1 Chronicles 6:62 kjv
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.
1 Chronicles 6:62 nkjv
And to the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, they gave thirteen cities from the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
1 Chronicles 6:62 niv
The descendants of Gershon, clan by clan, were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali, and from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that is in Bashan.
1 Chronicles 6:62 esv
To the Gershomites according to their clans were allotted thirteen cities out of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Manasseh in Bashan.
1 Chronicles 6:62 nlt
The descendants of Gershon received by sacred lots thirteen towns from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and from the Bashan area of Manasseh, east of the Jordan.
1 Chronicles 6 62 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 21:27-33 | "And to the sons of Gershom, of the families of the Levites, were given... thirteen cities with their pasturelands." | Direct parallel; lists the same tribes & 13 cities. |
| Num 35:1-8 | "The LORD spoke to Moses... command the people of Israel to give to the Levites, out of the inheritance of their possession, cities to dwell in." | Divine command for Levitical cities. |
| Lev 25:32-34 | "The cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time... they are their possession." | Levitical cities were inalienable. |
| Num 3:21-26 | "The Gershonites... had charge of the tabernacle and the tent... with their coverings..." | Gershomites' specific duties with the Tabernacle. |
| Num 4:24-28 | "This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and bearing burdens: they shall carry..." | Detailed instructions for Gershomite carrying tasks. |
| Deut 33:10 | "They shall teach your statutes to Jacob, and your law to Israel; they shall put incense before you..." | Levi's duty to teach and mediate. |
| Deut 18:6-8 | "If a Levite comes... with all his desire... then he may minister... and receive the same portion..." | Levites had no land inheritance, depended on others. |
| 1 Chr 6:61 | "To the rest of the sons of Kohath... thirteen cities." | Preceding context, other Levite clans' cities. |
| 1 Chr 6:71-76 | "To the sons of Gershom were given... from Manasseh... Issachar... Asher... Naphtali... eight cities." | Confirms Gershomite allocation, though numbering differs from 6:62 by combining two groups. (Note: These list the specific cities from the same tribes) |
| Ezra 2:70 | "So the priests, the Levites, and some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns." | Post-exilic resettlement of Levites. |
| Neh 11:3, 20 | "Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem... And the rest of Israel, with the priests and Levites, were in all the cities of Judah..." | Post-exilic distribution of Levites. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth..." | The Levite's role as teachers and guides. |
| Josh 21:43-45 | "Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give... Not one word of all the good promises failed..." | God's faithfulness in fulfilling promises, including land. |
| Heb 7:11-19 | "If perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood... then why was there still need for another priest?" | Transitional nature of Levitical priesthood to Christ. |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation... that you may proclaim the excellencies of him..." | New Testament fulfillment: all believers are priests. |
| Rev 1:6 | "and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory..." | Believers' identity as spiritual priests. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God." | Practical implication of NT priesthood (living sacrifice). |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple... the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | Principle of support for those in ministry. |
| Deut 17:9-11 | "You shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge... and they shall declare to you the verdict." | Levites' role in judicial matters. |
| Num 1:47-54 | "Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list... But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony..." | Levites set apart, not numbered for war. |
| John 4:23-24 | "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth..." | Shift from geographical worship centers to spiritual. |
| Luke 10:7 | "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages." | Support for ministers in NT context. |
| Num 8:20-22 | "And Aaron and his sons did for the Levites all that the LORD commanded Moses... So the Levites purified themselves..." | Consecration of the Levites for service. |
1 Chronicles 6 verses
1 Chronicles 6 62 Meaning
1 Chronicles 6:62 records a specific allocation of territory and cities to the Gershomite branch of the Levites. It states that thirteen cities were assigned to them, distributed across four specific tribes: Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh located in Bashan. This meticulous detailing highlights the divinely ordained provision and precise organization for the Levites, who, unlike other tribes, did not receive a continuous tribal land inheritance but were strategically dispersed among all the tribes to fulfill their sacred duties.
1 Chronicles 6 62 Context
First Chronicles Chapter 6 focuses extensively on the lineage and assigned roles of the Levites, a pivotal tribe dedicated to the service of the Lord. Following genealogies for Aaron's descendants (priests) and other major Levitical families (Kohath, Gershom, Merari), the chapter transitions to describe the practical fulfillment of God's command regarding their inheritance: the Levitical cities. Unlike the other eleven tribes that received large territorial inheritances, the Levites were not allotted a contiguous tribal land. Instead, they were distributed among all the tribes, dwelling in specific cities along with surrounding pasturelands. This arrangement was crucial for their mission of teaching God's Law, administering justice, and serving the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple), making divine presence and instruction accessible throughout Israel.
Verse 62, specifically, lists the tribes from which cities were designated for the Gershomites. This detail emphasizes the chronicler's concern for meticulous record-keeping, essential for the post-exilic community in re-establishing their identity, claiming their heritage, and properly resuming their divinely ordained roles in the restored community. The precise enumeration underscores God's faithfulness in providing for His servants and highlights the structured, divine order intended for the nation of Israel. It serves as an affirmation that despite displacement and exile, God's original commands and provisions remain valid and will be re-established.
1 Chronicles 6 62 Word analysis
- And to the sons of Gershom: (וְלִבְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹם - wəliḇnê ḡêršōm)
- Gershom (Gerēšōm): The firstborn son of Levi (Gen 46:11, Exod 6:16). His name means "a sojourner there" (Exod 2:22), given by Moses for his son born while sojourning in Midian, reminding of their wandering or exiled status. The Gershomites were one of the three major clans of Levites, primarily responsible for the tabernacle's coverings and hangings.
- according to their families: (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - ləmišpəḥōṯām)
- families (mishpachah): Signifies clans or sub-groups within the larger tribal division. This highlights the precise and orderly distribution based on familial units, not just broadly to the "tribe" of Gershom. It ensures that specific family lines received their allotted portion.
- 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: (מִמַּטֵּה יִשָׂשכָר וּמִמַּטֵּה אָשֵׁר וּמִמַּטֵּה נַפְתָּלִי וּמִמַּטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה בַּבָּשָׁן)
- tribe (matteh): Often means "staff" or "branch," representing a tribal lineage.
- Issachar, Asher, Naphtali: These were tribes primarily located in the northern regions of Canaan, indicating where these Gershomite communities were interspersed among the other Israelite tribes.
- Manasseh in Bashan: The tribe of Manasseh was divided, with a portion inheriting land east of the Jordan River in the fertile region of Bashan (Deut 3:13). This geographical specification denotes accuracy and particularity in the land distribution, acknowledging the two halves of Manasseh.
- thirteen cities: (שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה עָרִים - šəlōš ʿes̄rēh ʿārîm)
- cities (ʿārîm): Urban centers, serving as the dwelling places for the Levites. Each city also included adjacent pasturelands (Num 35:2). The exact number of cities assigned demonstrates divine precision and careful fulfillment of God's covenant with Levi. The allocation of 13 cities specifically for the Gershomites from these tribes aligns with other biblical accounts (Josh 21:27-33), reinforcing the consistency of the divine plan.
1 Chronicles 6 62 Bonus section
The chronicler's emphasis on these detailed lists in the books of Chronicles, particularly after the return from exile, highlights their profound theological and practical significance for a people re-founding their national and religious identity. The precise enumeration of the Levitical cities, like those given to the Gershomites in this verse, served as:
- A Basis for Re-establishment: For the returning exiles, these detailed genealogies and land allocations were vital. They helped to correctly identify priestly and Levitical lines, determine their traditional settlements, and re-organize the service of the rebuilt Temple.
- Affirmation of God's Promises: The very existence of such records confirmed that God had indeed provided for His people and fulfilled His word to Abraham regarding the land and to Levi regarding his service, even after the trauma of exile. It underscored the unshakeable nature of divine promises.
- Encouragement to Obey: The meticulousness of God's arrangements, including the cities for the Levites, served as an encouragement for the post-exilic community to similarly adhere to the divine order in all aspects of their restored life.
- Maintaining Identity: In a time when distinct tribal identities were threatened, these genealogical records reinforced who belonged to which tribe and clan, connecting them to their sacred past and securing their claim to the land and specific roles.
1 Chronicles 6 62 Commentary
1 Chronicles 6:62 provides a glimpse into the meticulously structured world of ancient Israel under the covenant. It is not merely a list of places and people but a theological statement by the Chronicler to a post-exilic community. By detailing the cities given to the Gershomite Levites, the text underscores several key points. Firstly, it reaffirms God's faithfulness in providing for His chosen servants, the Levites, who had no territorial inheritance of their own, ensuring their sustenance and ability to fulfill their duties. Secondly, it highlights the divine precision and order that governed the distribution of the land. Each tribe, each Levitical clan, received its exact allocation according to a detailed plan. This structured arrangement allowed the Levites to be strategically positioned throughout the nation, serving as spiritual anchors, teachers of the Law, and judicial resources, making the presence of God's word and justice accessible to all tribes. The scattering of the Levites was not punitive but purposeful, reflecting a divine wisdom to spiritually uplift the entire nation. For the original audience returning from exile, such records instilled confidence in God's continuing promises and guided the re-establishment of their national identity and religious life according to ancient, divine precepts.