1 Chronicles 6:57
New International Version
So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), and Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,

New Living Translation
So the descendants of Aaron were given the following towns, each with its pasturelands: Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,

English Standard Version
To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah with its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands,

Berean Standard Bible
So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,

Berean Literal Bible
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron, and also Libnah and its pasturelands, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa and its pasturelands,

King James Bible
And 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,

New King James Version
And to the sons of Aaron they gave one of the cities of refuge, Hebron; also Libnah with its common-lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its common-lands,

New American Standard Bible
To the sons of Aaron they gave the following cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah together with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,

NASB 1995
To the sons of Aaron they gave the following cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah also with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,

NASB 1977
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the following cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah also with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,

Legacy Standard Bible
To the sons of Aaron they gave the following cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah also with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,

Amplified Bible
To the sons of Aaron they gave the following cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,

Berean Annotated Bible
So the descendants of Aaron (light bringer) were given Hebron (association) (a city of refuge), Libnah (pavement) <Jos 21:13>, Jattir (plenty), Eshtemoa (fire of astonishment),

Christian Standard Bible
Aaron’s descendants were given: Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Aaron’s sons were given: Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands,

American Standard Version
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,

English Revised Version
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Aaron's descendants were given Hebron as a city of refuge, Libnah with its pastureland, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pastureland,

International Standard Version
They allotted these cities of refuge to the descendants of Aaron: Hebron, Libnah with its surrounding suburbs, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its surrounding suburbs,

NET Bible
The descendants of Aaron were also allotted as cities of refuge Hebron, Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands,

New Heart English Bible
To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,

Webster's Bible Translation
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,

World English Bible
To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron, Libnah also with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they gave the cities of refuge to the sons of Aaron: Hebron, and Libnah and its outskirts, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa and its outskirts,

Berean Literal Bible
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron, and also Libnah and its pasturelands, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa and its pasturelands,

Young's Literal Translation
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, and Libnah and its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa and its suburbs,

Smith's Literal Translation
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron and Libnah and her areas, and Jattir and Eshtemoa, and her areas,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities for refuge Hebron, and Lobna, and the suburbs thereof,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, to the sons of Aaron, they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, and Libnah with its suburbs,

New American Bible
There were assigned to the sons of Aaron: Hebron a city of refuge, Libnah with its pasture lands, Jattir with its pasture lands, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,

New Revised Standard Version
To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And to the sons of Aaron they gave all the cities of refuge, and to the priests, Hebron with its suburbs, Libnah with its suburbs, Jattir with its suburbs, Lehem with its suburbs, Eshtemoa with its suburbs,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And to the children of Aaron they gave all the cities of salvation. They gave to the Priests Khebron and its hamlets, and Lebna and its hamlets, and Yathar and its hamlets, and Lekhem and its hamlets, and Eshtemu and its hamlets
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the city of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with the open land about it, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with the open land about it;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, even Chebron, and Lobna and her suburbs round about, and Selna and her suburbs, and Esthamo and her suburbs,

Additional Translations ...



Context
Territories for the Levites
56But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. 57So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, 58Hilen, Debir,…

Cross References
So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge),

Joshua 21:11
They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pasturelands, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.)

Joshua 20:7
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.

Numbers 35:13
The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge.
Libnah,

Joshua 15:42
Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

2 Chronicles 21:10
So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled against his hand at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers.

2 Kings 8:22
So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled at the same time.
Jattir,

Joshua 21:14
Jattir, Eshtemoa,

Joshua 15:48
These were in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

1 Samuel 30:27
He sent gifts to those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir;
Eshtemoa,

Joshua 15:50
Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

1 Samuel 30:28
to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa;

1 Chronicles 4:17
The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. And Mered’s wife Bithiah gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
Joshua 21:13
So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah,

Numbers 35:1-8
Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho: / “Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. / The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock. …

Deuteronomy 18:1-2
The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance. / Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.

Joshua 21:1-2
Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel / at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said to them, “The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities in which to live, together with pasturelands for our livestock.”


Treasury of Scripture

And 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,

they gave.

1 Samuel 22:10
And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

2 Chronicles 31:15
And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:

the city of refuge.

Numbers 35:13-15
And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge…

Joshua 20:7-9
And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah…

Libnah.

Joshua 10:29
Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:

Joshua 15:42
Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,

Joshua 21:13,14
Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs, …

Jattir.

1 Chronicles 4:17
And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.

Joshua 15:48
And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,

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Aaron Cities City Descendants Eshtemoa Eshtemo'a Flight Following Hebron Jattir Judah Libnah Namely Open Outskirts Pasture Refuge Safe Suburbs
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1 Chronicles 6
1. The sons of Levi.
4. The line of Eleazar unto the captivity.
16. The families of Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
49. The office of Aaron, and his line unto Ahimaaz.
54. The cities of the priests and Levites.












So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge),

Aaron’s descendants served as priests among the Levites. Hebron, in Judah’s hill country, provided refuge for those accused of unintentional killing until judgment could be made. It was also associated with the patriarchs, whose burial place there connected the city with God’s covenant promises.

Jos 21:11 They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron)…
Jos 20:7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country…
Num 35:13 The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge.

Libnah,

Located in Judah’s lowlands, Libnah was assigned to the priests as part of their provision, since the Levites received no tribal territory of their own.

Jos 15:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
2Ch 21:10 So to this day Edom has been in rebellion…
2Ki 8:22 So to this day Edom has been in rebellion…

Jattir,

Jattir lay in the hill country of Judah and supported the priestly families serving among the people. It remained an established Judahite town during David’s reign.

Jos 21:14 Jattir, Eshtemoa,
Jos 15:48 These were in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
1Sa 30:27 He sent gifts to those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir;

Eshtemoa,

Eshtemoa was likewise a priestly city in Judah’s hill country. These scattered Levitical cities placed priests throughout the land, giving Israel access to instruction, worship, and judicial guidance.

Jos 15:50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
1Sa 30:28 to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa;
1Ch 4:17 The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon.…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Aaron
The first high priest of Israel, brother of Moses, and ancestor of the Levitical priesthood. His descendants were given specific cities as part of their inheritance.

2. Hebron
A significant city in the hill country of Judah, designated as a city of refuge. It holds historical and spiritual importance, being associated with figures like Abraham and David.

3. City of Refuge
A place where individuals who committed unintentional manslaughter could seek asylum, ensuring protection from the avenger of blood until a fair trial.

4. Hill Country of Judah
A region known for its rugged terrain and historical significance, often associated with the tribe of Judah and key biblical events.

5. Pasturelands
Surrounding lands provided for the sustenance of the Levites, indicating God's provision for those serving in the temple.
Teaching Points
God's Provision for His Servants
The allocation of cities and pasturelands to the Levites, including Hebron, demonstrates God's care and provision for those dedicated to His service. This reminds us of God's faithfulness in providing for our needs when we serve Him wholeheartedly.

The Role of Cities of Refuge
Cities of refuge illustrate God's balance of justice and mercy. They provided a safe haven for those who unintentionally caused harm, ensuring that justice was served without undue vengeance. This concept can inspire us to seek justice tempered with mercy in our own lives.

Spiritual Significance of Hebron
Hebron's designation as a city of refuge and its historical connections to patriarchs like Abraham and King David highlight its spiritual significance. It serves as a reminder of God's enduring promises and the importance of spiritual heritage.

Inheritance and Responsibility
The Levites' inheritance of cities like Hebron came with responsibilities to serve in the temple and maintain spiritual leadership. This teaches us about the relationship between receiving God's blessings and fulfilling our responsibilities.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 6:57?

2. How does 1 Chronicles 6:57 highlight God's provision for the Levites today?

3. What significance does the city of Hebron hold in 1 Chronicles 6:57?

4. How can we support our church leaders, as Levites were supported in Chronicles?

5. What other Scriptures emphasize God's provision for His servants?

6. How can we apply the principle of provision from 1 Chronicles 6:57?

7. What is the significance of Hebron in 1 Chronicles 6:57 for the Levites?

8. How does 1 Chronicles 6:57 reflect God's provision for the Levites?

9. Why was Hebron given to the descendants of Aaron in 1 Chronicles 6:57?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Chronicles 6?


(57) They gave the cities of Judah.--Heb. text, the cities of refuge, Hebron and Libnah, and her pastures. Of the cities mentioned only Hebron was an asylum for the manslayer. The other cities of refuge were Kedesh-Naphtali, Shechem, Bezer, Ramoth-Gilead, and Golan. (See Joshua 20:7-8.). Here our translators have adopted the Hebrew marginal correction of the text. (Comp. Joshua 21:13, which reads. "The manslayer's city of refuge, Hebron.") The same inaccuracy recurs in 1Chronicles 6:67, below.

With her suburbs.--With her pastures. The phrase has been omitted after Jattir (Joshua 21:13).

1 Chronicles 6:57 faithfully recounts four towns given to Aaron’s descendants. Each location—Hebron the refuge, Libnah the frontier post, Jattir the hillside haven, and Eshtemoa the crossroads—illustrates God’s literal provision for His priests and His desire to embed worship, instruction, and mercy throughout the land. The verse is a reminder that God keeps every promise in detail and positions His servants where their ministry will radiate His grace to all who draw near.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the descendants
וְלִבְנֵ֣י (wə·liḇ·nê)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Aaron
אַהֲרֹ֗ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

were given
נָתְנוּ֙ (nā·ṯə·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

Hebron
חֶבְר֥וֹן (ḥeḇ·rō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2275: Hebron -- 'association, league', a city in southern Judah

(a city
עָרֵ֣י (‘ā·rê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of refuge),
הַמִּקְלָ֔ט (ham·miq·lāṭ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4733: Refuge, asylum

Libnah,
לִבְנָ֖ה (liḇ·nāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3841: Libnah -- a city in soutwest Judah, also a place in the wilderness

Jattir,
יַתִּ֥ר (yat·tir)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3492: Jattir -- a city in Judah

Eshtemoa,
אֶשְׁתְּמֹ֖עַ (’eš·tə·mō·a‘)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 851: Eshtemoa -- a man of Judah, also a city in Judah


Additonal Resources
1 Chronicles 6:57 Blue Letter Bible
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OT History: 1 Chronicles 6:57 To the sons of Aaron they gave (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)

1 Chronicles 6:56
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