Saturday, August 10, 2013

1 Chronicles 6:1-81

THE YEAR OF BLOGGING BIBLICALLY: DAY 122

Chapter divisions were not originally part of the biblical text, you will recall. They were added later. Some of the chapter divisions make better sense than others. The chapter division at Genesis 2, for a negative example, interrupts the flow of the creation narrative begun in chapter 1.  The chapter division at John 14 undermines Jesus' teaching to his disciples. Without the division, John 13:38-14:1 read:

Jesus answered (Peter), "Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.  (NRSV)


Do you see the point? Jesus is saying "You're going to deny me. Don't worry about it." But someone put a big old chapter division in the middle of it completely obscuring the point.

On the other hand, the chapter division at 1 Chronicles 6 makes good sense. This lengthy chapter deals with a single subject: the Levites. Here we have genealogical material relating to the tribe of Levi from which the temple functionaries were drawn. Aaron's line serve as high priests. Other Levites had other duties.

The tribe of Levi was not given a territory of its own. They live in cities distributed throughout Israel.



Next: 1 Chronicles 7-8

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