1 Chronicles 6:68 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 6:68 mean?

1 Chronicles 6:68 lists Jokmeam and Bethhoron, along with their surrounding lands, as places given to the Levites. The verse is part of a record showing which towns and their associated fields or "suburbs" were assigned to the Levite families for their use and support.

This verse comes from a section where the author, likely a priest or scribe writing to the returned exiles, details the distribution of land among the Levites. The Levites did not receive a large territory like other tribes, but instead were given specific towns and the land around them to live in and farm, supporting their work in temple service.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 6:68

• Jokmeam (יקמעם, Yokmeam): This is the name of a town given to the Levites. Knowing the specific towns helps trace the historical settlements and the organization of Levite duties.
• suburbs (מִגְרָשׁ, migrash): This word refers to the open land or pastureland around a city, not urban "suburbs" as in modern usage. It means the Levites received not just the town itself, but also the fields needed for their livestock and daily needs.
• Bethhoron (בֵּית חוֹרוֹן, Beth-horon): Another town assigned to the Levites, significant for its location on a major route and its mention in other biblical events.

Why 1 Chronicles 6:68 matters

• This verse clarifies that the Levites were provided for through specific towns and their surrounding lands, rather than a single, continuous territory, showing their unique role among the tribes of Israel.
• The mention of "suburbs" (migrash) emphasizes that the Levites needed both places to live and land to sustain themselves, connecting their spiritual service to practical daily life.
• By naming Jokmeam and Bethhoron, this verse ties the Levite inheritance to real, historical locations, grounding the biblical account in the geography of ancient Israel.