Now these were the territories assigned to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clan for their settlements, because the first lot fell to them:
Parallel translations
- WEB 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),
- KJV Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.
- NKJV Now these are their dwelling places throughout their settlements in their territory, for they were given by lot to the sons of Aaron, of the family of the Kohathites:
- NASB Now these are their settlements according to their camps within their borders. To the sons of Aaron of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the first lot),
- NLT This is a record of the towns and territory assigned by means of sacred lots to the descendants of Aaron, who were from the clan of Kohath.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Now the dwelling places of the Levites are recorded, beginning with Aaron's sons of the Kohathites, who received the first lot. God provided the priests with assigned towns throughout the land.
Overview
Because Levi received no tribal territory, the LORD gave the Levites designated cities scattered among the other tribes (Numbers 35:1-8). The Chronicler now records these allotments, beginning with the priests. This dispersal meant that those who taught God's law and led worship were present throughout the nation, a picture of God's desire that his truth permeate the whole land.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Gen 25:16These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names by their villages and encampments—twelve princes of their tribes.
- Num 35:1–8Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho:
- Josh 21:10to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them:
- Num 31:10Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites had lived, as well as all their encampments,
- Josh 21:3–8So by the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance:
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 6:54 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.