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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

Joshua 21

Joshua 21:1

JOSHUA CHAPTER 21 Cities given out of the other tribes by lot to the Levites, JOSHUA 21:1. Particularly to the priests, the children of Aaron, JOSHUA 21:9; to the Levites, the Kohathites, JOSHUA 21:20, the Gershonites, JOSHUA 21:27, and Merarites, JOSHUA 21:34; in all forty-eight cities, with their... [ Continue Reading ]

Joshua 21:3

It seems most probable that they gave to the Levites promiscuously such cities as God commanded, and that the lot appropriated them to their several houses or families. OUT OF THEIR INHERITANCE, i.e. out of their several possessions; partly that the burden and loss might be equally divided and princ... [ Continue Reading ]

Joshua 21:4

Which three tribes were nearest to the temple, where their business lay. THIRTEEN CITIES; for though the priests were now few enough for one city, yet respect was to be had to their succeeding numbers; this division being made for all future generations. And seeing the Levites might sell their house... [ Continue Reading ]

Joshua 21:5

THE CHILDREN OF KOHATH were of Aaron's family, or priests, but Levites only. These tribes are nearest to the three former, and so the Kohathites are placed next to their brethren the Aaronites. TEN CITIES; fewer than they gave out for the three former tribes, because their inheritance was less than... [ Continue Reading ]

Joshua 21:12

THE FIELDS OF THE CITY, i.e. all beyond the 2000 cubits expressed NUMBERS 35:5. This is here mentioned, not as his peculiar case, but as one eminent instance, to show that it was so in all the rest of the cities here named; that the fields and villages thereof still belonged to the several tribes fr... [ Continue Reading ]

Joshua 21:15

HOLON, called _Hilen_, 1 CHRONICLES 6:58, as _Juttah_ here is called _Ashan_, 1 CHRONICLES 6:59, and _Kibzaim_ called _Jokmeam_, 1 CHRONICLES 6:68, and so some others, the names of the places being changed by length of time, and upon special occasions, as was frequent among the Jews; though their do... [ Continue Reading ]

Joshua 21:16

AIN here, and _Gibeon_ JOSHUA 21:17, and some others here named, are not named 1CH 6, either because they were destroyed in some of those hostile invasions and wars wherewith their land was grievously harassed and wasted before that time; or they appear there under other names, as was said.... [ Continue Reading ]

Joshua 21:41

QUEST. Why hath this tribe, which was the least of all, more cities than any of them? ANSW. First, It doth not appear that they had more; for though all the cities of the Levites be expressed, it is not so with the other tribes, but divers of their cities are omitted, as is evident. Secondly, The Le... [ Continue Reading ]

Joshua 21:43

He gave them the right to all, and the actual possession of the greatest part of it, and power to possess the rest as soon as it was needful and convenient for them, which was by degrees, when their numbers were increased, &c., EXODUS 23:29,30, and the absolute dominion of all the people remaining i... [ Continue Reading ]

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