1 Chronicles 6:77

THE CITIES OF THE MERARITES.

(Comp. Jos_21:34-38.) 1Ch_6:77-81.

(77) Unto the rest of the children of Merari.—Rather, Unto the sons of Merari, the remaining Levites, as at Jos_21:34. The cities of the Kohathites and Gershonites having been rehearsed, it was natural to speak of the Merarites as “those who were left.”

Were given.—They gave, as before (1Ch_6:71).

Rimmon . . . Tabor.—Heb. Rimmônô. The reading of Jos_21:34-35 is quite different. We there find mention of Jokneam, Kartah, Dimnah, and Nahalal, “four cities.” The first pair of names may be accidentally omitted from our text. Dimnah, in Joshua, should probably be Rimmonah, answering to the present Rimmono or Rimmon (Jos_19:13). Rimmon, the Assyrian Rammânu. (See Note on 2Ki_5:18.) Nahalal is mentioned again (Jos_19:15) as a city-of Zebulun; while Tabor is only known as the name of the mountain which rises north-east of the plain of Esdraelon, and is famous as the traditional scene of the Transfiguration (Jdg_8:18; Psa_89:12). Nahalal means “pasture,” or “sheep-walk” = Nahalôl (Isa_7:19); and the original reading of our text may have been, Nahalal-tabôr (pasturage of Tabor)—a compound proper name like Hamm-thôdôr, and many-others.

(78, 79) Bezer in the wilderness.—A city of refuge (Deu_4:43). The phrase “on the east or Jordan” fixes the meaning of the indefinite expression “on the other side Jordan.”

Jahzah is a form of Jahaz, originally meaning, “to Jahaz.” (Comp. the modern names Stamboul = ἐς τὰν πόλιν, Stanchio = ἐς τὰν χίω) Jahaz was assigned to Reuben at the partition of Canaan (Jos_13:18), along with Kedemoth and Mephaath. Mesha, king of Moab, recovered it from Israel (see Note on 2Ki_1:1). Mephaath belonged to Moab temp. Jeremiah (Jer_48:21). It was, according to Jerome, a garrison town in the Roman age. (See also Jos_13:18; Jos_21:37; Deu_2:26.)

(80) Ramoth in Gilead.—A city of refuge (Jos_21:36). Jazer, Heshbon, Mahanaim, were given by Moses to the Gadites (Jos_13:25-26). Ramoth Gilead (see 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18, and 2Ki_8:28). Its position is unknown.

Mahanaim, now Maneh, lay on the north border of Gad.

(81) Heshbon, now Hesbân, on the south border of Gad. (See also Isa_15:4; Jer_48:2.)

Jazer belonged to Moab in the eighth century (Isa_16:8-9; Jer_48:32).

In regard to this entire list of the Levitical cities, it has been asserted that it is based upon a theory which is historically false; the theory, namely, that certain towns with their pasture-grounds were assigned by lot to the Levites for their exclusive possession. The objection is irrelevant, for the sacred records neither affirm nor imply that none but Levitical families dwelt in the forty-eight Levitical cities. It is à priori probable that the bulk of their population would be ordinary Israelites of the tribes in which they were situated. (Comp. Lev_25:32-34, and 1Ch_6:55-57 supra, and Num_35:1-5.)

Variations in local names, such as we have noted in comparing this list with those in Joshua, are not at all surprising, when it is remembered that centuries elapsed between the composition of the two books; and that names of places, like other names, are liable to phonetic change in the course of time. Something also must be allowed for errors of transcription.

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

Or, Kartah, Josh. 21:34.

Or, Jokneam.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 77. 1Ch 6:71.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

77–81 (= Jos_21:34-39). The [twelve] cities of the sons of Merari

77. Rimmon … Tabor] Against these two names there are four in Jos_21:34-35; Jokneam, Kartah, Dimnah and Nahalal. As regards the number of the cities the text of Joshua is certainly right. See Critical Note on 1Ch_6:54-81.

Tabor] No city, but only a mountain named Tabor is known to us, as having certainly existed in Old Testament times. A city however named Tabor existed on the Mountain as early as 218 b.c., and it may have been as old as the times of the Chronicler. Mount Tabor was in Zebulun. Cp. Bädeker, p. 248.

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.

Remmono and Thabor, or, Jecham and Cartha. (Haydock) --- Damna and Naalol are here omitted, Josue xxi. 35. There was formerly a town on Thabor, perhaps called Ceselet Thabor, Josue xix. 12., and Judges iv. 6. (Calmet)

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).

Unto the rest of the children of Merari. Since none have yet been spoken of as having received their cities, we find the explanation of these words in their order in Jos_21:34, "Unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites." To our list here, Jokneam and Kartah (Jos_21:34) need to be supplied, and Rimmon and Tabor here appear, (Jos_21:35) there as Dimnah and Nahalai.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

See: How to Translate Names

The rest ... descendants received from the tribe of Zebulun

This can be translated in active form. AT: "The tribe of Zebulun gave the rest ... descendants" (See: Active or Passive)

Merari's

Translate "Merari" as in 1 Chronicles 6:1.

Rimmono ... and Tabor ... Bezer ... Jahzah ... Kedemoth ... Mephaath

These are all names of towns. (See: How to Translate Names)

its pasturelands

the land with grass for animals to eat. See how you translated this in 1 Chronicles 5:16.

and from the tribe of Reuben

The information in 1 Chronicles 6:78-79 has been rearranged so its meaning can be more easily understood. (See: Verse Bridges)

from the tribe of Reuben

This can be translated in active form. AT: "the tribe of Reuben gave these" or "they also received these from the tribe of Reuben" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

Levi

Zebulun

Jordan River

Jericho

desert

Reuben

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.