1 Chronicles 6 70

1 Chronicles 6:70 kjv

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.

1 Chronicles 6:70 nkjv

And from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Aner with its common-lands and Bileam with its common-lands, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.

1 Chronicles 6:70 niv

And from half the tribe of Manasseh the Israelites gave Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands, to the rest of the Kohathite clans.

1 Chronicles 6:70 esv

and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its pasturelands, and Bileam with its pasturelands, for the rest of the clans of the Kohathites.

1 Chronicles 6:70 nlt

The remaining descendants of Kohath were assigned the towns of Aner and Bileam from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.

1 Chronicles 6 verses

1 Chronicles 6 70 Meaning

This verse details two specific cities, Aner and Gath-rimmon, along with their surrounding suburbs, which were allocated to the Kohathite division of the Levites from the general region of the tribe of Ephraim, according to the Chronicler's account. It signifies God's provision for the Levites, who received no tribal land inheritance, ensuring their sustenance and ability to fulfill their priestly duties among the tribes of Israel.

1 Chronicles 6 70 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 6 focuses heavily on the genealogies and dwelling places of the Levites, especially their three major families: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. This emphasis is characteristic of the Chronicler, whose post-exilic audience needed to reconnect with their divine heritage, priestly legitimacy, and the ordered worship system of God. Verses 54-81 specifically list the Levitical cities, meticulously detailing which division received which cities from each tribe. Verse 70 is part of the final segment of this list, specifying cities given to the remaining families of the Kohathites from what the text describes as the tribal territory of Ephraim. Historically, the distribution of these cities after the conquest of Canaan ensured that the Levites, dispersed among all the tribes, could fulfill their spiritual and judicial duties without possessing their own consolidated land inheritance, living off the tithes and offerings of the other tribes as ordained by God.

1 Chronicles 6 70 Word analysis

• and out of the tribe of: The conjunction "and" links this segment to the preceding lists of cities, continuing the enumeration. "Out of the tribe of" signifies the specific territorial origin from which these cities were allotted to the Levites, emphasizing the organized and comprehensive land distribution plan ordained by God.
• Ephraim (Hebrew: אֶפְרָיִם, 'Ephrayim): One of the most powerful and numerous tribes, whose territory was centrally located in Canaan. Its name means "double fruit" or "fruitful." Here, it identifies the region from which the listed cities were taken for the Kohathite Levites. Notably, while this verse attributes Aner and Gath-rimmon to Ephraim, the parallel list in Joshua 21:25 assigns Gath-rimmon (and Taanach, equivalent to Aner) to the half-tribe of Manasseh, highlighting a textual discrepancy often discussed among scholars. The Chronicler might be simplifying, referring to a broader regional designation that encompassed parts of both Manasseh and Ephraim, or drawing on a different tradition.
• Aner (Hebrew: עָנֵר, 'Aner): This specific city is listed here as a Levitical city. In some parallel lists (e.g., Josh 21:25), the city Taanach appears in a similar context (as a city from Manasseh for the Kohathites). Scholars often equate Aner with Taanach due to textual and contextual similarities, suggesting either a scribal variant or regional synonymity. Its mention reinforces the precise allocation of designated urban centers for the Levites.
• and Gath-rimmon (Hebrew: גַּת־רִמּוֹן, Gath-rimmon): Meaning "pomegranate press," this was a notable city. It appears in several Levitical city lists across different tribal allotments (Josh 21:24 for Dan, Josh 21:25 for Manasseh, 1 Chr 6:69 for Dan, and here for "Ephraim"). This suggests either multiple places bearing the same name or complex shifts in administrative assignments/boundary perceptions over time, making its exact tribal association context-dependent in various biblical accounts. Here in 1 Chronicles 6:70, it's firmly grouped with Aner and linked to the territory of "Ephraim" for the Kohathites.
• with their suburbs (Hebrew: מִגְרָשִׁים, migrāšîm): This phrase consistently appears with Levitical city allocations (Num 35:2-7; Lev 25:34). It refers to the open pasturelands or common grounds surrounding the cities, specifically allocated for the Levites' cattle and general sustenance. Since the Levites were not given a tribal inheritance of arable land, these suburbs were crucial for their economic well-being and emphasized their dependence on God's provision through the system established. This provision also distinguished their cities from other towns, allowing them agricultural support without infringing on tribal land.

• "and out of the tribe of Ephraim; Aner and Gath-rimmon": This grouping identifies the origin of the cities and their specific names for the Kohathite Levites. The phrase emphasizes the divine order and precision in allocating distinct living spaces and resources to the Levites among their brethren. The inclusion of two distinct cities underscores the breadth of provision within the specified tribal boundaries, although the exact tribal association of these cities, especially "out of Ephraim" for Aner/Gath-rimmon, differs from some Joshua accounts, suggesting the Chronicler's own source material or interpretive lens.

1 Chronicles 6 70 Bonus section

• Textual Variants and Significance: The allocation of Aner and Gath-rimmon "out of the tribe of Ephraim" in 1 Chronicles 6:70 presents a notable variation when compared to Joshua 21:25, where Taanach (often equated with Aner) and Gath-rimmon are listed as cities "from the half-tribe of Manasseh" for the remaining Kohathites. Such differences are not errors in the sense of invalidating Scripture but reflect varied sources, administrative traditions, or a slightly different emphasis by the Chronicler. The Chronicler's primary goal was theological and cultic: to demonstrate the full and comprehensive provision for the Levitical families as per God's command, assuring his readers of the divine establishment and continuity of the priestly system. His listing might represent later traditions of territorial division or focus on broader regional affiliations rather than strict original boundaries.
• Purpose of Levitical Cities: The establishment of Levitical cities throughout Israel ensured several vital functions. First, it enabled the Levites to fulfill their teaching role, being scattered among the tribes to instruct the people in the Law of God (Deut 33:10). Second, it facilitated judicial and administrative duties (1 Chr 26:29; 2 Chr 19:8). Third, it demonstrated the comprehensive fulfillment of God's command regarding their inheritance (Num 35:1-8). The design allowed the Levites to maintain a distinct identity and provision without land-based economic competition with the other tribes.

1 Chronicles 6 70 Commentary

1 Chronicles 6:70 forms a precise, albeit sometimes perplexing, detail within the comprehensive listing of Levitical cities. For the Chronicler, this meticulous account reinforces God's faithfulness in providing for the Levites and establishing a structured system of worship throughout Israel. These cities were not just places to live but strategic centers for the Levites to instruct, judge, and maintain the spiritual health of the nation, while also serving as outposts for religious adherence. The inclusion of "suburbs" speaks to a practical divine economy ensuring their livelihood. The specific mention of Aner and Gath-rimmon, though geographically contested in parallel texts, underscores the Chronicler's dedication to validating the legitimacy and divine origin of the Levitical assignments, crucial for his post-exilic audience seeking to re-establish proper temple worship and tribal identities. It exemplifies how every tribe participated in supporting the priests and Levites, reflecting a divinely ordered society centered on the service of God.