1 Chronicles 6:52

Meraioth his sonne, Amariah his sonne, Ahitub his sonne, 1 Chronicles 6:52 (KJV)

Joshua 21:4-13 describes the cities allocated to the descendants of Aaron, the priests. According to the passage, Aaron’s descendants received thirteen cities from three tribal allotments: Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. Specific cities listed from the tribe of Judah include Hebron, Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Holon, Debir, Ain, Juttah, and Beth‑Shemesh. The cities taken from Benjamin are Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth, and Almon.

The allocation of these priestly cities was determined by casting lots, a common ancient Israelite practice used to seek divine guidance in decisions that required God’s direction. This method was intended to ensure a fair and impartial distribution of the cities among the priestly families.

These cities were designated for the Aaronic priests to dwell in and to carry out their priestly duties. They were distinct from the other Levitical cities that were assigned to the remaining Levites, underscoring the special role of the priestly lineage within the broader Levitical system.

Some renderings of the text include the phrase “men of valor” in reference to the priests, as in the quotation “Thus were all these cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, who were men of valor, and their lot fell to them by lot among the children of Judah.” However, this exact wording does not appear in the King James Version, and the biblical record does not explicitly describe the priests with that title.

Overall, the biblical account highlights the establishment of cities for the Aaronic priests, the use of lot‑casting to determine their distribution, and the placement of those cities within the tribal territory of Judah, with additional cities drawn from Simeon and Benjamin. The passage emphasizes the orderly provision of a dwelling place for the priestly families, reflecting both divine guidance and the practical organization of Israel’s tribal inheritance.