1 Chronicles 6 49

1 Chronicles 6:49 kjv

But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

1 Chronicles 6:49 nkjv

But Aaron and his sons offered sacrifices on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

1 Chronicles 6:49 niv

But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

1 Chronicles 6:49 esv

But Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

1 Chronicles 6:49 nlt

Only Aaron and his descendants served as priests. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, and they performed all the other duties related to the Most Holy Place. They made atonement for Israel by doing everything that Moses, the servant of God, had commanded them.

1 Chronicles 6 verses

1 Chronicles 6 49 Meaning

1 Chronicles 6:49 precisely delineates the distinct and indispensable roles of Aaron and his priestly descendants within Israel’s worship system. It highlights their exclusive duties of presenting burnt offerings on the bronze altar and incense offerings on the golden altar. These rituals were not merely symbolic but were fundamental to the entire service of the Most Holy Place, serving the paramount purpose of making atonement for the sins of the Israelite community. The verse underscores that these functions were executed with precise obedience to the divine commandments originally revealed through Moses, God's servant, thereby emphasizing the divine legitimacy and sanctity of the Aaronic priesthood and the sacrificial system.

1 Chronicles 6 49 Context

Chapter 6 of 1 Chronicles meticulously outlines the genealogies of the Levites, who were chosen by God for various sacred duties within the tabernacle and later the temple. This specific chapter focuses heavily on their service, from musicians to gatekeepers. Verse 49, however, pivots to clarify and underscore the distinct, exclusive, and supreme role of the Aaronic line—Aaron and his sons—within the broader Levitical framework. While other Levites had significant roles, only the priests, descendants of Aaron, were authorized to directly handle the offerings on the altars and mediate atonement for Israel. This was the fundamental pillar of Israelite worship, distinguishing the priests’ responsibilities from the broader support roles of other Levites. Historically, this practice began with the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness and continued through the period of the Temple, affirming the enduring and unchangeable nature of the divine command regarding legitimate worship. The Chronicler emphasizes this legitimacy, likely in the post-exilic period, to reinforce the correct form of worship and the rightful priestly lineage as commanded by God.

1 Chronicles 6 49 Word analysis

• But (וְ / wə): This conjunction serves as a strong contrasting or distinguishing link to the preceding genealogies of the general Levites (such as those appointed to music), specifically setting apart Aaron and his descendants due to their unique priestly function.
• Aaron (אַהֲרֹן / Aharon): The divinely appointed first High Priest of Israel, elder brother of Moses. His name signifies strength, or perhaps 'enlightened.' He is the foundational figure for the entire priestly lineage, the Aaronic priesthood.
• and his sons (וּבָנָיו / ūvānāw): Emphasizes the hereditary nature of the priesthood. The priestly office was passed down exclusively through Aaron's male descendants, ensuring continuity and adhering to divine stipulations (Exod 28:1).
• made offerings (יַקְטִירוּ / yaqtiru and וְיַעֲלוּ / vayaʿalu):
  • Yaqtiru (from qatar): Literally "to make smoke" or "burn incense." Refers specifically to burning fragrant incense on the altar of incense.
  • Vayaʿalu (from ʿalah): "To cause to go up" or "to offer a burnt offering." Refers specifically to sacrificing animals on the altar of burnt offering, as the smoke and consumed offering would 'go up' to God. This phrase captures two distinct, primary priestly functions.
• on the altar of burnt offering (עַל מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה / ʿal mizbaḥ hāʿōlāh): The large bronze altar located in the outer court of the Tabernacle/Temple, where animal sacrifices (the ʿōlāh or burnt offering) were entirely consumed by fire as an act of worship and atonement (Lev 1). Its purpose was fundamental for propitiation.
• and on the altar of incense (וְעַל מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת / vəʿal mizbaḥ haqeṭōreṯ): The smaller golden altar situated in the Holy Place, before the veil separating it from the Most Holy Place (Exod 30:1-10). It was used exclusively for burning special fragrant incense, symbolizing the prayers of the saints ascending to God and accompanying priestly intercession.
• for all the work of the Most Holy Place (לְכֹל מְלֶאכֶת קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים / ləḵōl melaḵeṯ qōḏeš haqqōḏāšîm): The "Most Holy Place" (Holy of Holies) was the innermost sanctuary, containing the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's throne room and presence (Exod 26:34). The phrase indicates that the priestly activities on the two altars, while not physically within the Holy of Holies (only the High Priest entered it once a year), were intrinsically connected to and preparatory for the services pertaining to that holiest space, particularly the Day of Atonement. It implies a comprehensive scope of their sacred duties to enable communion with God.
• and to make atonement for Israel (וּלְכַפֵּר עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל / ūləḵappēr ʿal-Yiśrāʾēl): This highlights the ultimate theological purpose of their rituals. Kappēr (atonement) means 'to cover,' 'to purge,' 'to propitiate.' It signifies the divine provision for dealing with sin, covering the people's transgressions so they could remain in a covenant relationship with a holy God. It was achieved through prescribed blood sacrifices and ritual purification.
• according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded (כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד הָאֱלֹהִים / kəḵol ʾăšer ṣiwwâ Mōsheh ʿeḇed hāʾĕlōhîm): This clause grounds the entire priestly activity in divine authority. It asserts that these intricate rituals were not man-made traditions but explicitly commanded by God through His chosen mediator, Moses. "Servant of God" (ʿeḇed hāʾĕlōhîm) is a high honorific title for Moses, denoting his intimate relationship with God and his role as God's trusted messenger in conveying divine law (Num 12:7). This reinforces the legitimacy, permanence, and unchanging nature of the sacrificial system.

• Aaron and his sons: Signifies the exclusive, divinely instituted, and hereditary line for the priesthood, distinct from all other Israelite tribes or Levitical clans. Their role was sacrosanct and could not be usurped.
• made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense: These phrases summarize the primary, foundational, and most visible ritual functions of the Aaronic priesthood: the offering of animal sacrifices for purification and the burning of incense for intercession and prayer, symbolizing an ongoing communion between God and His people.
• for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel: This group of words defines the dual scope and overarching theological purpose of priestly ministry. It encompasses the comprehensive service required for maintaining God's presence among His people (enabled by rites like the Day of Atonement) and, more broadly, mediating reconciliation for the entire nation's sins, allowing for continued covenant relationship.
• according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded: This phrase provides the divine warrant and legitimacy for every aspect of the priestly service. It highlights strict adherence to Mosaic Law, underscoring that the entire system was by divine mandate, ensuring purity and preventing arbitrary worship practices.

1 Chronicles 6 49 Bonus section

The Chronicler's emphasis on the Aaronic priesthood in 1 Chronicles, especially in verses like 6:49, serves a significant theological and historical purpose. Written after the Babylonian exile, this historical account aimed to remind the returning community of God's covenant faithfulness and the enduring principles of proper worship. By highlighting the continuity of the Aaronic priesthood and the specific divine commands given through Moses, the Chronicler sought to re-establish religious legitimacy and proper Temple protocols. It countered potential syncretism or deviation from divinely instituted practices, reminding the people that true worship and access to God's forgiveness were bound to God's revealed instructions. This specific delineation of roles also provided clear distinctions between the Levites, who performed auxiliary temple services, and the priests, who alone could administer atonement. This foreshadows the New Testament truth that Christ's priesthood is not after the order of Aaron (temporary and dependent on sacrifices), but after the order of Melchizedek (eternal and perfect, based on His own single sacrifice).

1 Chronicles 6 49 Commentary

1 Chronicles 6:49 acts as a foundational statement in the Chronicler's presentation of legitimate worship. It sets apart the unique, essential, and non-transferable duties of Aaron's priestly descendants. Their work on the two primary altars – the burnt offering altar (for propitiation through sacrifice) and the incense altar (for communion and intercession) – formed the heart of Israel's covenant relationship with God. These offerings were not for the priests themselves but were intrinsically linked to enabling interaction with God's very presence in the Most Holy Place, particularly through the annual rites of atonement for the entire community of Israel. By explicitly stating that these practices were "according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded," the verse validates the priests' authority and rituals as directly ordained by God, ensuring that their mediatorial role was divinely sanctioned and executed with precision. This provided order and assurance that sins were indeed dealt with, foreshadowing the ultimate, perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as the one-time, final sacrifice for atonement, thus fulfilling and transcending the Old Covenant priestly functions.