1 Chronicles 6:67

1Ch 6:67. They gave unto them of the cities of refuge — That is, the children of Israel, as it is expressed 1Ch 6:64, gave to the residue of the Kohathites the following cities, part out of Ephraim, and part out of the half-tribe of Manasseh. As to the names of these cities, divers of them differ from those mentioned as given to them Jos 21:15. Nor is it strange that the names of places should be changed in so many hundreds of years as had intervened between Joshua and this time. And as to the cities themselves, it is further to be observed, that they were dispersed among all the tribes, partly that Jacob’s prophecy might be fulfilled concerning the scattering of the tribe of Levi, Gen 49:7; and partly that every tribe might have teachers among them by whom they might be directed in, and quickened to, the observation of God’s laws, upon which their safety and happiness wholly depended.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

they gave unto them of the cities of refuge--The names of the cities given here are considerably different from those applied to them (Jos 21:13-19). In the lapse of centuries, and from the revolutions of society, changes might have been expected to take place in the form or dialectic pronunciation of the names of those cities; and this will sufficiently account for the variations that are found in the lists as enumerated here and in an earlier book. As to these cities themselves that were assigned to the Levites, they were widely remote and separated--partly in fulfilment of Jacob's prophecy (Gen 49:7), and partly that the various districts of the country might obtain a competent supply of teachers who might instruct the people in the knowledge, and animate them to the observance, of a law which had so important a bearing on the promotion both of their private happiness and their national prosperity.

Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 7

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(67) And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge . . .—The correct version of the Hebrew text is, “And they gave unto them the cities of refuge, Shechem and her pastures, in the hill-country of Ephraim; and Gezer and her pastures.” Perhaps both here and in 1Ch_6:57 above “city” (‘iyr), and not “cities” (‘arey), is the original reading. We have already noticed many indications of textual corruption in this and the former section. Gezer was not a city of refuge. (See Note on 1Ch_6:57.) Jos_21:21 has the singular.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

67. gave … of the cities of refuge, Shechem] Render (with a slight correction of the Hebrew) gave … the city of refuge, Shechem. Cp. 1Ch_6:57, note.

Shechem] Gen_12:6; Gen_33:18; Jos_24:1; Jdg_9:1; 1Ki_12:1. Shechem is the modern Nabulus, situated almost in the middle of Palestine.

Gezer] Jos_16:3; Jdg_1:29; 1Ki_9:16. It is the modern Tell-Jezer about 18 miles N.W. of Jerusalem. Cp. Bädeker, p. 13.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Of the. Literally, "cities to flee to, (or of refuge) Sichem," (Haydock) which might induce some to suppose that all these cities were of this description; but, in reality, only Sichem had that privilege. (Calmet) --- Septuagint is liable to the same ambiguity. See ver. 57., (Haydock) Josue xx. 7., and xxi. 21.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

They gave; either the Ephraimites; or rather, the children of Israel, as it is expressed, 1Ch 6:64, who gave part out of Ephraim, and part out of the half tribe of Manasseh, as it here follows. But the Ephraimites could not give away any cities belonging to the Manassites.

Unto them, i.e. to the residue of the Kohathites last mentioned.

Of the cities of refuge, or, the cities (i.e. the city, the plural number used of one; of which frequent examples have been given before: see 1Ch 7:3,12,14) of refuge. Or, cities, (the construct form being put for the absolute, of which there want not examples in the Hebrew language,) the city of refuge. As to the names of these cities, divers of them are differing from those names which were given to them, Jos 21:13. Nor is it at all strange that the names of places should be changed in so many hundreds of years as were between Joshua and this time. And to the cities themselves, this is further to be observed, that they are dispersed among all the tribes, partly that Jacob’s prophecy might be fulfilled concerning the scattering of Levi. Gen 49:7; and partly that every tribe might have teachers among them, by whom they might be directed in and quickened to the observation of God’s laws, upon which their safety and happiness wholly depended.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.