1 Chronicles 6:54-81

Expanded Bible

Land for the Levites

⁵⁴ These are the ·places [settlements; areas] where Aaron’s descendants lived. His descendants from the Kohath ·family group [clan] received the first ·share of the land [or territory by means of sacred lots].

⁵⁵ They were given the city of Hebron in Judah and the pastures around it, ⁵⁶ but the fields farther from the city and the villages near Hebron were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. ⁵⁷ So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron, one of the cities of ·safety [refuge]. They also received the towns and pastures of Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, ⁵⁸ ·Hilen [or Hilez; Josh. 21:15], Debir, ⁵⁹ ·Ashan [or Ain; Josh. 21:16], Juttah, and Beth Shemesh. ⁶⁰ They also received these towns and pastures from the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth.

The Kohath ·family groups [clans; ^CAaron’s descendants] received a total of thirteen towns.

⁶¹ The rest of the ·Kohath family group [^Lsons of Kohath] was given ten towns from the ·family groups of West [^Lthe half-tribe of] Manasseh. The towns were chosen by ·throwing [sacred] lots.

⁶² The Gershon ·family group [clan] received thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the part of Manasseh living in Bashan.

⁶³ The ·Merari family group [^Lsons/descendants of Merari] received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. Those towns were chosen by ·throwing [sacred] lots.

⁶⁴ So the Israelites gave these towns and their pastures to the Levites. ⁶⁵ The towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, ·which were named [previously mentioned], were chosen by ·throwing [sacred] lots.

⁶⁶ Some of the Kohath ·family groups [clans] received ·towns and pastures [territory] from the tribe of Ephraim. ⁶⁷ They received Shechem, one of the cities of ·safety [refuge; ^Csomeone who accidentally killed another person could receive protection from those seeking revenge; Num. 35:9–34; Josh. 20:1–9], with its pastures in the ·mountains [hill country] of Ephraim. They also received the towns and pastures of Gezer, ⁶⁸ Jokmeam, Beth Horon, ⁶⁹ Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon.

⁷⁰ The rest of the people in the Kohath ·family group [clan] received the towns of Aner and Bileam and their pastures from ·West [^Lthe half-tribe of] Manasseh.

⁷¹ From ·East [^Lthe half-tribe of] Manasseh, the ·Gershon [or Gershom; v. 16] ·family [clan] received the towns and pastures of Golan in Bashan and Ashtaroth.

From the tribe of Issachar, the ·Gershon [or Gershom] family received the towns and pastures of Kedesh, Daberath, Ramoth, and Anem.

From the tribe of Asher, the ·Gershon [or Gershom] ·family [clan] received the towns and pastures of Mashal, Abdon, Hukok, and Rehob.

⁷⁶ From the tribe of Naphtali, the ·Gershon [or Gershom] ·family [clan] received the towns and pastures of Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim.

⁷⁷ The rest of the Levites, the people from the Merari ·family [clan], received from the tribe of Zebulun the towns and pastures of Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono, and Tabor.

From the tribe of Reuben, the Merari ·family [clan] received the towns and pastures of Bezer in the desert, Jahzah, Kedemoth, and Mephaath. (The tribe of Reuben lived east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.)

From the tribe of Gad, ·the Merari family [they] received the towns and pastures of Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer.