(1 Chronicles 6:51-55). The cities of the remaining Kohathites; cf. Joshua 21:20-26. For וּממּשׁפּחות we must read וּלמשׁפּחות, for the preposition מן gives no suitable sense: it is never used to introduce a subject. The sense is, "as regards the families of the sons of Kohath, the cities of their dominion in the tribe of Ephraim were (the following). They gave them." The plur. המּקלט ערי instead of the sing., as in 1 Chronicles 6:57. As to the four cities of the tribe of Ephraim, 1 Chronicles 6:52, 1 Chronicles 6:53, see on Joshua 21:21-22, where instead of יקמעם we find the name קבצים. Before 1 Chronicles 6:54 a whole verse has been lost, which was as follows: "And of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and her pastures, Gibbethon and her pastures;" cf. Joshua 21:23. Then follows 1 Chronicles 6:69, which contains the names of the two other cities of the tribe of Dan. In 1 Chronicles 6:70 we have the names of the cities of half Manasseh, Aner and Bileam, i.e., Ibleam (Joshua 17:11), correctly given; but the names Taanach and Gath-rimmon in Joshua 21:25 are incorrect, and have been inserted through a transcriber's error, arising from the copyist's eye having wandered to the preceding verse. The singular למשׁפּחת, 1 Chronicles 6:70, is incorrect; and the plural למשׁפּחות is to be substituted (as in 1 Chronicles 6:66). The words וגו לבני למשׁפּחות are a subscription, which corresponds to להם ויּתּנוּ in 1 Chronicles 6:67.

And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.

6:66 Coasts - Or, of their borders, of their country contained within its borders.

6:1-81 Genealogies. - We have an account of Levi in this chapter. The priests and Levites were more concerned than any other Israelites, to preserve their descent clear, and to be able to prove it; because all the honours and privileges of their office depended upon their descent. Now, the Spirit of God calls ministers to their work, without any limit as to the families they came from; and then, as now, though believers and ministers may be very useful to the church, none but our great High Priest can make atonement for sin, nor can any be accepted but through his atonement.