I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 1 Chronicles 5-6.

    Today’s passage continues with genealogies. It starts with abbreviated genealogies of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. The passage references some pre-Exile genealogical records, suggesting that those were the source for the genealogies of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh recorded here. We are told that these tribes were mighty warriors who won great victories when they called on God, but after their victory their descendants were unfaithful to God, which led to them being taken into exile by the Assyrians.

    The next part is a partial genealogy of the Levites, including the priests descended from Aaron. It lists the descendants of Aaron up to the Exile and some of the Levites up to the reign of David. I am not sure what to make of this account. The only thing which comes through is that the Levites were distributed throughout the other tribes of Israel. The intention being, at least in part, for the Levites to provide religious training and leadership to the rest of the children of Israel. There is an implied subtext that those of the tribe of Levi who would otherwise train for war to defend the Tribe can instead train in God’s laws in order to teach the rest how to obey God properly.