(The Lord speaking is red text)
And their villages [were], Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:
Their villages were 'Eitam, 'Ayin, Rimmon, Tokhen and 'Ashan, five cities,
And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan—five towns—
And their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
And their villages{H2691} were, Etam{H5862}, and Ain{H5871}, Rimmon{H7417}, and Tochen{H8507}, and Ashan{H6228}, five{H2568} cities{H5892}:
1 Chronicles 4:32 is a verse that falls within a section of the book that lists the genealogies and territorial allotments of the tribes of Israel following their settlement in the Promised Land. The verse specifically mentions the villages of the tribe of Judah, which are Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan. These five cities are noted for their historical significance as part of the inheritance of the descendants of Judah.
The historical context of this verse is set after the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership. The book of 1 Chronicles was likely written during the post-exilic period, around the 5th or 4th century BCE, with the purpose of reestablishing the identity and heritage of the Israelites after their return from Babylonian captivity. The Chronicler emphasizes the importance of the tribe of Judah, as it was from this tribe that the line of David, the great king of Israel, would come.
The themes present in this verse include inheritance, divine promise, and the historical presence of the Israelites in the land of Canaan. The detailed listing of these cities serves to reinforce the idea of a divinely ordained distribution of the land among the tribes, as promised to the patriarchs. It also underscores the Chronicler's interest in the geographical and administrative organization of the Israelite community. By mentioning these cities, the verse contributes to the broader narrative of the Chronicler, which seeks to remind the returning exiles of their ancestral roots and the extent of their territorial possessions in the past, thus reinforcing their national identity and sense of belonging in the land.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)