1 Chronicles 6:1-3; 1 Chronicles 6:48-65
This chapter is devoted to the sons of Levi and the priests, the sons of Aaron. It is the counterpart of ch. 3 where we have had the kings. It is concerned with the privileged families in Israel! But, when it comes to the people of God today, these functions are the lot of every believer. The apostle Peter reminds us of that: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood . . . that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you . . ." (1 Peter 2:9; see also Revelation 1:6). To bring our praises to the Lord, to tell forth His virtues to others, such is the double service of the Christian. The Levites remind us of this. Some were appointed for the singing (vv. 31-33). Others served in the house of God under the direction of Aaron and his sons (vv. 48, 49).
Then in ch. 7 and 8 come the genealogies of Issachar, of Benjamin, of Naphtali, and of the other half-tribe of Manasseh, and finally of Ephraim and Asher. Notice the negligence of Naphtali, a tribe so little concerned and mindful of its privileges that their whole history requires only one short verse to record it in God’s book (1 Chronicles 7:13). And let us take this opportunity to emphasize the interest which we should take in the history of the Church, and the remembrance of those who were faithful leaders, because, for the most part, we are spiritually their heirs and highly responsible on that account.