### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word קַרְתָּן (Qartân, `{{H7178}}`) is a proper noun, specifically a geographical place name. Its etymology traces back to the root קֶרֶת (qereth, `{{H7151}}`), which fundamentally means "city" or "town." The suffix "-ân" in place names can sometimes denote a diminutive form or a place associated with the root. Thus, the base definition "city-plot" or "town-area" is consistent with its derivation, suggesting a specific parcel or region connected to an urban center. As a proper noun, it designates a particular location within ancient Palestine.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name Qartân (`{{H7178}}`) appears only once in the Masoretic Text of the Old Testament:
* [[Joshua 21:32]]: "And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hamothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities."
In this context, Qartân is listed as one of the cities allotted to the Gershonite families of the Levites. These Levitical cities, distributed among the various tribes, served as centers for the Levites to dwell, fulfill their priestly and administrative duties, and teach the Law of God to the people. The phrase "with her suburbs" (מִגְרָשֶׁיהָ, *migrasheyha*) indicates the surrounding pasture lands and common areas associated with the city, which were crucial for the Levites' sustenance and their livestock.
It is noteworthy that the parallel list of Levitical cities in [[1 Chronicles 6:76]] (Hebrew 6:61) records "Kirjathaim" (קִרְיָתַיִם, `{{H7157}}`) in place of Kartan for the Gershonites in Naphtali. This textual variation suggests either a different name for the same location, a different city altogether, or a scribal variant, yet the function as a Levitical city remains constant in both accounts.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is קֶרֶת (qereth, `{{H7151}}`), the root meaning "city" or "town," from which Qartân is derived. This connection highlights Qartân's identity as a settled urban or semi-urban area. Other place names in the biblical text that share this root or a similar form include:
* קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע (Qiryath 'Arba', `{{H7153}}`), "City of Arba," later Hebron.
* קִרְיַת יְעָרִים (Qiryath Ye'arim, `{{H7159}}`), "City of Forests."
* קִרְיַת סַנָּה (Qiryath Sannah, `{{H7158}}`), "City of Palms."
* קִרְיָתַיִם (Qiryathayim, `{{H7157}}`), "Double City," which appears in the parallel account in Chronicles.
The concept of "Levitical cities" is central to understanding Qartân's significance. These cities, along with their surrounding pasturelands, were designated by divine command (Numbers 35, Joshua 21) to provide dwelling places for the tribe of Levi, who received no tribal land inheritance. This system ensured the Levites' sustenance and enabled their dispersion throughout the land to fulfill their roles as teachers, judges, and guardians of the Mosaic Law.
### Theological Significance
The inclusion of Qartân among the Levitical cities carries profound theological significance. It underscores God's meticulous provision for His covenant people and His detailed plan for the governance and spiritual life of Israel. The dispersion of the Levites throughout the land, dwelling in cities like Qartân, was not merely a logistical arrangement but a divinely ordained strategy to ensure that the knowledge of God's Law and His presence were accessible to all tribes.
As a Levitical city, Qartân was a point of contact between the sacred and the mundane, a place from which the Levites could minister to the surrounding communities, offer instruction, and administer justice according to the Torah. This system prevented the Levites from becoming an isolated priestly caste and instead integrated them into the fabric of daily Israelite life. The specific naming of such places in the biblical text testifies to the concrete historical reality of God's covenant faithfulness and His ordering of the promised land for His people's flourishing.
### Summary
Qartân (`{{H7178}}`) is a Hebrew proper noun, a place name derived from the word for "city" (qereth, `{{H7151}}`), suggesting a "city-plot" or a specific town. Its sole appearance in the Old Testament is in [[Joshua 21:32]], where it is identified as one of the cities allotted to the Gershonite Levites within the territory of the tribe of Naphtali. This designation highlights Qartân's role within the divinely ordained system of Levitical cities, which ensured the dispersion of the Levites throughout Israel to provide spiritual instruction and administrative guidance. While a textual variant in [[1 Chronicles 6:76]] lists "Kirjathaim" (`{{H7157}}`) in its place, the underlying theological principle of providing for the Levites and their integral role in Israel's covenant life remains consistent.
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