What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 6:66?

And some of the clans

– The wording points out that only a portion, not every Kohathite family, is in view here (1 Chronicles 6:61 also notes “some families of the Kohathites”).

– This selective mention shows God’s precise ordering; He knows and assigns each group just where it should be (compare Numbers 4:49, “Each was assigned his work”).

– By naming particular clans, the Chronicler affirms that real people in real history received these cities, underscoring the reliability of the record.

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of the Kohathites

– The Kohathites were one of the three main Levitical lines (Numbers 3:17).

– They had special responsibilities with the most sacred objects of the tabernacle (Numbers 4:4-15; 1 Chronicles 23:12-13).

– God’s care for this priestly family illustrates His commitment to provide for those who serve Him (Deuteronomy 10:8-9).

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were given cities

– Levites did not receive a contiguous tribal land but “towns to live in, with pasturelands” (Numbers 35:2-3).

– This arrangement fulfilled the earlier divine command that the whole nation support its ministers (Joshua 21:2-3).

– Receiving cities rather than acreage kept the Kohathites close to the people they taught, enabling nationwide instruction in God’s Law (2 Chronicles 35:3; 2 Chronicles 17:7-9).

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from the tribe of Ephraim

– Ephraim, a leading northern tribe (Genesis 48:19), ceded four cities to the Kohathites (listed in Joshua 21:20-22).

– Sharing prime territory shows inter-tribal cooperation and obedience to God’s distribution plan (Joshua 21:8).

– The placement of Levites in Ephraim would later offer spiritual influence in a region prone to idolatry (1 Kings 12:25-30).

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for their territory

– “Territory” here means the Levites’ own civic sphere inside larger tribal borders (Joshua 14:4 clarifies that Levi “had no share of the land”).

– While they possessed houses and pastures (Leviticus 25:32-34), their chief inheritance remained the Lord Himself (Deuteronomy 18:1-2).

– The verse reminds believers today that material provision is secondary to possessing God and doing His work (Matthew 6:33).

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summary

1 Chronicles 6:66 records God’s faithful fulfillment of His promise to supply His servants. By assigning specific Kohathite clans cities within Ephraim, the Lord ensured the Levites’ needs were met, spread spiritual influence throughout Israel, and demonstrated His meticulous care for every family that serves Him.