I Chronicles 6:77-81 · Bible study

1 Chronicles 6:77-81 Commentary: Why the Chronicler Reordered the Levitical Cities

Hebrew · 4 what the commentators say

Meaning in one sentence

The Chronicler rearranged the list of Levitical cities from Joshua 21. Learn why and what this reveals about his editorial purposes.

Research Summary

Meaning: The Merarite Levites receive twelve cities, but the Chronicler only names ten, suggesting textual transmission issues.
Key words: Pasture lands, suburbs (ancient translation), cities of refuge, Merarites.
Main debate: Is the Chronicler’s list a corrupted version or a purposeful theological rearrangement of Joshua 21?
Theological theme: God’s provision for his servants through the generosity of the community.
Best use: Studying the Chronicler’s editorial methods and the preservation of Levitical heritage.

Translation Comparison

BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020

⁷⁷The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands.

⁷⁸From the tribe of Reuben east of the Jordan opposite Jericho they were given Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah,

⁷⁹Kedemoth, and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands.

⁸⁰And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,

⁸¹Heshbon, and Jazer, together with their pasturelands.

WEB World English Bible 2000

⁷⁷To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its pasture lands, and Tabor with its pasture lands;

⁷⁸and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands,

⁷⁹Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands;

⁸⁰and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture lands,

⁸¹Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.

KJV King James Version 1769

⁷⁷Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:

⁷⁸And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,

⁷⁹Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:

⁸⁰And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

⁸¹And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.

ASV American Standard Version 1901

⁷⁷Unto 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;

⁷⁸and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them, out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with its suburbs, and Jahzah with its suburbs,

⁷⁹and Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs;

⁸⁰and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,

⁸¹and Heshbon with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs.

YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898

⁷⁷To the sons of Merari who are left, from the tribe of Zebulun, are Rimmon and its suburbs, Tabor and its suburbs;

⁷⁸and from beyond the Jordan by Jericho, at the east of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness and its suburbs, and Jahzah and its suburbs,

⁷⁹and Kedemoth and its suburbs, and Mephaath and its suburbs;

⁸⁰and from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead and its suburbs, and Mahanaim and its suburbs,

⁸¹and Heshbon and its suburbs, and Jazer and its suburbs.

Darby Darby Bible 1890

⁷⁷To the children of Merari that remained [were given] out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono and its suburbs, [and] Tabor and its suburbs;

⁷⁸and on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness and its suburbs, and Jahzah and its suburbs,

⁷⁹and Kedemoth and its suburbs, and Mephaath and its suburbs;

⁸⁰and out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead and its suburbs, and Mahanaim and its suburbs,

⁸¹and Heshbon and its suburbs, and Jaazer and its suburbs.

Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899

⁷⁷And to the sons of Merari that remained: out of the tribe of Zabulon, Remmono and its suburbs, and Thabor with its suburbs.

⁷⁸Beyond the Jordan also over against Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan and out of the tribe of Ruben, Bosor in the wilderness with its suburbs, and Jassa with its suburbs;

⁷⁹Cademoth also and its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs;

⁸⁰Moreover also out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Galaad and its suburbs, and Manaim with its suburbs;

⁸¹Hesebon also with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs.

Verse in Context

75 Hukok with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands;

76 and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands, and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands.

77 To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its pasture lands, and Tabor with its pasture lands;

78 and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands,

79 Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands;

80 and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture lands,

81 Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.

Scholars' Consensus

Commentators agree the Chronicler adapted this list from Joshua 21, but they disagree on why he rearranged it. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges calls the rearrangement “not happy” and suggests that textual transmission has caused names to drop out, two cities of Zebulun are missing here, and elsewhere Juttah and Gibeon have fallen from the account. Matthew Henry presents the list without noting the differences, accepting it as a record of God’s provision. There is consensus that the Chronicler used existing sources with purpose: he highlights the Aaronite cities first (1 Chr 6:55, 60) and then summarises the rest. Whether the non-Aaronite list in verses 66, 81 is an original part of his plan or a later supplement is debated, but the theological point, that the Levites were to be supported by the whole nation, is not in question.

How settled is the interpretation?

Interpretive difficulty: Medium

Main views:

Textual corruption view: The Cambridge Bible notes that two Zebulun city names fell out and that the text suffered in transcription, leading to a discrepancy in the number of cities.
Editorial rearrangement view: The Chronicler deliberately reordered the Joshua 21 list to highlight the Aaronite cities first, shaping his material for a temple-centered theology.
Supplementary view: The non-Aaronite city list in verses 66–81 may be a later addition, as the Chronicler originally intended to name only the Aaronite cities.

What is clear: The passage records that God provided cities and pasturelands for the Merarite Levites, including cities of refuge, affirming the covenant community’s care for those who served at the sanctuary.

What Scholars Agree and Debate

Topic	Agreed	Debated
Number of Merarite cities	The Chronicler intended to record twelve cities (see 1 Chr 6:63).	Only ten are named in the text; the missing names are often attributed to scribal error, though some argue the Chronicler deliberately omitted them to streamline his narrative or to focus on the Aaronite cities.
Relationship to Joshua 21	The Chronicler used Joshua 21 as a source and adapted it for his own work.	The Cambridge Bible calls the adaptation 'unhappy,' implying textual loss; other readers see the rearrangement as a constructive theological reinterpretation for the post-exilic community.
Purpose of the list	The list underscores the Levites’ integral role in Israel’s life and the community’s responsibility to support them.	Some argue the primary purpose is historical accuracy; others maintain it is theological instruction, especially to reinforce the centrality of the Jerusalem temple and its priesthood.

Historical & Cultural Context

The Levitical cities system was established by divine command in Numbers 35 after the tabernacle worship had been centralised. Each Levitical clan received towns with surrounding pasturelands so they could raise livestock and sustain their families without a tribal land inheritance. The Chronicler, writing after the exile in the fifth or fourth century BC, compiled these lists to reconnect the returning community with its heritage.

The Merarites, the third and least prominent Levite clan, received cities from three tribes: Zebulun in the north and, across the Jordan, Reuben and Gad. Some of these cities had special status:

Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
— Deuteronomy 4:43 (WEB)

Both Bezer and Ramoth were cities of refuge where an accidental killer could flee for justice (Joshua 20:8). The Chronicler’s geography, “beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan”, anchors the list in the actual territory east of the Dead Sea that had been settled under Moses.

By including these Transjordanian towns, the Chronicler underscored the unity of the entire covenant community, east and west, in supporting the sanctuary. That the list names only ten cities when Joshua 21 provides twelve has led scholars to suspect the Chronicler’s manuscript was already damaged when he wrote. Still, his choice to reorder the material around the Aaronites first and then the rest reveals a theological priority: the high-priestly line stands at the centre of Israel’s identity, even in a list of border towns.

Textual Notes

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that the text of this passage has “suffered in transcription.” Specifically, two city names from the tribe of Zebulun have probably fallen out: verse 63 promises twelve cities for the Merarites, but only ten are named in verses 77, 81. The same commentary observes that in other parts of the chapter names such as Juttah and Gibeon (see Josh 21:16, 17) are also missing. The consulted sources mention no further significant textual variants beyond these omissions.

Reception History

This list has been cited by teachers across traditions as evidence that God’s provision for the clergy is woven into the structure of Israel. Matthew Henry saw it as a demonstration of God’s faithfulness to the tribe of Levi. The Geneva Bible notes simply present the text, reflecting a Reformation trust in the plain sense of Scripture. In more recent scholarship, the passage has been used to discuss the Chronicler’s editorial method, how he shaped old material to address new circumstances. Its inclusion of cities of refuge has also informed Christian reflections on sanctuary and justice. Though often skimmed in liturgy, the list stands as a quiet witness to the order and generosity of God’s kingdom.

Preaching This Verse

Three-point outline

God provides for those who serve him. The pasturelands were not a luxury but a means of survival. The Levites owned no tribal land; the community gave these towns so that worship could continue.
God’s order includes everyone. The Merarites were the smallest clan, yet they received cities from three tribes. No one is forgotten in God’s plan.
Even imperfect records reveal faithfulness. The text shows signs of wear, missing names, rearranged order, but the central truth remains: God keeps his promises.

Five-point outline

The Levites depended on the tribes. Each city came with pasturelands, a tangible reminder that worship requires material support.
Cities of refuge combine justice and mercy. Bezer and Ramoth, named here, were safe havens. The Levites who lived there were guardians of God’s law and his grace.
The Chronicler’s editing reflects his purpose. He rearranged the Joshua list to highlight the Aaronite priests first, then the rest. Theology shaped history.
Scattered to teach. Levites lived among the people, not in a single compound. Their presence in towns across the Jordan meant God’s Word was accessible everywhere.
Community support for worship is biblical. This list is more than geography; it is a pattern for how God’s people provide for those who minister.

Illustration hooks

A school district that budgets for teachers’ housing in remote areas, ensuring good instruction reaches every student.
A county that designates certain buildings as emergency shelters, then staffs them with trained volunteers.
A church that decides to pay its pastoral staff a fair wage so they can focus on study, prayer, and care.

Questions your congregation is asking

Why does God care where the Levites lived? Isn’t the heart more important than geography?
Does the Chronicler’s rearrangement mean the Bible has errors?
What does this ancient list say about our responsibility to support ministry today?

Leading a Discussion

This passage may read like a simple inventory, but it carries weight. The Chronicler could have copied Joshua 21 exactly; instead he reordered it. Why? For small groups, this list is an invitation to think about how later generations tell the story of God’s provision.

Discussion questions

What stands out to you about the cities listed, their number, their locations, their connection to other Bible stories?
Compare this passage with Joshua 21:34, 37. What differences do you notice? What might account for them?
The word “pasture lands” appears six times. What does that repetition tell you about what the Levites needed to survive?
The Chronicler placed the Aaronite cities first (vv. 55, 60) and only later named the Merarite towns. What does that ordering suggest about his priorities?
Two of these cities, Bezer and Ramoth, were cities of refuge (Deuteronomy 4:43, Joshua 20:8). Why would the Chronicler include that detail?
How does the post-exile community hearing this list differ from the generation that first received the land under Joshua?
What does this passage teach us about providing for those who serve us spiritually? How might your group apply this pattern?

What the Commentators Say

2 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.

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 present a straightforward record of the cities and pasturelands assigned to the Merarite Levites from the tribes of Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad. This careful listing underscores that even the secondary line of Levites received specific, geographically diverse territories on both sides of the Jordan, fulfilling a systematic divine provision.

Cross-References

Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)

Joshua 21:34	To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands,
Joshua 21:35	Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands: four cities.
Deuteronomy 4:41	Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise,
Deuteronomy 4:43	Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
Joshua 20:8	Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
Joshua 21:36	Out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands,
Joshua 21:37	Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands: four cities.
Genesis 32:2	When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.

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"

← Devotional