And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.
1 CHRONICLES 6:76KJVWhat does 1 Chronicles 6:76 mean?
1 Chronicles 6:76 lists three towns—Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kirjathaim—along with their surrounding lands, as given to the Levites from the tribe of Naphtali. This verse is part of a record showing how land was distributed to the Levite families for their service in Israel.
The book of 1 Chronicles was written to document Israel’s history, and here it details how certain towns and their "suburbs" (the open lands around them) were assigned to the Levites, who did not receive a large territory like other tribes. The verse is part of a larger section where the chronicler is listing the towns given to the Levites from different tribes, showing how the people supported those who served in the temple.
The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 6:76
- נַפְתָּלִי (Naphtali, naphtali): This is the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, showing which tribe provided these towns.
- קֶדֶשׁ (Kedesh, qedesh): This town, called Kedesh in Galilee, was a significant city in the northern part of Israel, often associated with being a city of refuge.
- גָּלִילָה (Galilee, galilah): The word here points to the region in northern Israel, helping identify the location of Kedesh.
- מִגְרָשׁ (suburbs, migrash): This word refers to the open land or pastureland around a city, not urban suburbs, but fields and grazing areas given with the town. This detail shows that the Levites received not just the towns, but also the land needed for their livestock and daily life.
Why 1 Chronicles 6:76 matters
- This verse clarifies that the Levites, who served in religious duties, were supported by being given specific towns and their surrounding lands, rather than a single large territory.
- The mention of "suburbs" (open lands) emphasizes that the Levites’ needs for daily living—like grazing animals—were considered in the land distribution.
- By listing these towns, the chronicler connects the Levites’ presence throughout Israel with the wider story of how the tribes worked together to support worship and community life.