1 Chronicles 6:76
and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, Hammon with its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to skim over these place names, but notice how each town is explicitly given "with its pasturelands." This repetition isn't just filler; it emphasizes that these communities were granted not just homes, but the very sustenance and space needed to thrive, highlighting God's provision for His people.
This passage continues a long, detailed list outlining the cities and pasturelands assigned to the Levites, who were responsible for the sanctuary and worship of God. These assignments were crucial for the Levites' livelihood and ministry, ensuring they had places to live and graze their animals throughout the territories of Israel. The verses immediately before and after this one simply continue to name more Levitical cities from different tribes, emphasizing the thoroughness of this division.
Why would the Bible list these specific cities? What makes them so important?
It wasn't just real estate; it was a divine assignment.
A Divine Mandate
In 1 Chronicles 6, we see the meticulous record-keeping of Israel's history, especially concerning the Levites. These weren't just any cities; they were designated places for the Levite clans to live. Their role was crucial: to serve God, to teach the Law, and to maintain the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple).
More Than Just Homes
Listing the cities, like Kedesh, Hammon, and Kiriathaim for the Naphtalites, highlights the practical outworking of God's plan. These pasturelands weren't just for livestock; they ensured the Levites had the resources to dedicate themselves fully to their sacred duties without the constant worry of providing for themselves through farming or extensive trade. It was a system designed for spiritual focus.
The tribe of Naphtali contributed these cities. What does this intersection of tribal identity and Levitical service tell us?
A Generous Giving
The allocation of cities to the Levites involved all the tribes of Israel giving up territory. Here, the tribe of Naphtali, located in the northern part of the land, contributes significant portions, including pasturelands. This wasn't a passive inheritance for the Levites; it was an active contribution from their fellow Israelites.
Shared Responsibility
This act demonstrates a profound sense of shared responsibility for worship and the upkeep of God's presence. It wasn't just the Levites' job; it was the entire community's commitment. By giving up land, the other tribes directly enabled the Levites to perform their vital functions, ensuring the continuity of God's service for everyone.
Understand the original words
maṭṭeh · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, this refers to the twelve genealogical divisions of the people of Israel, descended from the twelve sons of Jacob. It signifies the covenantal structure and inheritance of God's people in the Promised Land.
migrāš · Hebrew Noun
Commonly translated as 'open land' or 'suburbs,' this refers to the grazing lands surrounding Levitical cities. These areas were designated for the sustenance of the Levites' livestock and were integral to the provision of the priestly tribe.
Qedesh · Hebrew Noun
A Levitical city, the name literally means 'sanctuary' or 'holy place.' It functioned as a place set apart, often serving as a city of refuge, emphasizing the holiness and protection associated with the Lord's presence.
The listing of these cities for the tribe of Naphtali occurs after the northern kingdom of Israel has already been conquered and largely dispersed by the Assyrians. It reflects a later, likely post-exilic, attempt to reorganize and re-establish ancestral tribal claims and boundaries, even though the original tribal structures were severely disrupted.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua, the Israelites begin their conquest of the Promised Land after forty years in the wilderness.
c. 1350-1050 BC
Period of the Judges
Following Joshua's death, the tribes gradually settled and were often governed by charismatic leaders called Judges, facing ongoing conflict with Canaanite nations.
c. 1050 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
Saul is anointed king, marking the transition from the loose confederation of tribes to a unified kingdom under a single ruler.
c. 970 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After the reign of Solomon, the united monarchy splits into two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south.
This passage lists the cities assigned to the Levites, showing a consistent pattern of providing cities and pasturelands for them throughout Israel, just as 1 Chronicles 6 details.
Numbers 35:7This verse establishes the divine command to give Levites cities and pasturelands from the other tribes' territories, providing the foundational law for the city assignments mentioned in Chronicles.
Jeremiah 31:1This prophetic passage speaks of God's enduring faithfulness and promise to restore His people, mirroring the sense of God's provision and order found in the detailed listing of Levitical cities.
1 Chronicles 6:64-66These preceding verses describe cities given to other Levitical clans, providing the immediate context and demonstrating the comprehensive nature of the Levitical inheritance.
It's easy to skim over these place names, but notice how each town is explicitly given "with its pasturelands." This repetition isn't just filler; it emphasizes that these communities were granted not just homes, but the very sustenance and space needed to thrive, highlighting God's provision for His people.
This passage continues a long, detailed list outlining the cities and pasturelands assigned to the Levites, who were responsible for the sanctuary and worship of God. These assignments were crucial for the Levites' livelihood and ministry, ensuring they had places to live and graze their animals throughout the territories of Israel. The verses immediately before and after this one simply continue to name more Levitical cities from different tribes, emphasizing the thoroughness of this division.
This passage continues a long, detailed list outlining the cities and pasturelands assigned to the Levites, who were responsible for the sanctuary and worship of God. These assignments were crucial for the Levites' livelihood and ministry, ensuring they had places to live and graze their animals throughout the territories of Israel. The verses immediately before and after this one simply continue to name more Levitical cities from different tribes, emphasizing the thoroughness of this division.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 1 Chronicles 6:76 is available in the Sola app.
733-732 BC— this verse
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Israel
Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants and significantly reducing its territory.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire, under Shalmaneser V and then Sargon II, destroys the capital city of Samaria, completing the conquest of the northern kingdom and scattering its people (the 'Ten Lost Tribes').
"and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, Hammon with its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands." — It's easy to skim over these place names, but notice how each town is explicitly given "with its pasturelands." This repetition isn't just filler; it emphasizes that these communities were granted no…
