1 Chronicles 6:67
“They gave to them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its suburbs; Gezer also with its suburbs,”
What does 1 Chronicles 6:67 mean?
The Levites, who served as priests and temple workers, didn't own land like other Israelite tribes did. Instead, they received specific cities scattered throughout the land where they could live, along with the surrounding pasture areas needed to support their families and livestock. Shechem and Gezer were two of these designated cities, chosen partly because Shechem also served as a "city of refuge" where someone who had accidentally killed another person could find protection from revenge. This arrangement meant the Levites were distributed throughout Israel, which allowed them to teach God's law to all the people and also ensured they depended on God's provision rather than on owning property. It's a picture of how those dedicated to spiritual work were cared for by the whole community.