To the sons of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
Parallel translations
- WEB To the sons of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
- KJV Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
- BSB The Merarites, according to their families, were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
- NKJV To the sons of Merari, throughout their families, they gave twelve cities from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun.
- NLT The descendants of Merari received by sacred lots twelve towns from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
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
The Merarites received twelve cities by lot from Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. The third Levitical clan was settled in these tribal areas.
Overview
The Merarite Levites received their allotment, including territory east of the Jordan among Reuben and Gad. Again the lot was used, signaling that God himself directed the placement of his servants. The thorough provision for all three clans displays the completeness of God's care for the tribe set apart to him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Josh 21:7The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun.
- Josh 21:34–40To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, Kartah with its suburbs,
- Num 3:20The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.
- Gen 46:11The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- 1 Chr 6:77–81To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its suburbs, Tabor with its suburbs;
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Original language
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