1 Chronicles 6:54

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:54-81

We have here an account of the Levites? cities. They are here called their castles (1 Chron. 6:54), not only because walled and fortified, and well guarded by the country (for it is the interest of every nation to protect its ministers), but because they and their possessions were, in a particular manner, the care of the divine providence: as God was their portion, so God was their protection; and a cottage will be a castle to those that abide under the shadow of the Almighty. This account is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:54-81

Now these are their dwelling places ,.... The dwelling places of the priests and Levites, assigned and given to them in the several tribes of Israel; and the account of them agrees with that in Joshua 21:1 with some few variations of names of places, which have been there observed: see the notes there; only in 1 Chronicles 6:57 two cities are omitted, Juttah and Gibeon, through want of care in transcribing, since they are said to be "thirteen", as they should be, whereas eleven only are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 6:54

Theirs was the lot - All the tribes and families obtained their respective inheritances by lot, but to the sons of Aaron was the first lot; and so the Syriac and Arabic have understood this place. The first lot, says Jarchi, fell to Judah, that they might give to the priests and the Levites the cities marked below. See an account of the possessions of the priests and Levites, Joshua 20:1-9 , 21. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:54-70

And these are their dwellings according to their enclosures in their territories , טִירוֹתָם means the settlements of whatever people in question, surrounded and protected by whatever fence or defence customary. For theirs was the lot is more intelligible with the addition of the word "first," supplied in Jos 31:10, i.e. theirs was the first lot. The whole drift of the present passage, with the remainder of the chapter, is made entirely plain by Numbers 35:1-8 and Joshua 21:1-10... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:54-81

The writer returns upon his steps to give the cities and dwelling-places of the Levites, beginning with the priestly members of the Kohathite line ( 1 Chronicles 6:54-61 ), then taking those of the Gershomite ( 1 Chronicles 6:62 ) and Merarite lines ( 1 Chronicles 6:63-65 ) in order; and again in the same order disposing of the members not priestly ( 1 Chronicles 6:66-70 ; 71-76; 77-81) of the same three branches. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Chronicles 6:54

Their’s was the lot - i. e. “the first lot.” The Kohathites had the first lot among the Levitical families, as being the family whereto the high priesthood was attached (compare Joshua 21:10). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Chronicles 6:54

1 Chronicles 6:54. Throughout their castles So called, not only because walled and well guarded by the country, but because they and their possessions were in a particular manner the care of Divine Providence. As God was their portion, so God was their protector. And a cottage will be a castle to those that abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Theirs was the lot Or, the first lot. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 6:1-81

The Levites (6:1-81)Levi had three sons, Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The priesthood in Israel began with Aaron, who was descended from Levi through Kohath. From that time on, all Aaron’s descendants, and no others, were priests. This means that the Levites may be divided into four groups - the priestly Kohathites, the non-priestly Kohathites, the Gershonites and the Merarites.The Chronicler begins with the priestly line descended from Aaron through his son Eleazar, and traces the line to the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Chronicles 6:54

their dwelling places. Compare Joshua 21:4-42 . This was the basis of their claim for reinstatement after their return from Babylon. Probably many of these places had changed their names in spelling or otherwise since those days. This accounts for all the variations. castles = districts. coasts = borders. was the lot. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ): "was the [first] lot". read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 6:54

"Now these are their dwelling places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the first lot), to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it; but the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs, and... read more

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