Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:
1 CHRONICLES 6:71KJVWhat does 1 Chronicles 6:71 mean?
1 Chronicles 6:71 records that the sons of Gershom, one of the Levite families, received the towns of Golan in Bashan and Ashtaroth, along with their surrounding lands, from the half-tribe of Manasseh as part of their allotted inheritance. This verse lists specific cities given to the Levites for their use and service.
The verse comes from a section where the chronicler is listing the towns assigned to different Levitical families by the tribes of Israel. The sons of Gershom were descendants of Levi, set apart for religious duties, and these towns provided them with places to live and land to support their families. The mention of Golan and Ashtaroth highlights the geographical spread and the practical arrangements made for the Levites throughout Israel.
The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 6:71
- גֵּרְשֹׁם (Gershom): This name refers to one of Levi's sons, whose descendants formed a major Levitical clan. The verse specifically tracks which towns were given to this group.
- מַנַּשֶּׁה (Manasseh): This word identifies the tribe from which the land was taken. Noting the "half tribe" reminds the reader that Manasseh's territory was split across the Jordan River, and these towns were in the eastern portion.
- גּוֹלָן (Golan) and עַשְׁתָּרוֹת (Ashtaroth): These are the actual cities given. Both were significant towns in Bashan, showing that the Levites were given established, important places to live.
- מִגְרָשׁ (suburbs): This word refers to the pasturelands or open spaces around the cities, which were essential for the Levites' livestock and daily life, not just the city itself.
Why 1 Chronicles 6:71 matters
- This verse clarifies that the Levites did not receive a single territory but were distributed among the tribes, reinforcing their unique role in Israelite society.
- The specific mention of towns and their "suburbs" shows that the Levites were provided for in a practical way, with both living spaces and land for their needs.
- By connecting the Levites to named locations, the chronicler ties the religious leadership of Israel to real places and communities, grounding spiritual service in everyday life.