Kohath; Kohathites

[Ko’hath] [Ko’hathites]

Son of Levi, and his descendants. He was the grandfather of Moses and Aaron. Of Kohath little is revealed: he went into Egypt with the rest of his brethren and died at the age of 133 years. The Kohathites carried the ’most holy things’ of the tabernacle - the ark, table of show bread, golden altar, etc., but were not permitted to touch or even look upon them. In the first census the male descendants of Kohath, between thirty and fifty years of age, were 2750. Their descendants embraced several important families, including that of the priesthood. See LEVITES. Exo 6:16; Exo 6:18; Num 3:17-30; Num 4:2-37; Num 26:57-58; Jos 21:4-26; 1Ch 6:1-70, etc.

KOHATH

|

|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|

Amram Izhar Hebron. Uzziel.

| | | |

|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯| Korah Hebronites Uzzielites

Aaron. Moses. |

| | Korhites.

Priests. |

|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|

Gershom Eliezer

KOHATH, KOHATHITES.—Although the origin of the name Levi is doubtful, and scholars are still uncertain whether or not it was the name of a tribe before ‘Levite’ was a descriptive term denoting one who was trained in priestly duties, there is no doubt that the term ‘Levite’ had this meaning as early as the period of the Judges (see Jdg 17:7-8; Jdg 17:13). And in process of time every member of the Levitical or priestly ‘caste’ traced his descent through one line or another to Levi. These genealogies must have been in the making before the Exile, but were afterwards stereotyped and reduced to system by the priestly school. The name Kohath is found nowhere except in P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] and Chronicles. The three main divisions of Levites bore the names of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and these are accordingly given as the names of the ‘sons’ of Levi (Gen 46:11, Exo 6:16, Num 3:17, 1Ch 6:1; 1Ch 6:16; 1Ch 23:6). The second division is described either as ‘the Kohathites’ (Num 3:27; Num 3:30; Num 4:18; Num 4:34; Num 4:37; Num 10:21; Num 26:57, Jos 21:4; Jos 21:11, 1Ch 6:33; 1Ch 6:54; 1Ch 9:32, 2Ch 20:18; 2Ch 29:12) or ‘the sons of Kohath’ (Exo 6:18, Num 3:19; Num 3:29; Num 4:2; Num 4:4; Num 4:15; Num 7:9, Jos 21:5; Jos 21:20; Jos 21:26, 1Ch 6:2; 1Ch 6:18; 1Ch 6:22; 1Ch 6:61; 1Ch 6:66; 1Ch 6:70; 1Ch 15:5; 1Ch 23:12). These were subdivided into four groups, the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites (Num 3:27), each being traced to a son of Kohath (Exo 6:18, Num 3:19, 1Ch 6:2; 1Ch 6:18; 1Ch 23:12). From these families fragments of genealogies remain. Amram is of peculiar importance, because his children were Aaron and Moses (Exo 6:20, 1Ch 23:13-17); and Korah, a son of Izhar, was notorious in priestly tradition (Num 16:1-50). See Korah, Dathan, Abiram.

The importance of these families after the Exile was small, with the exception of the priests who traced their descent from Aaron. Some Kohathites are named as appointed to humble offices (1Ch 9:10; 1Ch 9:8 f., Ezr 2:42, Neh 12:25). But the tendency of the period to idealize ancient history led the Prlestly writers, including the Chronicler, to construct narratives in which the eponymous ancestors of the Levitical families played a prominent part; see 1Ch 9:19. (1) During the desert wanderings the Kohathites were on the south side of the Tent (Num 3:30), and they carried the screen of the sanctuary and its furniture, after it had been prepared for travel by the greatest of all the descendants of Kohath—Aaron and his sons (Num 3:31, Num 4:4-18, Num 10:21); they were privileged to carry their burden upon their shoulders (Num 7:9), instead of in waggons, as the Gershonites and Merarites; they were superintended by Eleazar, Aaron’s son (Num 4:16). (2) After the settlement in Palestine, 23 cities were assigned to them (Jos 21:4 f., Jos 21:18-26 = 1Ch 6:57-61; 1Ch 6:67-70). (3) In David’s reign the Chronicler relates that the Temple music was managed partly by Heman, a Kohathite, and his family (1Ch 6:31-38; 1Ch 16:41 f., 1Ch 25:1; 1Ch 25:4-5; 1Ch 25:13; 1Ch 25:16; 1Ch 25:18; 1Ch 25:20; 1Ch 25:22 f., 1Ch 15:25-29; and see 1Ch 15:8; 1Ch 15:8-10; 1Ch 15:17; 1Ch 15:19). David divided the Levites into courses ‘according to the sons of Levi’ (1Ch 23:6; Kohathites 1Ch 23:12-20; 1Ch 24:20-25); and particular offices of Kohathites are stated in 1Ch 26:1-9; 1Ch 26:12-15; 1Ch 26:17-19; 1Ch 26:23-31. (4) Under Jehoshaphat they led the song of praise at the battle of En-gedi (2Ch 20:19). (5) Under Hezekiah they took part in the cleansing of the Temple (2Ch 29:12; 2Ch 29:14).

A. H. M‘Neile.

kō´hath, kō´hath-ı̄ts (קהת, ḳ^ehāth, קהתי, ḳŏhāthı̄; Καάθ, Kaáth): Second son of Levi, and ancestor of Moses and Aaron (Gen 46:11; Exo 6:16-20; Num 3:17; 1Ch 6:1, etc.). The Kohathites formed one of the three divisions of the tribe of Levi; the other two being the Gershonites and the Merarites (Num 3:17 ff). The Kohathites consisted of four families, the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites (Num 3:19, Num 3:27, etc.). Their place in the wilderness was on the southern side of the tabernacle (Num 3:29), and their number is given (from a month old) as 8,600 (Num 3:28). Their special charge was “the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the screen, and all the service thereof” (Num 3:31; compare Num 7:9). After the conquest 23 cities were assigned them by lot (Jos 21:4, Jos 21:5 ff). In David’s time and after, Heman, a Kohathite, and his family had a prominent place in the service of the music of the sanctuary (1Ch 6:33 ff; 1Ch 16:41 ff; 1Ch 25:1 ff); David likewise divided the Levites into courses (the Kohathites, 1Ch 23:12-20; 1Ch 24:20-25). We read of the Kohathites in the reign of Jehoshaphat at Engedi (2Ch 20:19), and in connection with the cleansing of the temple under Hezekiah (2Ch 29:12, 2Ch 29:14).