1 Chronicles 6:66-70 Meaning: Why the Chronicler Names Every City
66Some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.
67They gave to them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its pasture lands and Gezer with its pasture lands,
68Jokmeam with its pasture lands, Beth Horon with its pasture lands,
69Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands;
70and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its pasture lands, and Bileam with its pasture lands, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.
66And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.
67And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,
68And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Beth–horon with her suburbs,
69And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gath–rimmon with her suburbs:
70And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.
66And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.
67And they gave unto them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim with its suburbs; Gezer also with its suburbs,
68and Jokmeam with its suburbs, and Beth-horon with its suburbs,
69and Aijalon with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs;
70and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its suburbs, and Bileam with its suburbs, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.
66and some of the families of the sons of Kohath have cities of their border from the tribe of Ephraim;
67and they give to them the cities of refuge, Shechem and its suburbs in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Gezer and its suburbs,
68and Jokmeam and its suburbs, and Beth-Horan and its suburbs,
69and Aijalon and its suburbs, and Gath-Rimmon and its suburbs;
70and from the half tribe of Manasseh, Aner and its suburbs, and Bileam and its suburbs, for the family of the sons of Kohath who are left.
66And to the families of the children of Kohath who had the cities of their territory out of the tribe of Ephraim,
67they gave the city of refuge, Shechem and its suburbs in mount Ephraim; and Gezer and its suburbs,
68and Jokmeam and its suburbs, and Beth-horon and its suburbs,
69and Ajalon and its suburbs, and Gath-Rimmon and its suburbs;
70and out of the half tribe of Manasseh: Aner and its suburbs, and Bileam and its suburbs, — for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does 1 Chronicles 6:66-70 list cities by name after a summary? Because God’s provision is personal, not just a number. Each place matters.
Context
This passage sits inside a long list of cities given to the Levites. The Chronicler had already totaled the number of cities for each Levite family in verses 61-63. Then, without warning, he starts naming them one by one. Here, the names belong to the non-priestly Kohathites, the ones who were not Aaron’s descendants. They received seven cities from the tribes of Ephraim and half-Manasseh. One of them, Shechem, was a city of refuge where someone who killed accidentally could find safety. Every city came with pasture lands. The Chronicler is working from Joshua 21, but he rearranges the order. He seems to want his readers to see that God’s provision for those who served at the tabernacle was not a vague promise, it had addresses.
Key Words
Three English words carry the weight here. Gave, the verb the writer uses over and over, is not about handing over something unwanted. It is a deliberate act of generosity. God did not assign the Levites leftover scraps; He gave them places to live and thrive. Cities of refuge, Shechem was one of six such towns. They were not prisons. They were safe zones where someone who killed by mistake could live without vengeance. The Levites managed these cities, so they were guardians of mercy as well as worship. Pasture lands might sound plain, but in ancient Israel that meant open ground around the city for grazing sheep and growing food. It was not just a roof; it was a livelihood. God gave His servants a place to serve and a place to be sustained.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions see this list differently but with similar reverence. Many Reformers read it as a historical record that proves God cares about tangible, ordinary needs, not just souls but sheep and fields. Catholic interpreters often note that the Levites’ scattering throughout the tribes fulfilled Jacob’s prophecy (Genesis 49:7) and also ensured every region had teachers of the Law. Some modern evangelical readers see a type of Christ in the cities of refuge: safety for the guilty. What unites these views is the conviction that God remembers the least dramatic details. A list of ancient place names becomes a quiet testimony: nothing in His service is forgotten.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to skip this passage as a boring catalog of names that has nothing to offer today. In fact, the Chronicler deliberately repeats details already given in Joshua to make a point: God’s provision is personal, not statistical. He does not merely record a total number; He records each city by name. That means He sees individual lives, not just large groups. The list is not a tedious appendix but a promise: God remembers where His servants live and what they need to serve Him.
Living This Out
Think about the roof over your head this week. The place where you sleep, cook, sit with your family, it might feel ordinary, but God knows its address. The Chronicler names every pasture land because He wanted the Levites to know they were not an afterthought. You can carry that same assurance into your daily work. When you pay rent, fix a meal, or rest in the evening, remember that God provides for your body just as surely as He provides for your soul. He is not a distant manager; He is a giver who names the gifts.
Main takeaway: God does not forget the details of His care; He names every city and provides for every need, down to the pasture lands.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The Levites worked at God’s house. God gave them cities to live in and fields for their animals. He makes sure His people have everything they need.
For ages 9, 12
The Levites were the tribe that served at the tabernacle. They didn’t get a big area of land like the other tribes. Instead, God gave them cities spread across Israel so they could teach everyone about Him. Each city came with fields and a place to live. God wanted them to have a home and food while they did His work. This shows that when we serve God, He does not forget what we need in real life.
Questions People Ask
What are pasture lands in this passage?
Pasture lands were the open fields around each Levite city. The Levites used them to graze their animals, grow food, and support their families. God did not just give them a house; He gave them a way to earn a living.
Why does the Chronicler repeat the list from Joshua?
The Chronicler uses Joshua 21 as a source, but he arranges the names differently. He seems to want his readers to see God’s faithfulness in providing for the Levites. By listing each city by name, he makes the provision personal and concrete, not just a number.
Why were only Ephraim and Manasseh chosen for the rest of the Kohathites?
These two tribes were Joseph’s sons and had large territories in central Israel. The Kohathites (non-priestly branch) received cities there so they could serve near the tabernacle, which was later at Shiloh in Ephraim, and also be scattered among the people.
What is a city of refuge?
A city of refuge was a safe place for someone who accidentally killed another person. They could flee there and live safely until a fair trial. Shechem, mentioned here, was one of six such cities. The Levites lived in these cities and helped administer justice.
How does this list apply to Christians today?
The list shows that God cares about the ordinary details of life, where we live, how we are sustained, and our safety. It reminds us that serving God does not mean neglecting real needs. He provides for His people in tangible ways, and we can trust Him for daily provision.
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