1 Chronicles 6:54-60 Meaning: Why the First Lot Went to the Priests
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did the first lot for Levitical cities fall to the Kohathites?
Context
This passage sits within a long register of Levitical cities, adapted from Joshua 21. The Chronicler has just traced the line of Aaron’s descendants, and now he tells where these priests lived. The Kohathites, the family that included Aaron, received the first lot. That priority was no accident. It signaled that those who served closest to God came first in His plans for His people.
Thirteen cities were given to the priests, along with pasture lands for their livestock. Hebron, a noted city of refuge, headed the list. The rest, Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, and others, were spread across Judah and Benjamin. These were not remote outposts but real places where priests lived, taught, and offered sacrifices on behalf of Israel.
Key Words
Three words from this passage carry more weight than a first reading might suggest.
Lot. The word appears repeatedly. The first lot fell to the Kohathites. Casting lots was an ancient way of letting God decide. Nobody chose for themselves; the outcome came from Him. So the priests' priority was not human favoritism but divine order. God Himself placed them first.
Pasture lands. The Hebrew term (translated as “suburbs” in older versions) meant open land around a city for grazing animals. The Levites owned no tribal territory, God was their inheritance, so these pasture lands were a concrete provision for their daily needs. The same God who called them to serve also made sure their cattle had grass to eat.
Cities of refuge. Hebron, the first city on the list, was one of these special places where someone who had killed accidentally could flee for safety. The priests were not only given homes; they were stationed at the very places where mercy was most needed.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage as evidence of God’s careful order for worship. Reformed commentators like Matthew Henry saw the first lot as a sign that “God was their portion” and also their protector. Wesley noted that the Levites’ dwellings, though called “castles” in the KJV, were really under God’s special care, not military strength.
Anglican scholars in the Cambridge Bible observe that the Chronicler rearranged the material from Joshua to highlight the priestly cities first. Methodist writer Adam Clarke pointed out that the “first lot” meant the priests came before any other Levitical family. Baptist theologian Gill added that some cities appear to be missing from the list, yet the total remains thirteen, a detail that has led to much discussion but no division among believers.
Despite minor textual differences, all major traditions agree: the priority of the priesthood here reflects God’s design for worship and His faithful provision for those who lead it.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers dismiss this list as dry, irrelevant record-keeping. In fact, the Chronicler is making a theological point: God gave the priests the first lot, and He gave them real cities with real pasture lands. These verses show that serving God was not an abstract calling but a supported way of life. The details matter because they reveal a God who provides for His servants down to the last pasture.
Living This Out
This week, you might ask: who in my life serves God in ways that go unseen? Pastors, worship leaders, volunteers, people who give time to help others meet God. The first lot reminds us that God puts such people first in His care. You could show that same priority: a note of thanks, a meal shared, a small gift that says, “I see what you do.”
There is also something here for your own heart. The priests received provision without owning land. Their security was not in property but in God’s promise. If you feel unsettled about your future, this passage whispers that the same God who gave pasture lands to the Levites knows what you need too.
Main takeaway: God gave the first lot to the priests, showing He provides for those who serve Him and establishes order among His people.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God gave houses and land to the priests who worked in His temple. He wanted them to have everything they needed. God takes care of His people.
For ages 9, 12
The first lot went to the priests because God wanted them to come first in His plans. Even though the priests didn’t own a big piece of land like the other tribes, God gave them cities with fields for their animals. That shows us God values people who serve Him and makes sure they have what they need. When you help at church or serve others, God sees that and He takes care of you too.
Questions People Ask
Why did the Kohathites get the first lot?
The Kohathites were the family that included Aaron, the first high priest. The first lot was given to them because the priesthood held the highest place among the Levites. It was a sign that God put those who served closest to Him first in His provision.
What are ‘pasture lands’ or ‘suburbs’ in this passage?
These were open fields around the cities where the Levites could graze their cattle. Since the Levites did not receive a tribal territory like the other Israelites, God gave them both homes and land to support their daily life and work.
Why are thirteen cities mentioned for the priests, but only eleven or twelve names are listed?
Several commentators note that two city names appear to have been lost in copying the text. The parallel account in Joshua 21 includes Juttah and Gibeon, which together make the full count of thirteen. The Chronicler likely had the same list as Joshua, but their names dropped out early in transmission.
How does this passage relate to Joshua 21?
This passage is closely based on Joshua 21, which also records the cities given to the Levites. The Chronicler arranged the material differently: he listed the priestly cities first by name, then summarized the rest by number. Scholars generally agree he used a separate ancient source, not a direct copy.
What is a city of refuge, and why is Hebron mentioned that way?
Cities of refuge were special towns where someone who accidentally killed another person could flee for safety until a fair trial. Hebron, the first city given to the priests, was one of these cities. It shows that the priests lived at places where God’s mercy was most visible.
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