1 Chronicles 6:63
Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
Twelve cities were assigned by lot to the families of Merari, taken from the tribes of Reuben and Gad and Zebulun. The word for lot denotes the casting or means by which the assignment was decided, distinct from a word for a region or inherited territory. In this allotment the lot fixed each group's portion by God's providence. These genealogical records established hereditary responsibilities and rights, including the duties of the Levites in temple service.
The verse stands with 1 Chronicles 7 and Psalm 149 as the reading for Monday June 1, and within 1 Chronicles 4-19 as a long record of names and chronology often regarded as tedious, dry, and uninteresting, yet holding beautiful gems that illuminate it. It is an example of the Bible's detailed lists of names and places whose value may not be immediately clear to every reader, showing that the inspired book contains material suited to different interests and capacities. The record displays the preservation of the records of God's children and the integrity of the tribes, with the genealogy of the tribe of Judah preserved especially carefully because Christ came through Judah.
As part of the genealogical record, the verse shows that God is particular and that faithful records of each soul are kept in heaven. As part of a long list of people and places, it comforts the downhearted by showing that God remembers each person by name even when others have forgotten them.