Joshua21
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Then the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel.
2They spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “Yahweh commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their pasture lands for our livestock.”
3The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their pasture lands.
4The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin.
5The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh.
6The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
7The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun.
8The children of Israel gave these cities with their pasture lands by lot to the Levites, as Yahweh commanded by Moses.
9They gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are mentioned by name:
10and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.
11They gave them Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (also called Hebron), in the hill country of Judah, with its pasture lands around it.
12But they gave the fields of the city and its villages to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13To the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Libnah with its pasture lands,
14Jattir with its pasture lands, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,
15Holon with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands,
16Ain with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasture lands: nine cities out of those two tribes.
17Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba with its pasture lands,
18Anathoth with its pasture lands, and Almon with its pasture lands: four cities.
19All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.
20The families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21They gave them Shechem with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Gezer with its pasture lands,
22Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth Horon with its pasture lands: four cities.
23Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands,
24Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: four cities.
25Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its pasture lands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: two cities.
26All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their pasture lands.
27They gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Be Eshterah with its pasture lands: two cities.
28Out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands,
29Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En Gannim with its pasture lands: four cities.
30Out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands,
31Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands: four cities.
32Out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Hammothdor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands: three cities.
33All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.
34To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands,
35Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands: four cities.
36Out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands,
37Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands: four cities.
38Out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Mahanaim with its pasture lands,
39Heshbon with its pasture lands, Jazer with its pasture lands: four cities in all.
40All these were the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites. Their lot was twelve cities.
41All the cities of the Levites among the possessions of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasture lands.
42Each of these cities included their pasture lands around them. It was this way with all these cities.
43So Yahweh gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers. They possessed it, and lived in it.
44Yahweh gave them rest all around, according to all that he swore to their fathers. Not a man of all their enemies stood before them. Yahweh delivered all their enemies into their hand.
45Nothing failed of any good thing which Yahweh had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 21.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Cities for the Levites. (1–8). The cities allotted to the Levites. (9–42). God gave the land and rest to the Israelites, according to his promise. (43–45).
vv1-8
The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided for, before they preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a very good foundation; not their own merits or services, but the Divine precept. The maintenance of ministers is not a thing left merely to the will of the people, that they may let them starve if they please; they which preach the gospel should live by the gospel, and should live comfortably. (Jos 21:9-42)
vv9-42
By mixing the Levites with the other tribes, they were made to see that the eyes of all Israel were upon them, and therefore it was their concern to walk so that their ministry might not be blamed. Every tribe had its share of Levites' cities. Thus did God graciously provide for keeping up religion among them, and that they might have the word in all parts of the land. Yet, blessed be God, we have the gospel more diffused amongst us. (Jos 21:43-45)
vv43-45
God promised to give to the seed of Abraham the land of Canaan for a possession, and now they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the promise of the heavenly Canaan is as sure to all God's spiritual Israel; for it is the promise of Him that cannot lie. There stood not a man before them. The after-prevalence of the Canaanites was the effect of Israel's slothfulness, and the punishment of their sinful inclination to the idolatries and abominations of the heathen whom they harboured and indulged. There failed not aught of any good thing, which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. In due season all his promises will be accomplished; then will his people acknowledge that the Lord has exceeded their largest expectations, and made them more than conquerors, and brought them to their desired rest.
Key Words
רֹאשׁ: the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
אָב: father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
לֵוִיִּי: a Levite or descendant of Levi
נָגַשׁ: to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causatively, to present; figuratively, to adduce an argument; by reversal, to stand back
אֶלְעָזָר: Elazar, the name of seven Israelites
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ: Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
נוּן: Nun or Non, the father of Joshua
מַטֶּה: a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread)
Cross References
Joshua 21Direct fulfillment of the Mosaic command to give the Levites cities and suburbs from tribal inheritances.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfills Jacob's prophecy that Levi would be scattered and dispersed throughout the tribes of Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Dispersing Levites enabled them to teach God's law and judgments locally throughout all Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The parallel Chronicler account detailing the exact allotment of cities to the families of Aaron.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the permanent Levitical ownership and Jubilee redemption laws for these allocated cities.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Resolves Caleb's inheritance of Hebron with the Levites receiving the city and suburbs.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Solomon echoes Joshua's declaration that not one word of God's good promise has failed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Identifies the Kohathites, who drew the first lot, as a primary division of Levi.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Highlights that several assigned Levitical cities also served as designated cities of refuge.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Anathoth, assigned here as a priestly city, is later the home of Jeremiah the priest.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Joshua's personal farewell testimony reiterating that all God's promises were completely fulfilled.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Contrast: Levi has no territorial inheritance, but instead receives specific cities to dwell in.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shows the historical impact when northern Levites left their suburbs to return to Judah.
Supported by JFB
The spiritual purpose for scattering priests: to preserve knowledge and provide instruction in the law.
Supported by Matthew Poole