1 Chronicles 6 60

1 Chronicles 6:60 kjv

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.

1 Chronicles 6:60 nkjv

And from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its common-lands, Alemeth with its common-lands, and Anathoth with its common-lands. All their cities among their families were thirteen.

1 Chronicles 6:60 niv

And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. The total number of towns distributed among the Kohathite clans came to thirteen.

1 Chronicles 6:60 esv

and from the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon, Geba with its pasturelands, Alemeth with its pasturelands, and Anathoth with its pasturelands. All their cities throughout their clans were thirteen.

1 Chronicles 6:60 nlt

And from the territory of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, each with its pasturelands. So thirteen towns were given to the descendants of Aaron.

1 Chronicles 6 verses

1 Chronicles 6 60 Meaning

This verse specifies three cities, Geba, Allemeth, and Anathoth, along with their surrounding pasture lands, which were allotted to the descendants of Aaron from the tribe of Benjamin. It continues the detailed record of cities divinely assigned for the dwelling of priests and Levites, illustrating God's organized provision for His ministers within Israel.

1 Chronicles 6 60 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 6 primarily focuses on the genealogies of the tribe of Levi, emphasizing the lineage of the priests descended from Aaron, particularly after the return from Babylonian exile. This comprehensive genealogical record served to re-establish the rightful order of priestly service and land distribution. Verses 54-81 detail the cities allocated to the Levites, starting with those specifically assigned to the Kohathite branch, the sons of Aaron, who served as priests. Verse 60 falls within this specific listing of cities designated for the priests, providing meticulous details of their habitation, underscoring God's precise fulfillment of His covenant promises regarding the land and the support for His chosen ministers. Historically, these cities ensured that the priests and Levites, who did not receive an tribal inheritance of land for farming, were nonetheless provided for by all of Israel, allowing them to focus on their sacred duties and spiritual instruction.

1 Chronicles 6 60 Word analysis

• And out of the tribe of Benjamin:

  • This phrase indicates the tribal affiliation of the allocated land. It demonstrates a continuation of a systematic and organized distribution of territories, specifically drawing from the land already given to the tribe of Benjamin. This highlights divine order and careful planning in the allotment process, not random placement.
  • Hebrew: מִמַּטֵּה בִנְיָמִן (mi-maṭtêh Binyamin) - literally "from the tribe of Benjamin." "Mattah" (מַטֶּה) refers to a rod or staff, by extension, a tribal division.

• Geba,

  • A significant city located strategically in Benjaminite territory, near the border with Judah. Its name (גֶּבַע, Gevaʿ) means "hill," reflecting its geographical feature. Geba appears frequently in historical narratives, often as a military strongpoint or a boundary marker, suggesting its importance as a place of residence for priests who would minister to nearby populations.

• and Allemeth

  • Hebrew: וְעָלְמֶת (ve-ʿAlmeth). This city is widely understood by scholars to be the same as "Almon" (עַלְמוֹן, ʿAlmon) mentioned in Joshua 21:18. The slight difference in spelling is a textual variant, common in ancient manuscripts. Both forms likely refer to the same Benjamite priestly city, though less prominent in biblical narratives than Anathoth or Geba. It demonstrates the meticulous recording of even less famous allocated towns.

• with its suburbs,

  • Hebrew: מִגְרָשֶׁיהָ (migrasheha), which translates to "its pasture lands" or "its outlying lands." This term refers to the essential open ground surrounding the city gates, designated for the livestock of the priests/Levites. It was critical for their economic sustenance, as Levites did not farm tribal land like other Israelites. This detail underscores God's complete provision, covering both residential and practical economic needs for His ministers. These were explicitly measured and demarcated areas.

• and Anathoth

  • Hebrew: וַעֲנָתוֹת (va-ʿAnatôt). One of the most famous priestly cities, primarily known as the hometown of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 1:1). As a priestly city, it served as a spiritual center, a place of teaching and religious practice. Jeremiah's prophetic ministry against the corruption of his own priestly class in Anathoth makes its identification as a priestly city particularly poignant, highlighting the contrast between God's perfect provision and human failure.

• with its suburbs.

  • Same meaning as above: includes the surrounding essential pasture lands. This reiteration emphasizes that for each named city, the full complement of living space and sustenance lands was included in the divine grant to the priests.

• Geba, and Allemeth with its suburbs, and Anathoth with its suburbs.

  • This grouping presents the full extent of the provision. The list is short, emphasizing that for the priestly allotment from Benjamin, these specific locations and their sustenance areas constituted their heritage. It implies completeness and specific identification. The repetition of "with its suburbs" clarifies that these ancillary lands were integral to the grant for each location, crucial for the priests’ ability to fulfill their calling.

1 Chronicles 6 60 Bonus section

The Chronicler’s repetition of these Levitical city lists (also found in Joshua 21) serves a vital theological and historical purpose, especially for the post-exilic community. It wasn't merely a factual regurgitation but a reaffirmation of the divine land covenant's fulfillment and God's consistent provision for His people and their spiritual leaders. The detailed listing underscores the legitimacy and continuity of the priesthood, offering assurance to a returning community that God's plans for Israel, including their structured religious life, remained steadfast despite their exile. The mention of "Allemeth" in 1 Chronicles versus "Almon" in Joshua highlights textual variants and the organic nature of ancient scriptural transmission, yet without changing the fundamental message of priestly allotment and divine care.

1 Chronicles 6 60 Commentary

1 Chronicles 6:60 succinctly confirms God's faithful and orderly provision for His priesthood, specifically those descendants of Aaron living within the territory of Benjamin. This meticulous record by the Chronicler highlights several key points: the precise fulfillment of Mosaic commands regarding Levitical cities (Numbers 35, Joshua 21), God's direct involvement in the distribution of land, and the practical means by which the priests and Levites were sustained to perform their duties. The inclusion of "suburbs" (pasture lands) is a vital detail, demonstrating that divine provision encompassed not only dwellings but also the necessary resources for daily living. This ensured that those consecrated to sacred service would be fully supported by the community, reflecting a biblical principle of caring for those dedicated to God's work. The Chronicler's emphasis on these details underscored the post-exilic community's commitment to re-establishing Israel's religious infrastructure according to divine pattern.