Context No. 3200 of 4322 · 1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 6:71-76: in context

71To the sons of Gershom were given, out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands; 72and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 73Ramoth with its pasture lands, and Anem with its pasture lands; 74and out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, 75Hukok with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands; 76and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands, and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands.

This list assigns cities with their pasturelands to the Levites, the clan of the Gershomites, drawn out of several different tribes: from Manasseh, from Issachar, from Asher, from Naphtali. The Levites are scattered among all the tribes rather than gathered in one territory of their own.

There is a purpose in the scattering. The Levites had no land inheritance of their own, because the LORD was their portion, and yet they were given places to live throughout Israel. The tribe devoted to God's service was spread among all the others, so that no part of Israel would be without those set apart to teach and lead in worship. God distributes his servants where they are needed, like salt worked through the whole land, so that his presence and instruction reach every corner rather than being concentrated in one place.

Am I willing to be placed by God wherever his people need those devoted to him, scattered as salt rather than gathered only among the like-minded?

Sources

1 Chronicles 6:71: "To the sons of Gershom were given... Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands."
Joshua 21:3: "The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance... these cities with their pasture lands."
Matthew 5:13: "You are the salt of the earth."