1 Chronicles 6 · a question people ask
Why don't all the city names match Joshua 21?
Much of the list matches Joshua 21, down to the words. Both say of Aaron's sons, "for theirs was the first lot" (6:54; Joshua 21:10). Both give Hebron's fields and villages to Caleb (6:56; Joshua 21:12). Both have "these cities which are mentioned by name" (6:65; Joshua 21:9); Joshua names the cities after those words (Joshua 21:13-18), and this chapter names them before (6:57-60). Both give Aaron's sons thirteen cities (6:60; Joshua 21:19). But some names differ. Joshua has "Holon with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands" (Joshua 21:15), and this chapter "Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands" (6:58). Joshua has "Ain with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasture lands" (Joshua 21:16), and this chapter "Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasture lands" (6:59). From Benjamin, Joshua has "Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba with its pasture lands" (Joshua 21:17) and "Anathoth with its pasture lands, and Almon with its pasture lands" (Joshua 21:18); this chapter has "Geba with its pasture lands, Allemeth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pasture lands" (6:60). Joshua gives Aijalon and Gath Rimmon "Out of the tribe of Dan" (Joshua 21:23-24); this chapter names them after the cities from Ephraim (6:66-69) and doesn't name Dan. And from Zebulun, Joshua names "Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands" (Joshua 21:34) and "Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands: four cities" (Joshua 21:35); this chapter names "Rimmono with its pasture lands, and Tabor with its pasture lands" (6:77). Neither book explains the differences, and they are left side by side.
The verses
“To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its pasture lands, and Tabor with its pasture lands;”
“Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: four cities.”
“To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands, Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands: four cities.”