Topical Bible: Kohathite

◄ Kohathite ►

Jump to: Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The Kohathites were one of the principal divisions of the Levites, the tribe set apart for religious duties and service in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. The Kohathites were descendants of Kohath, the second son of Levi, making them part of the Levitical priestly lineage. Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel (Exodus 6:18). From Amram came Moses and Aaron, two of the most significant figures in Israelite history.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Kohathites held a unique and significant role among the Levites. Their primary responsibility was the care and transportation of the most sacred objects of the Tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the lampstand, the altars, and the sacred utensils (Numbers 3:31). Unlike the other Levitical families, the Kohathites were not given carts or oxen for transportation. Instead, they were required to carry these holy items on their shoulders, emphasizing the sacredness and reverence due to these objects (Numbers 7:9).

Sanctity and Regulations

The Kohathites' duties were governed by strict regulations to ensure the sanctity of the holy objects. They were not permitted to touch or even look at the sacred items directly. The high priest and his sons were responsible for covering the holy objects with specific coverings before the Kohathites could approach to carry them (Numbers 4:15). This regulation underscored the holiness of the items and the need for reverence in handling them.

Inheritance and Cities

As with other Levites, the Kohathites did not receive a territorial inheritance in the Promised Land. Instead, they were allotted cities within the territories of the other tribes. The Kohathites received cities primarily in the regions of Ephraim, Dan, and half of Manasseh (Joshua 21:5). These cities served as their dwelling places and centers for their religious duties.

Significance in Israelite Worship

The Kohathites played a crucial role in the religious life of Israel. Their service ensured the proper care and transportation of the most sacred elements of Israelite worship. By carrying the Ark of the Covenant and other holy items, the Kohathites facilitated the presence of God among His people, as the Ark was considered the earthly throne of God.

Notable Kohathites

Among the notable descendants of Kohath were Korah, who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16), and the prophet Samuel, who was a descendant of Kohath through the line of Izhar (1 Chronicles 6:33-38). Despite the rebellion of Korah, the Kohathites continued to serve faithfully in their appointed roles throughout Israel's history.

The Kohathites' dedication to their sacred duties exemplifies the importance of reverence and obedience in the service of God, highlighting the centrality of worship and the presence of God in the life of the Israelite community.

Strong's Hebrew

6956. Qehathi -- descendant of Kohath
... of Kohath NASB Word Usage Kohathite (2), Kohathites (13). ... Patronymically from Qhath;
a Kohathite (collectively) or descendants of Kehath -- Kohathites. ...
/hebrew/6956.htm - 6k

Thesaurus

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Kohathite (18 Occurrences). Numbers 3:27 Of Kohath
was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the ...
/k/kohathite.htm - 12k

Korahites (7 Occurrences)
... That portion of the Kohathites that descended from Korah. (1.) They were an important
branch of the singers of the Kohathite division (2 Chronicles 20:19). ...
/k/korahites.htm - 20k

Mahazioth (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Visions, a Kohathite Levite, chief of the twenty-third
course of musicians (1 Chronicles 25:4, 30). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/m/mahazioth.htm - 7k

Mahath (4 Occurrences)
... Grasping. (1.) A Kohathite Levite, father of Elkanah (1 Chronicles 6:35). (2.) Another
Kohathite Levite, of the time of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:12). Int. ...
/m/mahath.htm - 9k

Mallothi (2 Occurrences)
... My fulness, a Kohathite Levite, one of the sons of Heman the Levite (1 Chronicles
25:4), and chief of the nineteenth division of the temple musicians (26). ...
/m/mallothi.htm - 8k

Kohath (30 Occurrences)
... 3:31; compare Numbers 7:9). After the conquest 23 cities were assigned them by lot
(Joshua 21:4, 5). In David's time and after, Heman, a Kohathite, and his ...
/k/kohath.htm - 18k

Zechariah (55 Occurrences)
... (8.) A Kohathite Levite (1 Chronicles 24:25). ... (16) A Kohathite, who assisted in the
repair of the Temple at the time of Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:12). ...
/z/zechariah.htm - 70k

Zephaniah (11 Occurrences)
... of Hamath" (2 Kings 25:21). (3.) A Kohathite ancestor of the prophet Samuel
(1 Chronicles 6:36). (4.) The father of Josiah, the ...
/z/zephaniah.htm - 32k

Zuph (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Honeycomb, a Kohathite Levite, ancestor of Elkanah and
Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1); called also Zophai (1 Chronicles 6:26). Zuph, Land of. ...
/z/zuph.htm - 9k

Kohathites (18 Occurrences)
... 3:31; compare Numbers 7:9). After the conquest 23 cities were assigned them by lot
(Joshua 21:4, 5). In David's time and after, Heman, a Kohathite, and his ...
/k/kohathites.htm - 15k

Resources

Who was Korah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Numbers 3:27
Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 3:30
The prince of the fathers' house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 4:2
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers' houses,
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:18
"Don't cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 4:34
Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers' houses,
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 4:37
These are those who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 26:57
These are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 21:4
The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 21:10
and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 21:20
And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
(See NIV)

Joshua 21:26
All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with the open land about them.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 6:33
These are those who waited, and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 6:54
Now these are their dwelling places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the first lot),
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 6:60
and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its suburbs, and Allemeth with its suburbs, and Anathoth with its suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 6:70
and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Aner with the open land about it, and Bileam with the open land about it, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:32
Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:12
Then the Levites arose, Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 34:12
The men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and others of the Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Subtopics

Kohathite

Related Terms

Kohathites (18 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)