holy Tent was God’s house.
49. But only Aaron’s descendants were permitted to burn incense on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense. Aaron’s descendants did all the work in the Most Holy Place in God’s house. They also did the ceremonies to make the Israelites pure. They followed all the rules and laws that Moses, God’s servant, commanded.
50. These were Aaron’s sons: Eleazar was Aaron’s son. Phinehas was Eleazar’s son. Abishua was Phinehas’ son.
51. Bukki was Abishua’s son. Uzzi was Bukki’s son. Zerahiah was Uzzi’s son.
52. Meraioth was Zerahiah’s son. Amariah was Meraioth’s son. Ahitub was Amariah’s son.
53. Zadok was Ahitub’s son. Ahimaaz was Zadok’s son.
54. These are the places where Aaron’s descendants lived. They lived in their camps in the land that was given to them. The Kohath families got the first share of the land that was given to the Levites.
55. They were given the town of Hebron and the fields around it. This was in the area of Judah.
56. But the fields farther from town and the villages near the town of Hebron were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
57. The descendants of Aaron were given the city of Hebron. Hebron was a city of safety. They were also given the cities of Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,
58. Hilen, Debir,
59. Ashan, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh. They got all the cities and the fields around them.
60. From the tribe of Benjamin they got the cities of Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth. They got all the cities and the fields around them. Thirteen cities were given to the Kohath families.
61. The rest of Kohath’s descendants got ten towns from half the tribe of Manasseh.
62. The tribes that were the descendants of Gershon got 13 cities. They got the cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the part of Manasseh living in the area of Bashan.