CAATH (Hebrew Qēhāth). — Second son of Levi (Ex. 6:16; Num. 3:17; 1 Chr. 5:27–29 [6:1–3]), born in Canaan (Gen. 46:11) and died at the age of 133 (Ex. 6:18). Among the clans of his four sons—Amram, Isaar, Hebron, and Uzziel—the most renowned was that of the first (Amram), from whose lineage Aaron (q.v.) arose, the patriarch of the high priests and priests (Ex. 6:20).
Since the priests, who were superior to the Levites, were called “sons of Aaron,” the term “Kohathites” or descendants of Kohath (except in Josh. 21:4) came to designate that group of Levites charged with transporting the sacred vessels after they had been wrapped in cloths by the priests. They were, however, forbidden—under penalty of death—from seeing or touching the sacred furnishings when they were uncovered (Num. 4:15–20). They were also to prepare each Sabbath the cloths of the shewbread (1 Chr. 9:32) and to carry the ark on their shoulders (Num. 7:1–9; 1 Chr. 15:2–15). The Levites descended from Gershon (q.v.) or Merari (q.v.) had lesser offices, such as singers or gatekeepers. Nevertheless, Heman, director of sacred song in David’s time, was a Kohathite (1 Chr. 6:18–32 [33–38]), as were also some gatekeepers descended from Isaar through the line of Korah (1 Chr. 9:19).