1 Chronicles 6:76 kjv
And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.
1 Chronicles 6:76 nkjv
And from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its common-lands, Hammon with its common-lands, and Kirjathaim with its common-lands.
1 Chronicles 6:76 niv
and from the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.
1 Chronicles 6:76 esv
and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, Hammon with its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands.
1 Chronicles 6:76 nlt
From the territory of Naphtali, they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, each with its pasturelands.
1 Chronicles 6 76 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 25:34 | "The pasturelands belonging to the cities of the Levites..." | Specifies Levitical pastureland use. |
| Num 35:2-3 | "Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in... with their pasturelands..." | Divine command for Levitical cities and pasturelands. |
| Num 35:5 | "...measured from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around..." | Details the size of Levitical pasturelands. |
| Num 18:24 | "For the tithes of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance..." | Levites' inheritance is the tithe, not land. |
| Deut 10:9 | "Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers..." | Reiteration of Levites' unique land status. |
| Deut 18:1 | "...they shall have no inheritance with Israel..." | No land inheritance for priests/Levites. |
| Josh 13:33 | "But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance..." | God is the Levites' ultimate inheritance. |
| Josh 14:4 | "...but to the Levites they gave no portion in the land, except cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their property." | Confirmation of cities and pasturelands. |
| Josh 20:7 | "So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee..." | Kedesh is a designated city of refuge. |
| Josh 21:32 | "From the tribe of Naphtali, they gave Kedesh in Galilee, the city of refuge for the slayer, with its pasturelands..." | Direct parallel to 1 Chr 6:76, identifying Kedesh as a city of refuge for Gershonites. |
| Josh 21:32 | "...and Hammoth-dor with its pasturelands, and Kartan with its pasturelands..." | Comparison point, different city names listed for Naphtali in Joshua. |
| Ezr 2:70 | "Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their own towns..." | Later Jewish practice of Levites living in towns. |
| Neh 11:3 | "Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah everyone lived in his property..." | People lived in their towns, including those serving the temple. |
| Ezek 48:13 | "And the territory that you shall allot to the Levites shall be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in breadth..." | Prophetic vision of Levitical land in the future temple. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse... so that there may be food in My house..." | God's provision linked to His people's tithes. |
| Matt 10:9-10 | "Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey... for the laborer deserves his food." | Principle of ministry provision, echoed for disciples. |
| Lk 10:7 | "...for the laborer deserves his wages." | Discipleship and receiving support for work. |
| 1 Cor 9:14 | "In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | New Testament application of ministers' support. |
| 2 Tim 2:6 | "The hardworking farmer ought to have the first share of the crops." | Principle of providing for those who labor in service. |
| Ps 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | God's overarching provision for His people. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | New Covenant assurance of divine provision. |
1 Chronicles 6 verses
1 Chronicles 6 76 Meaning
1 Chronicles 6:76 details three cities allocated from the tribe of Naphtali to the Levites. These cities, Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, along with their surrounding pasturelands, were designated as places for the Levites to dwell and graze their livestock, serving as a divinely appointed provision for their sustenance and livelihood. This allocation ensured that those dedicated to the service of the Lord had the necessary means to live, even though they did not receive a tribal land inheritance like the other tribes of Israel.
1 Chronicles 6 76 Context
1 Chronicles chapter 6 primarily focuses on the genealogies and duties of the Levites, underscoring their crucial role in the temple service and maintaining the spiritual order of Israel. The chapter begins by tracing the lineage of Levi through Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, leading to the high priests descended from Aaron. It then details the specialized tasks and roles of various Levitical families within the sanctuary. Verses 54-81 specifically enumerate the cities allotted to the three Levitical clans across the different tribes of Israel, as commanded by Moses. Verse 76 falls within the section (verses 71-76) detailing the cities assigned to the Gershonite Levites from the tribes of Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali. These lists emphasize the faithful fulfillment of God's covenant promises, ensuring that the Levites, who had no territorial inheritance, were still fully provided for and distributed among all Israel to perform their duties of teaching the Law and serving the spiritual needs of the nation.
1 Chronicles 6 76 Word analysis
- and out of the tribe of Naphtali: (וּמִמַּטֵּה נַפְתָּלִי - u-mi-matteh Naphtali)
- Naphtali (נַפְתָּלִי): Meaning "my wrestling" or "my struggle," referring to Rachel's wrestling with her sister Leah in Gen 30:8. This phrase signifies the geographical and tribal origin of the cities. It places the specific location in the northern part of Israel.
- Kedesh in Galilee: (קֶדֶשׁ בַּגָּלִיל - Qedeshe bag-Galil)
- Kedesh (קֶדֶשׁ): From the root קָדַשׁ (qadash), meaning "holy" or "sanctuary." This name highlights its special status. It was one of the six cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7, 21:32), providing a safe haven for those who accidentally killed someone, emphasizing justice and mercy.
- Galilee (גָּלִיל - Galil): Refers to the region. This specifies which Kedesh, as other cities bore the name. The inclusion of the region helps to precisely locate the city in the tribal territory.
- with its pasturelands, (וּמִגְרָשֶׁהָ - u-migrasheha)
- Pasturelands (מִגְרָשׁ - migrash): Refers to the open communal land or suburbs surrounding the walled cities. These were vital for the Levites' survival, allowing them to keep livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) as their primary economic base. The repetitive mention ("with its pasturelands" for each city) underscores their importance for the Levites' sustenance and livelihood. It reflects God's specific provision for them since they received no traditional tribal land inheritance.
- Hammon: (חַמּוֹן - Hammon)
- Hammon: Likely means "hot spring" or "sunny." It is a specific city, part of the list of allocations.
- with its pasturelands, (וּמִגְרָשֶׁהָ - u-migrasheha)
- (See above). Repetition reinforces the purpose and significance.
- and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands. (וְקִרְיָתַיִם וּמִגְרָשֶׁהָ - ve-Qiryatayim u-migrasheha)
- Kiriathaim (קִרְיָתַיִם - Qiryatayim): Means "two cities" or "double city." While a Kiriathaim is mentioned elsewhere (e.g., in Transjordan belonging to Reuben or Moab), this particular Kiriathaim is listed within Naphtali, indicating its specific identity within this allocation list.
- (See above for pasturelands).
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, Hammon with its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands."
- This phrase clearly identifies the source of these cities (Tribe of Naphtali) and their specific inhabitants (Levites, Gershonite clan). The repeated mention of "with its pasturelands" for each city is highly significant. It emphasizes God's faithful and detailed provision for the Levites, who were landless among their brethren. Their support came from the collective efforts of the other tribes, ensuring that those devoted to priestly and temple service were well-equipped and not burdened by secular labor for survival. This structure provided spiritual stability and logistical support for their ministry throughout Israel, distributing spiritual teaching and service.
1 Chronicles 6 76 Bonus section
The list of Levitical cities in 1 Chronicles 6, including verse 76, generally aligns with Joshua 21, but there are some minor discrepancies or different names. For example, Joshua 21:32 lists "Hammoth-dor" and "Kartan" as Gershonite cities from Naphtali, while 1 Chronicles 6:76 lists "Hammon" and "Kiriathaim." Scholars suggest these variations could be due to: (1) differing names for the same city over time; (2) copyist errors across manuscripts; or (3) different traditions or selections available to the authors of Joshua and Chronicles. Despite these minor textual differences, the overarching message remains consistent: God faithfully provided cities and pasturelands for the Levites as promised, demonstrating His detailed care for those dedicated to His service and the spiritual well-being of the nation. The meticulous detail in Chronicles underscores the Chronicler's interest in the divinely ordained order of the priesthood and temple, particularly crucial for the post-exilic community seeking to re-establish proper worship.
1 Chronicles 6 76 Commentary
1 Chronicles 6:76 serves as a meticulous record of God's covenant faithfulness and detailed provision for the Levitical tribe. Having no tribal land inheritance, the Levites were entirely dependent on God's provision through the other tribes of Israel. This verse, part of a larger list of forty-eight Levitical cities, highlights specific cities from the territory of Naphtali. The repeated phrase "with its pasturelands" is a critical detail, emphasizing that these allocations were not merely plots for dwelling but included sufficient land for their necessary livelihood through livestock. Kedesh, uniquely among these, was also a city of refuge, providing safe haven and access to justice, signifying the Levites' broader role in maintaining divine order and covenant principles within the nation. The Chronicler's detailed enumeration here underlines the completion of God's promises made through Moses, affirming the legitimacy and divine ordering of the Levitical ministry and temple service, which was central to the post-exilic community. This careful documentation ensures that all things related to God's worship were established according to His precise will.