Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 6:54

Now these [are] their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.

54 60 (= Jos 21:10-19). The [thirteen] cities of the Aaronites

54. throughout their castles ] R.V. according to their encampments. The Heb. word is used of the circular encampments of nomads.

their coasts ] R.V. their borders.

the lot ] R.V. the first lot (cp. Jos 21:4; Jos 21:10).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

54 81 (= 39 66 according to the Heb. division). The forty-eight Levitic cities

This section has been adopted with some rearrangement from the parallel passage in Joshua. In Joshua the number of cities taken from each group of tribes and given to its respective division of the Levites is first stated, no city being named; and next the names of the cities are given under each division of the Levites and under the name of the tribe from which the cities were taken. In Chron. the cities given to the Aaronites are first mentioned by name and reckoned to be thirteen In number (1Ch 6:55-60); next the cities given to each remaining division of the Levites are reckoned shortly by number only (1Ch 6:61-63); lastly, these cities are separately reckoned at length by name only (1Ch 6:66-81). This rearrangement is not happy; perhaps the Chronicler originally intended to give the Aaronite cities only by name as well as number, and so 1Ch 6:66-81 (containing the names of the non-Aaronite cities) may be a supplement to the original text. Notice that no names of cities taken from Simeon are given; cp. 1Ch 6:65; Jos 21:9.

(Critical Note on 54 81.)

The text of the passage has suffered in transcription. In 1Ch 6:55-60 eleven names are given, but thirteen are reckoned (1Ch 6:60), the explanation being that the names Juttah and Gibeon (Jos 21:16-17) have fallen out. In 1Ch 6:61, after or before Manasseh the names of Ephraim and Dan have fallen out (cp. 1Ch 6:66 and Jos 21:5); Manasseh contributed only two out of the ten cities. Before 1Ch 6:69 we must restore from Jos 21:23 the words, And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs. In 1Ch 6:77 or immediately before 1Ch 6:78 two names of cities of Zebulun have fallen out; cp. 1Ch 6:63 (“twelve cities”) with 1Ch 6:77-81 (ten cities only are named).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Theirs was the lot – i. e. the first lot. The Kohathites had the first lot among the Levitical families, as being the family whereto the high priesthood was attached (compare Jos 21:10).

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 54. Theirs was the lot.] All the tribes and families obtained their respective inheritances by lot, but to the sons of Aaron was the first lot; and so the Syriac and Arabic have understood this place. The first lot, says Jarchi, fell to Judah, that they might give to the priests and the Levites the cities marked below. See an account of the possessions of the priests and Levites, Josh. 20, 21.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Or, this lot or portion which here follows. Or, the first lot, as appears by the sequel.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Ver. 54-81. Now these are their dwelling places,…. The dwelling places of the priests and Levites, assigned and given to them in the several tribes of Israel; and the account of them agrees with that in

Jos 21:1 with some few variations of names of places, which have been there observed: see the notes there; only in 1Ch 6:57 two cities are omitted, Juttah and Gibeon, through want of care in transcribing, since they are said to be “thirteen”, as they should be, whereas eleven only are mentioned. The Jews say h, the cities of the suburbs (those here mentioned) ceased from the time the first temple was destroyed; and yet Ezra, who lived after the captivity, and the building the second temple, here gives a very particular account of them; the suburbs belonging to every city, which he particularly mentions, were 2000 cubits, both to the cities of refuge, and the rest, Nu 35:5 Hebron, the first city mentioned in the next verse, was a city of refuge, and had suburbs of such a space; and it is remarkable, that some of the temples with the Heathens, which were asylums, or places of refuge, had the space of 2000 paces assigned them for the same sanctity and privilege i.

h T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 48. 2. i Tacit. Annal. l. 3. c. 62.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(6:39-66). Register of the cities of the Levites, which agrees on the whole with the register in Josh 21, if we except different forms of some names of cities, and many corruptions of the text, but differing in many ways from it in form; whence we gather that it is not derived from the book of Joshua, but from some other ancient authority.

1Ch 6:54

(6:39). 1Ch 6:54 contains the superscription, “These are their dwelling-places according to their districts, in their boundaries.” So far the superscription belongs to the whole catalogue of cities. The suffixes point back to the , 1Ch 6:1. , from , to surround in a circle, signifies in the older language a “nomad village” (cf. Gen 25:16; Num 31:10); here, on the contrary, it is sued in a derivative sense for “district,” to denote the circle of dwellings which were granted to the Levites in the cities of the other tribes. The following words, “For the sons of Aaron of the family of Kohath,” etc., are the superscription to 1Ch 6:54-61, and together with the confirmatory clause, “for to him the (first) lot had fallen,” are a repetition of Jos 21:10, where, however, is found after , and has perhaps been here dropped out.

1Ch 6:55-56

(6:40-41). 1Ch 6:55 and 1Ch 6:56 correspond almost verbally with Jos 21:11 and Jos 21:12, as 1Ch 6:57-60 also do with Jos 21:13-19. As we have already in our remarks on Joshua commented upon the whole catalogue, it will not be necessary to do more here than to group together the errors and defects of our text.

1Ch 6:57-60

(6:42-45). The plural is incorrect, for only one of the cities thereafter named, viz., Hebron, was a city of refuge for homicides, and in Jos 21:13 it is correctly written . After retfA the usual addition is omitted, 1Ch 6:59. Before Bethshemesh the name Juttah has been lost, and before Geba (1Ch 6:60) the name Gibeon, so that only eleven cities are mentioned, but the sum is rightly given as thirteen. Instead of the name , 1Ch 6:58, there is found in Jos 21:15 and Jos 15:51 ; instead of , Jos 21:16, we have in 1Ch 6:59 the more correct name ; and the name , 1Ch 6:60, is in Jos 21:18 .

1Ch 6:61-63

(6:46-48). Summary statements of the number of cities which the remaining Kohathites, the Gershonites, and the Merarites received in the domains of the various tribes, corresponding to Jos 21:5-7. In 1Ch 6:61 occurs a hiatus; between and the words “Ephraim and of the tribe of Dan and” have been omitted. In 1Ch 6:48 the words “of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan” are quite intelligible without , which is found in Joshua.

1Ch 6:64-65

(6:49-50). 1Ch 6:64 and 1Ch 6:65 are not here in their proper place; for their contents show that they should be in the middle of the thirty-ninth verse, after the general superscription, and before the words “for the sons of Aaron.” They are found also in Jos 21:8-9, as a superscription before the enumeration by name of the cities assigned to the priests; but how the confusion has arisen in our text cannot be certainly ascertained. Bertheau thinks “the wish to make mention of the cities of the high-priestly family at the beginning of the enumeration, has induced the author of the Chronicle to communicate the introductory remarks belonging to the lists of cities with other statements as to the tribal domains, only after the enumeration of the cities of the sons of Aaron.” By that supposition the position of 1Ch 6:61 is certainly explained, but not that of 1Ch 6:64 and 1Ch 6:65; for even with the supposed desire, 1Ch 6:64 and 1Ch 6:65 should have been placed before 1Ch 6:61. But besides, this, the clause in 1Ch 6:54 neither has anything to connect it with the preceding superscription nor a verb; and the subject of , 1Ch 6:55, is also wanting. That which was missed before 1Ch 6:54 and in 1Ch 6:55 is contained in 1Ch 6:64 and 1Ch 6:65; whence it is manifest that 1Ch 6:64 and 1Ch 6:65 ought to stand before 1Ch 6:54, and have by some inexplicable accident fallen out of their proper place, and have come into an unsuitable position after 1Ch 6:63. The plurals and , instead of the singulars and , as in Jos 21:9, bring the words into more manifest correspondence with the circumstances, since the subject of , “the sons of Israel,” may be easily supplied from 1Ch 6:53, and many names of cities are mentioned. The masc. instead of the fem. is probably only an oversight. With 1Ch 6:66 begins the enumeration of the cities of the other Levitic families only summarily given in 1Ch 6:61, which forms a very suitable continuation of 1Ch 6:63.

1Ch 6:66-70

(6:51-55). The cities of the remaining Kohathites; cf. Jos 21:20-26. For we must read , for the preposition gives no suitable sense: it is never used to introduce a subject. The sense is, “as regards the families of the sons of Kohath, the cities of their dominion in the tribe of Ephraim were (the following). They gave them.” The plur. instead of the sing., as in 1Ch 6:57. As to the four cities of the tribe of Ephraim, 1Ch 6:52, 1Ch 6:53, see on Jos 21:21-22, where instead of we find the name . Before 1Ch 6:54 a whole verse has been lost, which was as follows: “And of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and her pastures, Gibbethon and her pastures;” cf. Jos 21:23. Then follows 1Ch 6:69, which contains the names of the two other cities of the tribe of Dan. In 1Ch 6:70 we have the names of the cities of half Manasseh, Aner and Bileam, i.e., Ibleam (Jos 17:11), correctly given; but the names Taanach and Gath-rimmon in Jos 21:25 are incorrect, and have been inserted through a transcriber’s error, arising from the copyist’s eye having wandered to the preceding verse. The singular , 1Ch 6:70, is incorrect; and the plural is to be substituted (as in 1Ch 6:66). The words are a subscription, which corresponds to in 1Ch 6:67.

1Ch 6:71-76

(6:56-61). The cities of the Gershonites; cf. Jos 21:27-33. “To the sons of Gershon (they gave) out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan and Ashtaroth;” see on Jos 21:27. In 1Ch 6:72, is a mistake for , Jos 21:28 (see on Jos 19:20); in 1Ch 6:73, for the more correct , Jos 21:29, a city which was also called , Jos 19:21, or had been so called originally; and for (Josh.), as the city is called also in Jos 19:21. It cannot be determined whether is a transcriber’s error, or another name for . In 1Ch 6:74, (which should perhaps be pointed ) is a contracted form of , Josh. 31:30; Jos 19:26; and in 1Ch 6:75, is probably an error for , Jos 21:31; Jos 19:25, occasioned by its being confounded with in the tribe of Naphtali, Jos 19:34. In 1Ch 6:76 the fact that Kadesh was a city of refuge is not mentioned, as it is in Jos 21:32. is a shortened form of , Jos 21:32; for this city is called in Jos 19:35 , from the warm springs in the neighbourhood. Finally, Kirjathaim is contracted in Jos 21:32 into .

1Ch 6:77

(6:62). The cities of the Merarites; cf. Jos 21:34-37. “To the sons of Merari the remaining,” sc. Levites. In Jos 21:34 it is more clearly put , for the remaining Merarites are not spoken of. What is intended to be said is, that the Merarites, alone of the Levites, are still to be mentioned. In the tribe of Zebulun, in 1Ch 6:77, only two cities are named, Rimmon and Tabor, instead of the four – Jokneam, Karthah, Dimnah, and Nahalal – in Jos 21:34. The first two names have been dropped out of our text, while corresponds to the of Joshua, but is a more correct reading, since occurs in Jos 19:13 among the cities of Zebulun, while is not mentioned; and must consequently correspond to the in Joshua. Nahalal occurs in Jos 19:15 and in Jdg 1:30, in the form Nahalol, among the cities of Zebulun, and consequently seems to be the more correct name, but has not yet been pointed out with certainty, since its identification with Mlul (Arabic mlul ), south-west from Nazareth, rests upon very slender foundation. Bertheau’s conjecture that the name of the city has been dropped out, and that of a more exact description of its position, perhaps , Jos 19:12, only the last word has remained, is no more probable than that of Movers, that instead of the name of the city, only the neighbourhood in which the city lay, viz., Mount Tabor, is mentioned.

1Ch 6:78-79

(6:63-64). 1Ch 6:78-79 are wanting in some editions of the book of Joshua, but are found in many MSS and in the oldest printed copies, and have been omitted only by an oversight; see on Jos 21:30., note 2. As to the city Bezer, see on Deu 4:43; and concerning Jahzah, Kedemoth, Mephaath, vide on Jos 13:18.

1Ch 6:80-81

(6:65-66). For Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge (Jos 21:36), and Mahanaim, see on Jos 13:26; and for Heshbon and Jazer, on Num 21:28, Num 21:32.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

The Cities of the Levites.

B. C. 1444.

      54 Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.   55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.   56 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.   57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,   58 And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,   59 And Ashan with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs:   60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.   61 And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.   62 And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.   63 Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.   64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.   65 And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.   66 And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.   67 And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,   68 And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Beth-horon with her suburbs,   69 And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs:   70 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.   71 Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:   72 And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,   73 And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:   74 And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,   75 And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:   76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.   77 Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:   78 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,   79 Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:   80 And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,   81 And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.

      We have here an account of the Levites’ cities. They are here called their castles (v. 54), not only because walled and fortified, and well guarded by the country (for it is the interest of every nation to protect its ministers), but because they and their possessions were, in a particular manner, the care of the divine providence: as God was their portion, so God was their protection; and a cottage will be a castle to those that abide under the shadow of the Almighty. This account is much the same with that which we had, Josh. xxi. We need not be critical in comparing them (what good will it do us?) nor will it do any hurt to the credit of the holy scripture if the names of some of the places be not spelt just the same here as they were there. We know it is common for cities to have several names. Sarum and Salisbury, Salop and Shrewsbury, are more unlike than Hilen (v. 58) and Holon (Josh. xxi. 15), Ashan (v. 59) and Ain (Josh. xxi. 16), Alemeth (v. 60) and Almon (Josh. xxi. 18); and time changes names. We are only to observe that in this appointment of cities for the Levites God took care, 1. For the accomplishment of dying Jacob’s prediction concerning this tribe, that it should be scattered in Israel, Gen. xlix. 7. 2. For the diffusing of the knowledge of himself and his law to all parts of the land of Israel. Every tribe had Levites’ cities in it; and so every room was furnished with a candle, so that none could be ignorant of his duty but it was either his own fault or the Levites’. 3. For a comfortable maintenance for those that ministered in holy things. Besides their tithes and offerings, they had glebe-lands and cities of their own to dwell in. Some of the most considerable cities of Israel fell to the Levites’ lot. Every tribe had benefit by the Levites, and therefore every tribe must contribute to their support. Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth, and do it cheerfully.

Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary

Levite Cities, Verses 54-81

The King James translation “castles” is inaccurate, the actual meaning of the word being “settlements” in verse 54. As the enumeration of the Levite cities begins, Hebron is mentioned first and is given particular attention. It was the old city of the giants and had been allotted to Caleb at his request. Therefore careful note is made to show that it remained his city, although the suburbs (areas immediately adjacent to the city walls) were given the Levites for their pastures and groves. The outlying fields were reserved for Caleb. Of the other Levite cities given out of Judah the more notable were Libnah, one of the larger, and Beth-shemesh, which was the site where the ark was returned to israei from the Philistines (I Samuel-Chapter 6).

Among the Levite cities in Benjamin the most noted was probably that of Anathoth. This was very near to Jerusalem, and was the town in which the family of Jeremiah lived. These cities of Judah and Benjamin were occupied by Levitical families of the priests, descendants of Aaron.

The rest of the Kohathites (besides the priests) had their cities in the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim. The Gershonite families received their cities in Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh east of the Jordan The Merarites had cities in Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

More of the Levite cities are stated by name beginning with verse 67. Among these were Shechem, a city of refuge, and one of the chief cities of the tribe of Ephraim; Beth-horon and Aijalon, prominent in Joshua’s defeat of the Canaanite confederation when he commanded sun and moon to stand still (Joshua – Chapter 10); Golan, another city of refuge, east of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee); Kedesh, the old Canaanite capital in the north, and another city of refuge, in the tribe of Naphtali, west of Chinnereth; Ramoth, in the center of Gilead, east 6f Jordan, prominent in many incidents of Israelite history; Bezer, in Reuben, the southern city of refuge east of Jordan; Mahanaim, refuge of both the family of Saul following his death in battle, and of David when he fled from Absalom (2Sa 2:11; 2Sa 17:24); Heshbon and Jazer, both prominent in Israelites’ conquest of Sihon, king of the Amorites as Israel came out the wilderness under Moses (Num 21:21 -32).

Note these lessons: 1) God wants His ministering servants wholly devoted to His work; 2) many of the high priests of Israel were significant men of the Scriptures; 3) God has established order among His servants; 4) God desires beauty in His worship; 5) the Levites were given houses in prominent cities and in insignificant towns, that they might be examples and leaders to all Israel.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(54) Render, And these were their seats according to their encampments within their border. This, as the heading to all that follows, should be stopped off therefrom. It does not occur in Joshua 21, and may indicate an intermediate source used by the chronicler. The variant spellings of proper names, many of which are not mere copyists blunders, point in the same direction.

Of the sons of Aaron.Rather, to the sons of Aaron, of the clan of the Kohathitesfor to them had fallen the lotthey gave to them Hebron, &c. Jos. 21:10 has, for to them the lot had fallen first.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

(54-81) The Levitical cities, beginning with those of the Aavonites, the principal branch of the Kohathite clan. This list deals with the same topic as Jos. 21:3-40, with which, upon the whole, it is in substantial agreement. 1Ch. 6:54-60 are parallel to Jos. 21:10-19.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

54. Throughout their castles Rather, according to their castles, or encampments. These “castles” are thought by some to have been some kind of watchtower, from which the trumpets were sounded a use similar to that made by the Moslems of their minarets. But most expositors, as Gesenius, Furst, Keil, Zochler, take the word in the sense of hamlet, district, or circle of dwellings, such as were assigned to the Levites among the several tribes.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The Cities of the Levites

v. 54. Now, these are their dwelling-places throughout their castles in their coasts, literally, “by their districts in their border,” of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites; for theirs was the lot. Cf Joshua 21.

v. 55. And they gave them Hebron, in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof, that is, the pasture-land, round about it.

v. 56. But the fields of the city, the land under cultivation, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, Jos 14:13; Jos 15:13.

v. 57. And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, for those guilty of involuntary manslaughter, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with their suburbs,

v. 58. and Hilen (or Holon) with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,

v. 59. and Ashan (or Ain) with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs;

v. 60. and out of the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities, the names of the remaining two being given Jos 21:16-17.

v. 61. And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half-tribe, namely, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities, Jos 21:26.

v. 62. And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, east of the Jordan, thirteen cities.

v. 63. Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, in the southern section of the country east of Jordan, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities, Jos 21:7.

v. 64. And the children of Israel gave to the Levites, both the priests and the three families into which they were divided, these cities with their suburbs.

v. 65. And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, included within that of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.

v. 66. And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath, so far as the remaining Kohathites were concerned, they had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.

v. 67. And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, whose total number was six, Shechem, in Mount Ephraim, with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,

v. 68. and Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,

v. 69. and Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs;

v. 70. and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, the part west of Jordan: Aner with her suburbs and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath. Cf Jos 21:22-35.

v. 71. Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, east of Jordan, Golan, in Bashan, with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs;

v. 72. and out of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,

v. 73. and Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs;

v. 74. and out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,

v. 75. and Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs;

v. 76. and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh, in Galilee, with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.

v. 77. Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs;

v. 78. and on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, in the wilderness, with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,

v. 79. Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs;

v. 80. and out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth, in Gilead, with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

v. 81. and Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs. “As to these cities that were assigned to the Levites, they were widely remote and separated partly in fulfilment of Jacob’s prophecy, Gen 49:7, and partly that the various districts of the country might obtain a competent supply of teachers, who might instruct the people in the knowledge and animate them to the observance of a law which had so important a bearing on the promotion both of their private happiness and their national prosperity. “

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

1Ch 6:54. For theirs was the lot The first lot. Syriac and Houbigant. See Jos 21:10.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

The sacred Scripture, having given a faithful register of the Levites names, in those verses relates their dwelling-places. Jacob, when dying, foretold that Levi should be divided in Jacob, and scattered in Israel. And here we find his prophecy accomplished. Gen 49:7 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

1Ch 6:54 Now these [are] their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.

Ver. 54. Throughout their castles. ] Or, Palaces. The priests dwelt not in poor cottages, but in fair and fitting houses.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

their dwelling places. Compare Jos 21:4-42. This was the basis of their claim for reinstatement after their return from Babylon. Probably many of these places had changed their names in spelling or otherwise since those days. This accounts for all the variations.

castles = districts.

coasts = borders.

was the lot. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6): “was the [first] lot”.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

1Ch 6:54-60

1Ch 6:54-60

“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), to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it; but the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs, and Hilen with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs, and Ashan with its suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; 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.”

E.M. Zerr:

1Ch 6:54. These refers to places yet to be named in the following verses. Castles refers to walled towns or cities. The tribe of Levi was not to have a general allotment of land as did the others, but was to be given cities throughout the whole land. Read carefully Num 35:1-15 for particulars concerning this subject of the Levitical possessions. Among the cities to be given the Levites were 6 used as refuge for the slayer, and 3 of them will be named in this chapter. Coasts means borders or territories regardless of whether land or water is under consideration.

1Ch 6:55. Hebron was one of the cities of refuge given to the Levites. See my comments at Num 35:4-5 on the meaning of “suburbs.”

1Ch 6:56. Caleb had made a special request for this territory, and Moses gave it to him in recognition of his faithfulness in wholly following the Lord. (Jos 14:6-14.)

Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary

am 2561, bc 1443

these are: Num 35:1-8, Jos 21:3-8

castles: Gen 25:16, Num 31:10, Psa 69:25, Pro 18:10, Pro 18:11, Eph 3:8

of the families: Jos 21:4, Jos 21:5

for theirs: Jos 21:4

Reciprocal: Num 35:7 – General Jos 14:4 – save cities 1Ch 13:2 – their cities and suburbs 2Ch 31:15 – the cities 2Ch 31:19 – the fields Neh 11:36 – And of

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1Ch 6:54. Throughout their castles So called, not only because walled and well guarded by the country, but because they and their possessions were in a particular manner the care of Divine Providence. As God was their portion, so God was their protector. And a cottage will be a castle to those that abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Theirs was the lot Or, the first lot.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

6:54 Now these [are] their {l} dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the {m} lot.

(l) Or, cities which were given to the Levites.

(m) They were first appointed, and prepared for.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes