1 chronicles 6:55 - to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and its suburbs around it;

Generated Verse: 1 chronicles 6:55

What does "1 chronicles 6:55" mean?


This verse, "to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and its suburbs around it;" from 1 Chronicles 6:55, refers to the allocation of land to the Levites after the Israelites conquered the Promised Land. Let's break down what it means:

"to them": This refers to the descendants of Aaron, who were part of the tribe of Levi. The Levites were a priestly tribe dedicated to serving in the Tabernacle (later the Temple). Unlike the other tribes, they were not given a specific territorial inheritance in the land. Instead, they were given cities to live in throughout the territories of the other tribes.

"they gave Hebron in the land of Judah": Hebron was a significant city located in the territory of the tribe of Judah. It was an ancient city with historical importance (e.g., Abraham lived there). This verse indicates that the Levites (specifically, the descendants of Aaron) were assigned Hebron as one of their cities.

"and its suburbs around it": The "suburbs" (or "surrounding fields") refer to the land immediately surrounding the city of Hebron. This land was likely used for grazing livestock, agriculture, and other necessary resources to support the Levites living in the city. The suburbs were an essential part of the city's infrastructure, providing resources for its inhabitants.

In summary, the verse describes the allocation of the city of Hebron, along with its surrounding land, to the Levitical priests within the territory of the tribe of Judah. This was part of a broader system where the Levites were given cities throughout the land to enable them to perform their religious duties while being supported by the other tribes.

The purpose of giving the Levites cities scattered throughout the tribes was:

Support for the Levites: Since they didn't have a large territory, these cities provided them with a place to live and resources to sustain themselves.
Religious Instruction: The Levites were responsible for teaching the law of Moses and maintaining religious practices. By living among the other tribes, they could provide religious guidance and ensure that the people followed God's commandments.

Understanding this verse requires context from the broader narrative of the distribution of land in the Hebrew Bible.

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