1 Chronicles 6:66

And [the residue] of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.

And the residue of the families {H4940} of the sons {H1121} of Kohath {H6955} had cities {H5892} of their coasts {H1366} out of the tribe {H4294} of Ephraim {H669}.

Some of the clans of the descendants of K'hat were given cities in territory from the tribe of Efrayim.

And some of the clans of the Kohathites were given cities from the tribe of Ephraim for their territory:

And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.

Commentary

Context

First Chronicles Chapter 6 is primarily dedicated to the genealogies of the Levites, highlighting their critical role in Israel's worship and service to God. Verses 54-81 detail the specific cities allotted to the various Levitical families across the tribes of Israel, fulfilling the divine command given in Numbers 35:2. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites did not receive a territorial inheritance of their own because "the priesthood of the LORD" was their inheritance (Deuteronomy 18:1). Instead, they were distributed among all the tribes to serve the spiritual needs of the entire nation.

Verse 66 specifically focuses on "the residue" of the families of the sons of Kohath. The Kohathites were one of the three main divisions of the Levites (along with Gershon and Merari), and from them came the priestly line of Aaron. While the direct descendants of Aaron (the priests) received cities of refuge and other specific cities (1 Chronicles 6:57-60), this verse refers to the remaining Kohathite families who were not of the priestly lineage but still served in various capacities related to the Tabernacle and later the Temple. These particular Kohathites received their assigned cities from the territory of the powerful tribe of Ephraim.

Key Themes

  • Divine Order and Provision: This meticulous listing demonstrates God's precise and faithful provision for His chosen servants, ensuring they had places to live while performing their duties throughout the land. It underscores the divine plan for Israel's spiritual well-being.
  • Fulfillment of Covenant: The distribution of these Levitical cities was a direct fulfillment of the Lord's instructions given through Moses, emphasizing the enduring nature of God's covenant promises and His attention to detail in their execution.
  • Levitical Service: The location of these cities allowed the Levites to be accessible to all tribes, facilitating their role as teachers of the Law, judges, musicians, and guardians of the sanctuary, thus maintaining the spiritual health of the nation.

Linguistic Insights

The term "residue" (Hebrew: Χ™ΦΆΧͺΦΆΧ¨, yeter) simply means "the rest" or "what remained." In this context, it distinguishes these Kohathites from the priestly line of Aaron, who had already been accounted for in the preceding verses. The phrase "cities of their coasts" refers to the towns within their allocated territorial borders, indicating specific municipal areas given for their habitation.

Practical Application

This verse, though seemingly a dry list, reminds us of God's meticulous care for those who serve Him. Just as He provided for the Levites so they could fulfill their unique calling, He continues to provide for His people today, equipping and enabling them for their individual purposes within His larger plan. It also highlights the importance of organization and intentionality in God's work, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively for the spiritual nourishment of His community. Every member of God's family has a place and a purpose, and God orchestrates the details to ensure that purpose can be fulfilled.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 21:20

    And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.

  • Joshua 21:26

    All the cities [were] ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
← Back