1 Chronicles 6:35
the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
the son of Zuph,

Zuph stands in the ancestral line that led to Samuel and to Heman, the chief musician appointed for tabernacle worship. The land of Zuph, where Saul searched for Kish’s donkeys, preserved the family’s name and recalls the Ephraimite setting in which Samuel’s household lived.

1Sa 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from…
1Sa 9:5 When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant…

the son of Elkanah,

Elkanah was an earlier ancestor of Samuel, distinct from Samuel’s father who bore the same name. The repeated family name reflects a continuing heritage among the Kohathite Levites, whose descendants were set apart for service connected with Israel’s worship. The name Elkanah means “God has possessed” or “God has created.”

1Sa 1:21 Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual…
1Sa 2:20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife,…

the son of Mahath,

Mahath (meaning “grasping” or “snatching”) belongs to the carefully preserved line through which the Chronicler establishes the lawful Levitical descent of Samuel’s family. God’s work through Samuel did not arise apart from Israel’s covenant life, but through a household rooted in the service of the sanctuary.

2Ch 29:12 Then the Levites set to work: Mahath son of Amasai…
2Ch 31:13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, …

the son of Amasai,

Amasai, meaning “burden” or “load,” anchors the genealogy in earlier generations of Kohath’s descendants. The record demonstrates God’s faithfulness in preserving families appointed for sacred service, preparing the line from which Samuel would call Israel back to obedience and anoint its kings.

1Ch 12:18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty…
1Ch 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai……

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zuph
An ancestor of Samuel, Zuph is part of the Levitical lineage, which is significant in the context of Israel's religious leadership.

2. Elkanah
The father of Samuel, Elkanah is a notable figure in the history of Israel, particularly in the context of the birth and dedication of Samuel, a major prophet.

3. Mahath
A lesser-known figure in the genealogy, Mahath is part of the Levitical line, emphasizing the importance of priestly heritage.

4. Amasai
Another ancestor in the Levitical line, Amasai's inclusion highlights the continuity and faithfulness of God's covenant with the Levites.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Genealogy in Scripture
Genealogies in the Bible serve to connect individuals to God's overarching plan. They remind us of the faithfulness of God across generations and the importance of spiritual heritage.

The Role of the Levites
The Levites were set apart for service to God, highlighting the importance of dedication and service in our own lives. We are called to serve God with the gifts and roles He has given us.

Faithfulness Across Generations
The continuity of faith through generations, as seen in this genealogy, encourages us to pass on our faith to future generations, ensuring that God's truth is preserved and proclaimed.

God's Sovereign Plan
The inclusion of specific individuals in genealogies underscores God's sovereign choice and plan. We can trust that God is working through our lives, even when we do not see the full picture.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the genealogy of the Levites enhance our appreciation of God's faithfulness throughout history?

2. In what ways can we, like the Levites, dedicate our lives to serving God in our current context?

3. How does the account of Elkanah and his family in 1 Samuel 1-2 inspire us to trust in God's plans for our families?

4. What lessons can we learn from the continuity of faith in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 6:35 that apply to our own spiritual heritage?

5. How does the role of the Levites in the Old Testament connect to the priesthood of all believers as described in the New Testament?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 1-2
These chapters provide the account of Elkanah and his family, including the birth of Samuel, who plays a crucial role in Israel's history as a prophet and judge.

Exodus 6:16-25
This passage outlines the genealogy of the Levites, establishing the importance of the Levitical line in Israel's religious structure.

Hebrews 7
This chapter discusses the priesthood, drawing connections between the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood of Christ, emphasizing the fulfillment of the Old Testament priestly roles.
Priesthood and ServiceF. Whitfield 1 Chronicles 6:31-48
Religious WorshipJ. Wolfendale.1 Chronicles 6:31-48
The Ministry of SongJ. Wolfendale.1 Chronicles 6:31-48
Religious CultureW. Clarkson 1 Chronicles 6:32-81
On the Genealogical TablesR. Glover 1 Chronicles 1-6
GenealogiesJ.R. Thomson 1 Chronicles 1-9
People
Aaron, Abdi, Abdon, Abiah, Abihu, Abijah, Abishua, Adaiah, Ahimaaz, Ahimoth, Ahitub, Alemeth, Amariah, Amasai, Amaziah, Amminadab, Amram, Amzi, Anathoth, Aner, Asaiah, Asaph, Asher, Assir, Azariah, Baaseiah, Bani, Benjamin, Berachiah, Berechiah, Bezer, Bukki, Caleb, Dan, David, Debir, Ebiasaph, Eleazar, Eliab, Eliel, Elkanah, Eshtemoa, Ethan, Ethni, Gad, Gershom, Gershomites, Gershon, Gibeon, Haggiah, Hashabiah, Heman, Hilkiah, Iddo, Israelites, Issachar, Ithamar, Izhar, Jahath, Jeaterai, Jehozadak, Jephunneh, Jeroham, Joah, Joel, Johanan, Kishi, Kohath, Kohathites, Korah, Levi, Levites, Libni, Mahath, Mahli, Malchiah, Malchijah, Malluch, Manasseh, Meraioth, Merari, Merarites, Michael, Miriam, Mushi, Nadab, Nahath, Naphtali, Nebuchadnezzar, Phinehas, Rehob, Reuben, Samuel, Saul, Seraiah, Shallum, Shamer, Shaul, Shemer, Shemuel, Shimea, Shimei, Simeon, Solomon, Tahath, Toah, Uriel, Uzza, Uzzah, Uzzi, Uzziah, Uzziel, Vashni, Zadok, Zebulun, Zephaniah, Zerah, Zerahiah, Zimmah, Zophai, Zuph
Places
Abdon, Aijalon, Alemeth, Anathoth, Anem, Aner, Ashan, Ashtaroth, Assyria, Bashan, Beth-horon, Beth-shemesh, Bezer, Bileam, Daberath, Debir, Eshtemoa, Galilee, Gath-rimmon, Geba, Gezer, Gibeon, Gilead, Golan, Hammon, Hebron, Heshbon, Hilen, Hukok, Jahzah, Jattir, Jazer, Jericho, Jerusalem, Jokmeam, Jordan River, Kedemoth, Kedesh, Kiriathaim, Libnah, Mahanaim, Mashal, Mephaath, Most Holy Place, Ramoth, Rehob, Shechem, Tabor
Topics
Amasai, Ama'sai, Elkanah, Elka'nah, Mahath, Zuph
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Chronicles 6:31-47

     5422   musicians

1 Chronicles 6:31-49

     7390   Levites

Library
David's Choristers
'They stood in their office, according to their order.'--1 CHRON. vi. 32 (R.V. margin). This brief note is buried in the catalogue of the singers appointed by David for 'the service of song in the house of the Lord.' The waves of their choral praise have long ages since ceased to eddy round the 'tabernacle of the tent of meeting,' and all that is left of their melodious companies is a dry list of names, in spite of which the dead owners of them are nameless. But the chronicler's description of them
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Nob. Bahurim.
That Nob was placed in the land of Benjamin, not far from Jerusalem, whence Jerusalem also might be seen,--the words of the Chaldee paraphrast, upon Isaiah 10:32, do argue. For so he speaks; "Sennacherib came and stood in Nob, a city of the priests, before the walls of Jerusalem; and said to his army, 'Is not this the city of Jerusalem, against which I have raised my whole army, and have subdued all the provinces of it? Is it not small and weak in comparison of all the fortifications of the Gentiles,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
"If any one wishes to be rich, let him go north; if he wants to be wise, let him come south." Such was the saying, by which Rabbinical pride distinguished between the material wealth of Galilee and the supremacy in traditional lore claimed for the academies of Judaea proper. Alas, it was not long before Judaea lost even this doubtful distinction, and its colleges wandered northwards, ending at last by the Lake of Gennesaret, and in that very city of Tiberias which at one time had been reputed unclean!
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
1 Chronicles 6:35 NIV
1 Chronicles 6:35 NLT
1 Chronicles 6:35 ESV
1 Chronicles 6:35 NASB
1 Chronicles 6:35 KJV

1 Chronicles 6:35 Commentaries

Bible Hub
1 Chronicles 6:34
Top of Page
Top of Page