1 Chronicles 6:58

KJV

And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,

KJV (with Strong's)

And Hilen {H2432} with her suburbs {H4054}, Debir {H1688} with her suburbs {H4054},

Complete Jewish Bible

Hilen with its surrounding open land, D'vir with its surrounding open land,

Berean Standard Bible

Hilen, Debir,

American Standard Version

and Hilen with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 6:58 meticulously records the allocation of Hilen and Debir, along with their essential "suburbs" or pasture lands, to the priestly Levites. This verse is an integral part of a larger, detailed enumeration of cities designated for the Levitical tribe, underscoring God's precise and faithful provision for His chosen servants. It highlights the divine order established for Israel, ensuring the Levites' sustenance and strategic dispersion among the tribes to fulfill their unique roles as spiritual instructors, judges, and officiants in worship, all sustained by God's comprehensive and unfailing care.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** 1 Chronicles 6 is a comprehensive genealogical record, primarily focusing on the tribe of Levi and, more specifically, the priestly lineage of Aaron. The Chronicler meticulously traces their ancestry, responsibilities, and, crucially, their allotted dwelling places throughout Israel. Verses 54-81 constitute a detailed list of these Levitical cities, directly fulfilling the divine mandate found in earlier Pentateuchal books and the book of Joshua. Verse 58 is situated within the section enumerating cities assigned to the sons of Aaron—the priests—who belonged to the Kohathite clan of Levites, specifically those located within the territory of Judah. The preceding verses delineate other priestly cities, and the subsequent verses continue the enumeration for other Levite clans. This precise cataloging underscores the Chronicler's overarching themes of divine order, the faithful execution of God's covenant promises, and the proper functioning of the priesthood as central to Israel's spiritual life and national identity.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, land inheritance was paramount, signifying tribal identity, economic stability, and social standing. The Levites, however, occupied a unique position; they received no consolidated territorial inheritance like the other tribes. Instead, as divinely commanded in [Numbers 35](/numbers/35 "Numbers 35 - Cities for the Levites") and further detailed in [Joshua 21](/joshua/21 "Joshua 21 - Allotment of Levite Cities"), they were granted 48 cities, along with their surrounding "suburbs" or pasture lands, scattered strategically throughout the territories of the other tribes. This distinct arrangement served multiple critical purposes: it ensured the Levites' physical sustenance, as they were exempt from agricultural labor or military service; and it strategically positioned them among all the people, enabling them to fulfill their essential roles as spiritual guides, teachers of the Law, judges, and officiants in the Tabernacle and later Temple worship. Hilen (often identified with Holon) and Debir were cities located in the hill country of Judah, signifying the Levites' pervasive presence even in militarily significant or culturally important regional centers. Debir, also known as Kirjath-sepher ("city of the book"), suggests it may have been a center of learning or record-keeping, further highlighting the Levites' intellectual and spiritual influence.
* **Key Themes:** The inclusion of 1 Chronicles 6:58 within the broader context of Levitical city allocation contributes to several profound themes. First, it powerfully illustrates **Divine Provision and Faithfulness**. The meticulous detail in allocating cities like Hilen and Debir demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to providing for His chosen servants, the Levites. Although their ultimate inheritance was the Lord Himself ([Numbers 18:20](/numbers/18-20 "Numbers 18:20 - The Lord is the Levites' Inheritance")), God ensured their physical sustenance and ability to fulfill their sacred duties, illustrating His holistic care for all aspects of their lives. Second, the precise enumeration of cities in [1 Chronicles 6](/1_chronicles/6 "1 Chronicles 6 - Genealogies and Levite Cities") underscores **Order and Covenant Fulfillment**. This detailed record served as a testament to God's reliability and the historical accuracy of His commands, reinforcing the divinely established order for Israel and the faithful execution of His covenant promises, particularly those related to the Levites' unique role and inheritance. Finally, the strategic placement of Levite cities throughout Israel, as exemplified by Hilen and Debir in Judah, highlights the theme of **Levitical Priesthood and Dispersion**. This dispersion facilitated their critical role as spiritual instructors, judges, and worship leaders, ensuring that access to God's Law and worship was available to all tribes, thereby reinforcing national unity and adherence to the covenant, and preventing the centralization of religious authority in one geographic area.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hilen (Hebrew, _Chîylên'_):** From the root meaning "fortress," Hilen was a place in Palestine, specifically a city located in the hill country of Judah. It is widely identified with Holon, a city also mentioned in [Joshua 21:15](/joshua/21-15 "Joshua 21:15 - Holon assigned to priests") as one of the cities assigned to the priests. Its inclusion in the Chronicler's list confirms its status as a designated Levitical city, emphasizing the consistency of the biblical record regarding the specific allocation of these priestly dwelling places.
* **Debir (Hebrew, _Dᵉbîyr'_):** Also known as Kirjath-sepher ("city of the book") or Kirjath-sannah, Debir was a significant Canaanite city located in the hill country of Judah. It held historical importance as a city famously conquered by Othniel, Caleb's nephew, as recorded in [Judges 1:11-13](/judges/1-11 "Judges 1:11-13 - Othniel's Conquest of Debir"). Its designation as a priestly city underscores the Levites' presence in key regional centers, potentially serving as hubs for spiritual instruction, legal arbitration, and the preservation of sacred texts.
* **suburbs (Hebrew, _migrâsh'_):** This term refers to the open country, pasture lands, or common ground surrounding the walled cities that were allotted to the Levites. As specified in [Numbers 35:4-5](/numbers/35-4 "Numbers 35:4-5 - Dimensions of Levite Suburbs"), these areas typically extended 1,000 cubits (approximately 1,500 feet) from the city wall. The *migrâsh* were vital for the Levites' livelihood, providing essential grazing for their cattle and flocks, which served as a practical means of sustenance. This detail highlights the comprehensive nature of God's provision for their physical needs alongside their spiritual duties.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Hilen with her suburbs":** This clause precisely identifies Hilen as one of the cities specifically allotted to the priestly Levites. The crucial inclusion of "with her suburbs" signifies that not only the walled city itself but also its surrounding pasture lands were an integral part of their designated inheritance. This comprehensive provision ensured that the Levites possessed the necessary resources for their physical well-being, allowing them to sustain themselves and their families. This arrangement freed them from engaging in agricultural labor or other secular trades, enabling them to dedicate their lives fully to sacred service without undue worldly anxiety or distraction.
* **"Debir with her suburbs":** Similarly, this clause lists Debir, another historically significant city located in Judah, along with its accompanying pasture lands. The repetition of the phrase "with her suburbs" emphatically underscores the consistent, complete, and meticulous nature of God's provision for all the Levitical cities. It highlights the divine intention that the Levites, who were uniquely denied a consolidated tribal land inheritance, would nonetheless be fully equipped with secure places to live and the essential means to sustain themselves. This holistic provision was fundamental to enabling them to fulfill their unique spiritual, educational, and judicial roles among the tribes of Israel, ensuring their effectiveness in ministry.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in this verse, and indeed throughout much of [1 Chronicles 6](/1_chronicles/6 "1 Chronicles 6 - Levitical Genealogies and Cities"), is **Enumeration** or **Cataloging**. The meticulous listing of specific names and places serves to establish historical and theological legitimacy, demonstrating the faithful fulfillment of divine commands and the precise order God instituted for His people. The repetition of the phrase "with her suburbs" in relation to each city functions as a form of **Anaphora** or **Parallelism**, which emphasizes the consistent and comprehensive nature of the Levites' inheritance, always including the essential pasture lands alongside the cities. This detailed record also serves as a **Testimony** to God's unwavering faithfulness in providing for His servants and His meticulous attention to the details of His covenant, reinforcing the Chronicler's overarching theme of God's sovereignty and Israel's divinely ordained structure.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The meticulous listing of cities like Hilen and Debir for the Levites, complete with their essential "suburbs," profoundly illustrates God's faithful, detailed, and holistic provision for those called to serve Him. It underscores the enduring biblical principle that divine calling is always accompanied by divine equipping and sustenance. The Levites, whose primary inheritance was the Lord Himself, were nonetheless given tangible resources—specific dwelling places and means of livelihood—to live and carry out their sacred duties, demonstrating God's comprehensive care for both their spiritual and physical needs. This pattern of provision for service resonates throughout Scripture, reminding believers that God is attentive to the practical realities of life for those who devote themselves to His purposes. It speaks to a God who cares not only for the grand spiritual narrative but also for the daily bread and practical well-being of His servants, ensuring they are positioned and sustained to fulfill their unique roles within His kingdom.

* [Numbers 35:1-8](/numbers/35-1 "Numbers 35:1-8 - Cities for the Levites and their Suburbs")
* [Joshua 21:1-42](/joshua/21-1 "Joshua 21:1-42 - Allotment of Levite Cities")
* [Deuteronomy 10:9](/deuteronomy/10-9 "Deuteronomy 10:9 - The Levites' Inheritance is the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
At first glance, a list of ancient cities might seem dry and irrelevant to modern life. However, 1 Chronicles 6:58, in its careful detail, offers profound and enduring lessons for contemporary believers. It reveals God as a God of impeccable order, divine precision, and unwavering faithfulness, who meticulously plans for the well-being of those He calls to service. Just as He provided specific dwelling places and means of sustenance for the Levites to fulfill their unique spiritual mandate, so too does He equip and sustain us for the callings He places on our lives. This verse encourages us to cultivate a deep trust in God's comprehensive provision, recognizing that His faithfulness extends to every detail of our existence. It assures us that we have what we need to live out our purpose within His larger kingdom plan. It reminds us that even in the seemingly mundane aspects of our lives—our homes, our financial resources, our daily sustenance—God's hand of provision is actively at work, enabling us to serve Him effectively and without undue worldly anxiety, confident in His steadfast care.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of God's provision for the Levites encourage your trust in His provision for your own life and calling today?**
* **In what specific ways do you recognize God providing for your "suburbs"—the practical, everyday needs that enable you to fulfill your spiritual purpose?**
* **How does understanding God's order and faithfulness in the Old Testament inform your understanding of His character and care for you in the present?**

### FAQ
**Why were the Levites given cities instead of a consolidated tribal territory like the other tribes?**

Answer: Unlike the other tribes, the Levites were uniquely set apart for sacred service to the Lord, primarily in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Their ultimate inheritance was the Lord Himself ([Numbers 18:20](/numbers/18-20 "Numbers 18:20 - The Lord is the Levites' Inheritance")). God commanded that they be given 48 cities, along with their surrounding pasture lands ("suburbs"), scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes ([Numbers 35:1-8](/numbers/35-1 "Numbers 35:1-8 - Cities for the Levites")). This arrangement served a dual purpose: it ensured their physical sustenance without requiring them to engage in agriculture or warfare, and it strategically dispersed them among all the tribes. This dispersion allowed the Levites to fulfill their crucial role as teachers of God's Law, judges, and spiritual guides, making access to divine instruction and worship readily available to all Israelites, thus preventing the centralization of religious authority and promoting spiritual health across the entire nation.

**What is the significance of "suburbs" (migrashim) in this context?**

Answer: The term "suburbs" (Hebrew: *migrashim*) refers to the open pasture lands or common ground surrounding the walled cities that were allotted to the Levites. These areas, typically extending 1,000 cubits from the city wall ([Numbers 35:4-5](/numbers/35-4 "Numbers 35:4-5 - Dimensions of Levite Suburbs")), were absolutely essential for the Levites' livelihood. They provided vital grazing land for their cattle and flocks, which were a primary source of sustenance in ancient agrarian societies. The explicit inclusion of "suburbs" alongside the cities highlights the comprehensive and holistic nature of God's provision for the Levites, ensuring that their physical needs were met so they could devote themselves fully to their spiritual duties without being a burden on the other tribes or being distracted by the need to cultivate land. It powerfully demonstrates God's meticulous care for His servants, attending to both their spiritual calling and their practical daily needs.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous provision for the Levites in cities like Hilen and Debir, ensuring their sustenance and strategic placement for ministry, profoundly foreshadows God's even greater and more profound provision in Christ for His New Covenant people. Just as the Levites were chosen for sacred service and sustained by God, believers in Christ are now a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation" ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Royal Priesthood")), called to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. Our true "inheritance" is not a physical land or specific cities, but participation in Christ Himself, who is our ultimate provision and dwelling place ([Ephesians 1:11](/ephesians/1-11 "Ephesians 1:11 - Our Inheritance in Christ")). The dispersion of the Levites among the tribes to teach and minister God's Law finds its ultimate fulfillment in the global mission of the Church, where believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Power to Witness")), are sent out into all the world to make disciples, teaching them all that Christ commanded ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")). Christ is the ultimate High Priest ([Hebrews 4:14](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14 - Our Great High Priest")) who has entered the true heavenly sanctuary, and through His perfect, once-for-all sacrifice, we are granted direct access to God, fulfilling the Levitical role in a far superior and eternal way, making every believer a minister of reconciliation ([2 Corinthians 5:18-20](/2_corinthians/5-18 "2 Corinthians 5:18-20 - Ministry of Reconciliation")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 10:3

Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,

Joshua 12:13

The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;

Joshua 10:38

And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:

Joshua 21:15

And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,

Joshua 15:49

And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which [is] Debir,

Joshua 15:51

And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages: