Question 1

What does 1 Chronicles 6:68 mean?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 6:68

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

Why 1 Chronicles 6:68 matters

Accepted Answer

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.

1 Chronicles 6:68 (KJV)