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1 Chronicles 15 · a question people ask

Was Ethan the son of Kishi, or the son of Kushaiah?

In the text

Here are the two verses as they stand. Chapter 6 names "Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch" (6:44), among "the sons of Merari" (6:44). This chapter names, "of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah" (15:17). In Hebrew they are two names, Qishi and Qushayahu, and each is found only once in the Hebrew Bible. Strong's traces both to the same root: Kishi is "from 6983", and Kushaiah "from the passive participle of 6983 and 3050". Neither chapter says whether these are two names for one man, and this answer doesn't go past them. Chapter 6's honest question on Heman and Ethan sets 6:44 and 15:17 side by side too.

The verses

“On the left hand their brothers the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,”
1 Chronicles 6:44 · World English Bible
“So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;”
1 Chronicles 15:17 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Chronicles 15

1 Chronicles 15: According to the ordinance

David's reason that only the Levites may carry the ark (15:2) uses the very Hebrew verbs of Deuteronomy 10:8, "to bear" and "to minister to him". And his "Sanctify yourselves" and the LORD who "broke out" (15:12-13) are the two verbs of the LORD's warning at Sinai (Exodus 19:22).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions