I Chronicles 6:54-60 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 6:54-60 Commentary: First Lot
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore why the first lot for priestly cities fell to the Kohathites in 1 Chronicles 6:54-60 and what it reveals about God's provision and order.
Research Summary
- Meaning: This passage records the thirteen cities given by lot to the priests (sons of Aaron) from the Kohathites, demonstrating God's provision for the spiritual leaders and the priority of the priesthood in Israel.
- Key words: “first lot”, indicates precedence and divine selection of the Kohathite/Aaronite line for the priestly cities.
- Main debate: The text lists eleven city names but totals thirteen; most commentators agree that Juttah and Gibeon (from Joshua 21) have dropped out via scribal error.
- Theological theme: God provides ordered, tangible support for those who minister before Him, scattering them among the people for instruction and intercession.
- Best use: Teaching on the importance of supporting clergy, the historical grounding of the priestly cities, and the nature of textual transmission in the Old Testament.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
54Now these were the territories assigned to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clan for their settlements, because the first lot fell to them:
55They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands.
56But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
57So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,
58Hilen, Debir,
59Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh, together with their pasturelands.
60And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. So they had thirteen cities in all among their families.
WEB World English Bible 2000
54Now 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),
55to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and its pasture lands around it;
56but the fields of the city and its villages, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
57To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron, Libnah also with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,
58Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands,
59Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasture lands;
60and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasture lands, Allemeth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pasture lands. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.
KJV King James Version 1769
54Now 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.
55And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.
56But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
57And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,
58And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,
59And Ashan with her suburbs, and Beth–shemesh with her suburbs:
60And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
54Now 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),
55to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it;
56but the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
57And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
58and Hilen with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs,
59and Ashan with its suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with its suburbs;
60and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its suburbs, and Allemeth with its suburbs, and Anathoth with its suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
54And these are their dwellings, throughout their towers, in their borders, of the sons of Aaron, of the family of the Kohathite, for theirs was the lot;
55and they give to them Hebron in the land of Judah and its suburbs round about it;
56and the field of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
57And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, and Libnah and its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa and its suburbs,
58and Hilen and its suburbs, Debir and its suburbs,
59and Ashan and its suburbs, and Beth-Shemesh and its suburbs.
60And from the tribe of Benjamin, Geba and its suburbs, and Allemeth and its suburbs, and Anathoth and its suburbs. All their cities are thirteen cities, for their families.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
54And these are their dwelling-places according to their encampments, within their borders. For the sons of Aaron, of the family of the Kohathites, for theirs was the lot;
55and they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and its suburbs round about it;
56but the fields of the city, and the hamlets thereof gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
57And to the children of Aaron they gave the city of refuge, Hebron; and Libnah and its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa and its suburbs,
58and Hilen and its suburbs, Debir and its suburbs,
59and Ashan and its suburbs, and Beth-shemesh and its suburbs;
60and, out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba and its suburbs, and Allemeth and its suburbs, and Anathoth and its suburbs: all their cities, thirteen cities, according to their families.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
54And these are their dwelling places by the towns and confines, to wit, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Caathites: for they fell to them by lot.
55And they gave them Hebron in the land of Juda, and the suburbs thereof round about:
56But the fields of the city, and the villages to Caleb son of Jephone.
57And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities for refuge Hebron, and Lobna, and the suburbs thereof,
58And Jether and Esthemo, with their suburbs, and Helon, and Dabir with their suburbs:
59Asan also, and Bethsames, with their suburbs.
60And out of the tribe of Benjamin: Gabee and its suburbs, Almath with its suburbs, Anathoth also with its suburbs: all their cities throughout their families were thirteen.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this passage records the Levitical cities assigned to the priests (the sons of Aaron) from the Kohathite clan, drawn from the parallel account in Joshua 21. The 'first lot' (v.54) signifies the priority given to the priestly family because of their role in the tabernacle and temple service. Barnes notes that 'the Kohathites had the first lot among the Levitical families, as being the family whereto the high priesthood was attached.' Clarke adds that the lot fell first so that Judah would provide cities for the priests. The list of thirteen cities matches Joshua 21, though commentators observe that only eleven names are present; Juttah and Gibeon have dropped out through scribal transmission (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Gill, Cambridge Bible). Despite these gaps, the central point is clear: God ordained a specific inheritance for those who minister before Him, ensuring they would be scattered throughout Israel to teach and mediate, an arrangement rooted in the divine command through Moses (Numbers 35:2-8). The Chronicler’s inclusion of this census at the return from exile reaffirms that the priestly order, with its lands and lifestyle, remained central to Israel’s identity.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: That the passage records the historical allocation of cities to the priests from the Kohathites, with the first lot indicating their special role in serving before the Lord.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Connection to Joshua 21 | This passage is a parallel account of the Levitical cities from Joshua 21, recording the same distribution. | Whether the Chronicler copied from Joshua directly or used a shared ancient source; the Cambridge Bible suggests that the Chronicler rearranged the material, possibly with supplements. |
| Missing city names | The total of thirteen cities is given, but only eleven names appear in the text. | Which two names are missing? Most agree on Juttah and Gibeon (from Joshua 21:16-17), but some older versions offer alternate identifications. |
| Significance of the first lot | The first lot fell to the Kohathites because they included the high-priestly line of Aaron, signifying priority. | Whether this priority implies a higher status than other Levites or simply reflects the order of history (the Aaronites received cities first in the lot); both views see the lot as divinely guided. |
| Pasture lands (suburbs) | Each city included pasturelands for the Levites' livestock, fulfilling Numbers 35:2-5. | The exact extent (2000 cubits) is not reiterated here, and there is debate on whether the Chronicler expected readers to know the original regulation. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The distribution of Levitical cities originated in God’s command to Moses on the plains of Moab (Numbers 35:1-8). The Levites were not to receive a contiguous territory like the other tribes; instead, they were given 48 cities scattered across Israel, with pasturelands (suburbs) extending 2000 cubits from the city walls. This arrangement ensured that the spiritual leaders lived among the people, providing instruction in the law and facilitating worship. The process of casting lots, used to assign the cities, was understood as a method of discerning God’s will (Joshua 21:3-4,8,10).
The Kohathites, as the clan that included Aaron’s line, received the first lot. Hebron, the first city mentioned, was also a city of refuge for those who killed unintentionally (Numbers 35:11-14). Notably, the fields and villages of Hebron were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh, while the city itself and its pasturelands went to the priests (v.56). This separation underscores the careful allocation of resources during the conquest settlement.
The Chronicler, writing after the Babylonian exile, drew on older sources, likely a scroll like the one behind Joshua 21, to remind the restored community of their roots. The list confirms that the priestly cities were not invented but had real historical locations in Judah and Benjamin, near the future site of the temple. Wesley observes that these cities were called 'castles' because God’s protection made even cottages secure. For a people rebuilding their nation, this record of land and order spoke of a God who provides for His servants and preserves His institutions through changing times.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant theological variants for this passage. The most prominent textual issue is the omission of two city names (Juttah and Gibeon) from the list of thirteen (compare Joshua 21:16-17). Commentators attribute this to scribal error in transmission. Variant spellings occur, e.g., Hilen vs. Holen, Allemeth vs. Alemeth, but do not affect the meaning. Other than these, the text is stable across manuscripts and versions.
Reception History
This passage has been read across the centuries primarily as a chronicle of divine provision for the priesthood. Early Jewish interpreters like Jarchi noted the ‘first lot’ falling to Judah (to provide for the priests). In the medieval period, the list supported arguments for clerical land rights and tithes. Reformation-era commentators (e.g., Matthew Henry) saw in the cities a picture of God’s care for His ministers and a call for congregations to support their pastors. Modern scholarship focuses on the relationship of this text to Joshua 21 and the Chronicler’s editorial techniques. The passage is rarely cited in doctrinal controversies but serves as a quiet witness to the detailed planning of Israel’s worship life.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God Provides for His Servants, The priests were given permanent homes, pasturelands, and cities scattered throughout Israel. This was not an afterthought but a command from the Lord. In return, they gave their lives to teaching the law and maintaining worship. The principle still stands: those who minister full-time are worthy of support, and the Church shares the responsibility (Numbers 35:8; 1 Corinthians 9:13-14).
- First Lot, First Responsibility, The Kohathites drew the first lot, marking the priesthood as a priority. Privilege and accountability go together. The priests were set apart to mediate between God and His people, a role that demanded holiness, devotion, and instruction. Their inheritance reminds us that spiritual leadership is both a gift and a trust.
- Order in the Details, The Chronicler lists city names, pasturelands, and family connections with precision. God cares about the specifics of daily life and ministry. He is a God of order, not confusion. The missing cities (Juttah and Gibeon) even show that Scripture records history honestly, with all its textual bumps, pointing to a broad tradition rather than a made-up account.
Five-point outline
- The Lottery of Divine Choice, Lots were cast, but the outcome was from the Lord. The first lot to the priests shows God’s sovereign selection for a sacred purpose.
- Scattered to Teach, The priests did not cluster in one place but were distributed among the tribes, giving every family access to instruction.
- Hebron: Refuge and Provision, The city of refuge combined sanctuary for the unintentional killer with a home for the priest. Mercy and service meet in the same location.
- Remembering the Land, After the exile, this list anchored the returning community in their heritage. They were not starting from nothing; they were reclaiming what God had given.
- Thirteen Cities: Completeness with a Gap, The total stands, even though two names are missing from the text. The number is trustworthy though the copy has faults. God’s promises are not undone by human error in transmission.
Illustration hooks
- A town that decides to pay its fire and police chiefs first, recognizing the value of those who keep order and safety.
- A church that allocates its budget with a certain percentage guaranteed for pastoral support before all other expenses, showing priority in action.
- A family that sets aside the first fruits of the harvest for the local priest or minister, continuing an ancient practice of honouring those who serve spiritually.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If the priests were given cities and land, why don’t pastors today receive guaranteed property from the church?
- Does the ‘first lot’ mean that the priesthood is more important than other callings in the Church?
- Why are some city names missing in 1 Chronicles if the Bible is inerrant? How should we explain textual variants?
Leading a Discussion
This passage may feel like a list of old names, but it reveals how seriously God took the provision for His ministers. The first lot falling to the Kohathites underlines the dignity and responsibility of the priesthood. As you read the verses together, consider how order, land, and service intertwine.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about the cities given to the priests? Why do you think the Chronicler included this list after the exile?
- Verse 54 says ‘theirs was the first lot.’ What might this priority say about the role of the priestly family in Israel’s life?
- Hebron is both a city of refuge and a priestly city. What does this combination suggest about the work of the ministry?
- Why were the priests given cities scattered among the tribes rather than a single territory? How does this affect their mission?
- The text records eleven named cities but claims thirteen total, with two missing through scribal transmission. How does this influence your trust in Scripture? Does it change the theological message?
- In what ways does your church community provide for its spiritual leaders? What can we learn from the Old Testament pattern?
- How does the principle of ‘first lot’ apply in your own life? Where might God be calling you to prioritize His service and His servants?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 25:16 | These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations. |
| Numbers 31:10 | All their cities in the places in which they lived, and all their encampments, they burned with fire. |
| Numbers 35:1 | Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, |
| Numbers 35:8 | Concerning the cities which you shall give of the possession of the children of Israel, from the many you shall take many, and from the few you shall take few. Everyone according to his inheritance which he inherits shall give some of his cities to the Levites.” |
| Joshua 21:3 | The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their pasture lands. |
| Joshua 21:4 | The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin. |
| Joshua 21:8 | The children of Israel gave these cities with their pasture lands by lot to the Levites, as Yahweh commanded by Moses. |
| Joshua 21:10 | and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot. |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke points out a discrepancy in this passage: it says the priests received thirteen cities, but only eleven are actually listed, with Gibeon and Juttah missing and some names changed. He notes that none of the ancient versions correct the numbers to match.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights textual corruption in the Levitical city lists, noting that the Chronicler modernized some names from Joshua 21 and later additions were made. Several cities are missing from the first and second lists to reach the stated totals, while the third list is complete. The account has clearly suffered from omissions over time.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools commentary notes that the Chronicler rearranged Joshua's list of Levitic cities in an "unhappy" way, and the text has suffered further in transcription. Names from Simeon and several other tribes are missing, and only eleven names appear where thirteen are counted, requiring restoration from Joshua's parallel account.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight that the priests received cities with their surrounding pasturelands, but the open fields and villages of Hebron went to Caleb. This distinction shows that even when priests inherited cities, the agricultural land was given to others, preserving the priests’ focus on sacred duties rather than farming.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes a textual discrepancy: two cities are missing from the list in 1 Chronicles, leaving only eleven when thirteen are expected, likely a scribal error. He also observes that Jewish tradition says these suburban cities ended with the first temple, yet Ezra recorded them in detail after the exile, and draws a parallel with pagan asylums that had a similar two-thousand-cubit zone.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB observes that the passage names only eleven of the thirteen cities it promises, with the missing two supplied in nearby verses. This catches a small discrepancy between the announced total and what first appears in the list.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch observe that the list of Levitical cities in Chronicles differs from the parallel register in Joshua in wording, textual errors, and arrangement. They conclude that the Chronicler did not copy from Joshua but drew on a separate ancient authority. The many corruptions, omissions, and transposed passages support this independent origin.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that these dwellings are called castles not because of physical walls but because divine providence specially guards them. For those whose portion is God himself, even a cottage becomes a castle under the shadow of the Almighty. The point is spiritual security, not military strength.