קַרְתָּן
Kartan, a place in Palestine
Definition
Kartan (קַרְתָּן) is a proper noun referring to a specific city in the territory of Naphtali, located in ancient Palestine. It is identified as one of the Levitical cities given to the Gershonite Levites, as recorded in Joshua 21:32. This designation means Kartan served as a residence and source of sustenance for the priestly tribe of Levi, who did not receive a territorial inheritance of their own. The city is essentially synonymous with Kiriathaim (1 Chronicles 6:76), likely the same location under a variant name.
Biblical Usage
The word קַרְתָּן is used only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 21:32. Its sole context is within the detailed list of cities allocated to the Levitical families from the tribal territories. Here, it is specified as one of the three cities given to the Gershonites from the tribe of Naphtali, alongside Kedesh and Hammoth-dor. This singular usage places it firmly in the administrative and religious geography of Israel's settlement in the Promised Land.
Etymology
The name קַרְתָּן (Qartân) derives from the Hebrew root קֶרֶת (qereth, H7176), meaning 'city' or 'town.' It is a diminutive or locative form, essentially meaning 'little city' or 'town-plot.' This etymology connects it to a common Semitic root for a settlement or fortified place, reflecting its nature as a designated civic and religious center within the tribal allotment.
Semantic Range
As a Levitical city, Kartan highlights the theme of God's provision for worship and spiritual leadership in Israel. The Levites, dedicated to God's service, were dispersed among the tribes (Joshua 21:1-3) to teach the law and maintain the worship centers. Kartan's inclusion in this list underscores that every tribe shared the responsibility of supporting the priesthood, ensuring the presence of spiritual instruction and the means for atonement throughout the nation. Understanding this context enriches the reading of Joshua by showing how land allocation was intertwined with Israel's covenantal identity and worship.
In its original setting, a Levitical city like Kartan was not merely a random town but a strategically chosen settlement. Its inhabitants included Levites who served as religious teachers, judges, and caretakers of the local sanctuary. This system integrated religious life into the daily fabric of each tribe, preventing centralization of power and making spiritual guidance accessible. The dual naming (Kartan/Kiriathaim) may reflect regional linguistic variations or a name evolution over time, a common occurrence in ancient place names.
קִרְיַתַיִם (Qiryathayim, H7156) — The alternate name for Kartan used in 1 Chronicles 6:76, meaning 'double city.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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