דברי הימים א, פרק ד׳, פסוק ל״ב

The geographical records of the tribes map out their territorial footprint, carefully distinguishing between major fortified centers and their surrounding satellite communities. A specific group of five settlements is categorized with a dual identity, viewed simultaneously as unwalled villages and established cities. The concept of a village in this context refers to small, open towns or rural communities that sit just outside the borders of larger, centralized cities [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This shift in how these places are defined is a matter of perspective. On their own, they possess the structure and status of independent cities. However, when placed alongside the massive, fortified urban centers mentioned earlier in the tribal records, these five locations pale in comparison and are therefore viewed simply as dependent villages [מצודת דוד].

A historical shift in territory explains why this specific list includes five locations, whereas earlier geographical records from the era of Joshua only list four. Over time, the city of Ziklag was transferred into the domain of the kings of Judah. To compensate for this loss of territory, the unwalled settlement of Etam was provided as a direct replacement, bringing the total number of these open cities to five [מלבי״ם].