1 Chronicles 6:63

WEB

To the sons of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

BSB

The Merarites, according to their families, were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

KJV

Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

Matthew Henry

Verses 54–81

1 Chronicles 6:54–81

We have here an account of the Levites' cities. They are here called their castles (Ch1 6:54), not only because walled and fortified, and well guarded by the country (for it is the interest of every nation to protect its ministers), but because they and their possessions were, in a particular manner, the care of the divine providence: as God was their portion, so God was their protection; and a cottage will be a castle to those that abide under the shadow of the Almighty. This account is much the same with that which we had, Jos. 21. We need not be critical in comparing them (what good will it do us?) nor will it do any hurt to the credit of the holy scripture if the names of some of the places be not spelt just the same here as they were there. We know it is common for cities to have several names. Sarum and Salisbury, Salop and Shrewsbury, are more unlike than Hilen (Ch1 6:58) and Holon (Jos 21:15), Ashan (Ch1 6:59) and Ain (Jos 21:16), Alemeth (Ch1 6:60) and Almon (Jos 21:18); and time changes names. We are only to observe that in this appointment of cities for the Levites God took care, 1. For the accomplishment of dying Jacob's prediction concerning this tribe, that it should be scattered in Israel, Gen 49:7. 2. For the diffusing of the knowledge of himself and his law to all parts of the land of Israel. Every tribe had Levites' cities in it; and so every room was furnished with a candle, so that none could be ignorant of his duty but it was either his own fault or the Levites'. 3. For a comfortable maintenance for those that ministered in holy things. Besides their tithes and offerings, they had glebe-lands and cities of their own to dwell in. Some of the most considerable cities of Israel fell to the Levites' lot. Every tribe had benefit by the Levites, and therefore every tribe must contribute to their support. Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth, and do it cheerfully.

Cross-references: 1Chr 6:54 · 1Chr 6:58 · Josh 21:15 · 1Chr 6:59 · Josh 21:16 · 1Chr 6:60 · Josh 21:18 · Gen 49:7

Hebrew interlinear

H1121

בֵּןbên/bane/

n-m — son

Derivation: from 1129;

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

KJV: afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ( ) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, (young) bullock, (young) calf, × came up in, child, colt, × common, × corn, daughter, × of first, firstborn, foal, very fruitful, postage, × in, kid, lamb, ( ) man, meet, mighty, nephew, old, ( ) people, rebel, robber, × servant born, × soldier, son, spark, steward, stranger, × surely, them of, tumultuous one, valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

בֵּן

n.m — son

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

1. son, male child, born of a woman

2. children (male and female)

3. youth, young men

4. the young of animals

5. of plant shoots

6. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

7.

a. member of a guild, order or class

b. of animals son of (the) herd

8. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

9. n. relat. of age

בְּנוֹ

n.pr.m — his son

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

H4847

מְרָרִיMᵉrârîy/mer-aw-ree'/

n-pr-m — Merari

Derivation: from 4843; bitter;

Merari, an Israelite

KJV: Merari. See also 4848.

מְרָרִי

n.pr.m — Merari. See also

מְרָרִי n.pr.m. a son of Levi, and head of a chief Levit. family

H4940

מִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh/mish-paw-khaw'/

n-f — family, circle of relatives, class, species, sort, tribe, people

Derivation: from 8192 (compare 8198);

a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

KJV: family, kind(-red).

מִשְׁפָּחָה

n.f — clan

מִשְׁפָּחָה 303 n.f. clan

1. clan

2. = guild

3. = species, kind

4. pl. = aristocrats

H4294

מַטֶּהmaṭṭeh/mat-teh'/

n-m — branch, extending, tribe, rod, correction, sceptre, lance, staff, support

Derivation: or (feminine) מַטָּה; from 5186;

a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread)

KJV: rod, staff, tribe.

מַטֶּה

n.m — branch

מַטֶּה 251 n.m.

1. staff, rod, shaft

2. branch

3. tribe

H7205

רְאוּבֵןRᵉʼûwbên/reh-oo-bane'/

n-pr-m — Reuben

Derivation: from the imperative of 7200 and 1121; see ye a son;

Reuben, a son of Jacob

KJV: Reuben.

רְאוּבֵן

n.pr.m — Reuben

רְאוּבֵן 71 n.pr.m. Reuben

1. eldest son of Jacob and Leah

2. as name of clan or tribe

H1410

גָּדGâd/gawd/

n-pr-m — Gad

Derivation: from 1464;

Gad, a son of Jacob, including his tribe and its territory; also a prophet

KJV: Gad.

גָּד

n.pr.m — Gad

גָּד 71 n.pr.m. (fortunatus?)

1. son of Jacob and Zilpah

2. a prophet in David's time

H2074

זְבוּלוּןZᵉbûwlûwn/zeb-oo-loon'/

n-pr-m n-pr-loc — Zebulon

Derivation: or זְבֻלוּן; or זְבוּלֻן; from 2082; habitation;

Zebulon, a son of Jacob; also his territory and tribe

KJV: Zebulun.

זְבוּלֻן

n.pr.m — Zebulun

זְבוּלֻן, זְלֻבוּן n.pr.m. Zebulun

1. sixth son of Jacob and Leah

2. the tribe of Zebulun

3. territory of the tribe

H1486

גּוֹרָלgôwrâl/go-rawl'/

n-m — pebble, lot, portion, destiny

Derivation: or (shortened) גֹּרָל; from an unused root meaning to be rough (as stone);

properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot)

KJV: lot.

גּוֹרָל

n.m — lot

גּוֹרָל 77 n.m. & f. lot

1. lot for dividing land

2. lot for assigning to service, duty or punishment

3. thing assigned, apportioned, allotted

4. portion = recompence, retribution

H5892

עִירʻîyr/eer/

n-m — city, waking, encampment, post

Derivation: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from 5782

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

עִיר

n.f — city

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

1. city, town, abode of men

2. of fortress in a city

3. appar. fortified place, of any size

עִיר

n.[m.] — excitement

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

H8147

שְׁנַיִםshᵉnayim/shen-ah'-yim/

n — two, twofold

Derivation: dual of 8145; feminine שְׁתַּיִם;

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, twelfth, twelve, twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

שְׁנַ֫יִם

n.m — two

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

H6240

עָשָׂרʻâsâr/aw-sawr'/

n — ten, -teen, -teenth

Derivation: for 6235;

ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth

KJV: (eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-, six-, thir-) teen(-th), + eleven(-th), + sixscore thousand, + twelve(-th).

עָשָׂר

ten

עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal

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