1 Chronicles 6:58 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 6:58 mean?

1 Chronicles 6:58 records two towns, Hilen and Debir, along with their surrounding lands ("suburbs"), as being listed among the places given to the Levites. This verse is part of a larger section detailing the specific cities and lands assigned to the Levite families for their dwelling and service.

The book of 1 Chronicles was written to document Israel’s history and the organization of its tribes, especially after the return from exile. Here, the chronicler is listing the towns allotted to the Levites by the other tribes of Israel, showing how the Levites were provided for throughout the land. This verse simply names two of those towns and notes that the Levites received not just the towns themselves, but also the surrounding pasturelands.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 6:58

• חִילֵן (ḥîlên, "Hilen"): This is the name of one of the towns given to the Levites. The specific location is uncertain today, but its mention shows the detailed record-keeping of the tribal allotments.
• דְּבִיר (dᵊḇîr, "Debir"): Another town allocated to the Levites, Debir is mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament and is sometimes associated with a city in the hill country of Judah.
• מִגְרָשִׁים (migrāšîm, "suburbs"): This word refers to the pasturelands or open lands around a city, not urban suburbs as we think of them today. These lands were important for the Levites’ livestock and daily needs, emphasizing that their provision included both living space and means for sustenance.

Why 1 Chronicles 6:58 matters

• This verse highlights the careful distribution of land to the Levites, showing that their needs were considered in the organization of Israelite society.
• The mention of "suburbs" (pasturelands) clarifies that the Levites were not given large territories, but rather specific towns and the surrounding land needed for their support.
• By listing these towns, the chronicler connects the Levites’ inheritance to the larger story of Israel’s settlement in the land and the fulfillment of God’s instructions regarding the Levites’ role.