1 Chronicles 6:79
Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:
Original Language Analysis
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 8
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃
also with her suburbs
H4054
מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃
also with her suburbs
Strong's:
H4054
Word #:
4 of 8
a suburb (i.e., open country whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area around a building, or the margin of the sea
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 8
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Kedemoth and Mephaath's location east of the Dead Sea in the Moabite plateau made them vulnerable to Moabite and Ammonite encroachment. The Mesha Stele (c. 840 BC) mentions Moab's King Mesha recapturing cities from Israel, possibly including these. By the Chronicler's time, these cities were long lost to foreign control, but their memorial in Scripture testifies to God's comprehensive care for spiritual leadership across all Israel's territories, even the vulnerable frontier regions.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Kedemoth's association with peace-seeking before warfare inform Christian ethics about when to fight and when to pursue peace?
- What does the combination of Levitical city and city of refuge in Mephaath teach about the church's dual calling to worship and justice?
Analysis & Commentary
Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs—these Levitical cities in Reuben's trans-Jordanian territory supported Merarite Levites. Kedemoth (קְדֵמוֹת 'eastern places' or 'ancient places') appears in Moses's diplomatic message to Sihon requesting peaceful passage (Deuteronomy 2:26), making it historically significant as a contact point before Israel's conquest of the Amorite kingdoms. A Levitical city at Kedemoth meant priests lived where Israel first attempted peaceful coexistence before necessary warfare—a reminder that God's people seek peace before battle (Romans 12:18).
Mephaath (מֵיפַעַת 'splendor' or 'height') was both a Levitical city and city of refuge (Joshua 21:37), combining worship and justice functions. Cities of refuge provided asylum for accidental killers until high priest's death atoned for bloodguilt (Numbers 35:25-28)—a powerful type of Christ, whose death provides permanent refuge from sin's death penalty (Hebrews 6:18). That Levites administered these cities shows the inseparability of worship and justice in God's design.
These trans-Jordanian Levitical cities fell to Assyria in 732 BC (2 Kings 15:29), fulfilling the warning of 1 Chronicles 5:25-26 about apostasy's consequences. The Chronicler records them nonetheless, preserving God's original perfect plan even when Israel's unfaithfulness disrupted its fulfillment.