I Chronicles 6 (NIV)

Summary:

Key: [] = Mother
         + = Firstborn Son
         * = Son
        d  = Daughter
        w = Wife

Levi
Verses 1-30

Sons: Gershon, Kohath, Merari
Kohath -> *Amram, *Izhar, *Hebron, *Uzziel
Amram -> *Aaron, *Moses, d. Miriam
Aaron -> *Nadab, *Abihu, *Eleazar, *Ithamar

Eleazar -> *Phinehas -> *Abishua -> *Bukki -> *Uzzi -> *Zerahiah -> *Meraioth -> *Amariah -> *Ahitub -> *Zadok -> *Ahimaaz -> *Azariah -> *Johanan -> *Azariah, who served in Solomon's temple in Jerusalem -> *Amariah -> *Ahitub -> *Zadok -> *Shallum -> *Hilkiah -> *Azariah -> *Seraiah -> *Jehozadak, who was deported when the Lord exiled Judah & Jerusalem via Nebuchadnezzar (it seems that Azariah, Ahitub, and Zadok were popular names back then...baby names, anyone?)

Levi -> *Gershon -> *Libni, *Shimei

Levi -> *Merari -> *Mahli, *Mushi

Levite clans listed according to their fathers:
- Gershon -> *Libni -> *Jehath -> *Zimmah -> *Joah -> *Iddo -> *Zerah -> *Jeatherai
- Kohath -> *Amminadab -> *Korah -> *Assir -> *Elkanah -> *Ebiasaph -> *Assir -> *Tahath ->  *Uriel -> *Uzziah -> *Shaul
-Kohath...Elkanah -> *Amasai, *Ahimoth -> *Elkanah -> *Zophai -> *Nahath -> *Eliab -> *Jeroham -> *Elkanah -> *Samuel -> +Joel, *Abijah
-Merari -> *Mahli -> *Libni -> *Shimei -> *Uzzah -> *Shimea -> *Haggiah -> *Asaiah

The Temple Musicians
Verses 31-81

These are the men that David put in charge of music in the Lord's house, after the ark of the covenant was brought to rest with them.  They ministered with music before the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the Lord's temple.  (Original Tabernacle Choir?)  At these places, they performed their duties according to the regulations laid out for them.

Kohathites: Heman the musician* <- Joel* <- Samuel* <- Elkanah* <- Jeroham* <- Eliel* <- Toah* <- Zuph* <- Elkanah* <- Mahath* <- Amasai* <- Elkanah* <- Joel* <- Azariah* <- Zephaniah* <- Tahath* <- Assir* <- Ebiasaph* <- Korah* <- Izhar* <- Kohath* <- Levi* <- Israel

-Heman's associate, Asaph, who served at his right hand* <- Berekiah* <- Shimea* <- Michael* <- Baaseiah* <- Malkijah* <- Ethni* <- Zerah* <- Adaiah* <- Ethan* <- Zimmah* <- Shimei* <- Jahath* <- Gershon* <- Levi

-Heman's associates, the Merarites, served at his left hand: Ethan* <- Kishi* <- Abdi* <- Malluch* <- Hashabiah* <- Amaziah* <- Hilkiah* <- Amzi* <- Bani* <- Shemer* <- Mahli* <- Mushi* <- Merari* <-Levi

Their fellow Levites were assigned other duties at the tabernacle, the house of God.  Aaron and his descendants presented offerings on the altars of burnt offerings and incense, as well as performed the duties of the Most Holy Place.  They made atonement for the sins of Israel, in accordance with the commands of Moses, God's servant.

Aaron -> *Eleazar -> *Phinehas -> *Abishua -> *Bukki -> *Uzzi -> *Zerahiah -> *Meraioth -> *Amariah -> *Ahitub -> *Zadok -> *Ahimaaz

These are the locations of their settlements allotted as their territory.  The first lot given to the descendants of Aaron, of the Kohathite clan: Hebron in Judah, with its surrounding pasturelands.  The fields and villages were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
-Hebron: city of refuge, Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Hilen, Debir, Ashan, Juttah, Beth Shemesh, and their pasturelands
-given by the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, Anathoth, and their pasturelands
The remaining descendants of Kohath were allotted 10 towns from the clans of the half-tribe of Manasseh.  This makes 23 towns for the Kohathites.

The descendants of Gershon, by clan, were allotted 13 towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali, and were allotted Bashan from Manasseh.

The descendants of Merari, by clan, were allotted 12 towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

The Israelites, including the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, gave the Levites these towns and pasturelands.

Some Kohathite clans were given territory towns from the tribe of Ephraim: in the hill country - Shechem: city of refuge, Gezer, Jokmeam, Beth Horon, Aijalon, Gath Rimmon, and their pasturelands.
-from Manasseh to the remaining Kohathite clans: Aner, Bileam, and their pasturelands

The Gershonites received - from Manasseh: Golan in Bashan, Ashtaroth, and their pasturelands
-from Asher: Mashal, Abdon, Hukok, Rehob, and their pasturelands
-from Napthali:  Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, Kiriathaim, and their pasturelands

The Merarites received - from Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono, Taber, and their pasturelands
-from Reuben accross the Jordan, east of Jericho: Bezer in the desert, Jahzah, Kedemoth, Mephaath, and their pasturelands
-from Gad: Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heshbon, Jazer, and their pasturelands

Lori's Thoughts:

I love the fact that we can minister through music.  That's how I communicate best with God - praising Him through song and dance.  It talks about David dancing in praise, in the Bible.  Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by God's love that I physically can't contain it.  I have to move.  I think that's what David meant when he said, "My cup runneth over", in Psalm 23.

Well, there you have it.  God promised to provide a home for the Israelites.  It seems like the Levites were prosperous.  Since they were designated as the priests for the tabernacle, God's dwelling place, they did not receive payment for their work.  So, the other tribes needed to give them a portion of their possessions.  I think this is the origin of tithing - giving a portion of what God has provided for us back to Him.  This goes to support and ensure that ministry continues.  I worried about this when I was in college.  I was working almost full-time to pay for tuition, parking, books, food, and rent.  A mentor told me that he didn't pay tithe in college either.  There are other ways to dedicate yourself to God - you're time, for example.  Now that I have a full-time job, I tithe 10% of my paycheck, and I spend and hour of my time with God every day.  And, you know what, I'm not rich or anything, but God has blessed me with the ability to bless others.  I have never been destitute.  Talk about peace.