Then — When the whole land was distributed to the several tribes, but not actually possessed by them; which was the proper season for them to put in their claim. Fathers of the Levites — The fathers of the Levites were Kohath, Gershom, and Merari, and the heads of these were the chief persons now al... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord commanded — Observe: the maintenance of ministers is not an arbitrary thing, left purely to the good will of the people. No: as the God of Israel commanded, that the Levites should be provided for, so hath the Lord Jesus ordained, (and a perpetual ordinance it is) that they who preach the g... [ Continue Reading ]
The children of Israel gave — Probably they gave the Levites promiscuously such cities as God commanded, and the lot appropriated them to their several houses or families. Out of their inheritance — That is, out of their several possessions; that the burden might be equally divided; and, that the Le... [ Continue Reading ]
Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin — Which three tribes were nearest 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 Le... [ Continue Reading ]
Children of Kohath — Who were of Aaron's family. Ephraim, Dan, and Manesseh — Which 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 of the three former tribes, because their inheritance was less than... [ Continue Reading ]
Judah and Simeon — These are mentioned together, because the cities of Simeon lay within Judah's portion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Families — That is, of the family, the plural number for the singular, which is not unusual.... [ Continue Reading ]
The fields and villages — That is, all beyond the two thousand cubits expressed, Numbers 35:5. This is here mentioned, not as his peculiar case, but as one eminent instance, to shew, that it was so in all the rest of the cities here named; that the fields and villages thereof still belonged to the s... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ain — Ain and Gibeon, and some others here named are not named, 1 Chronicles 6:59. Either they were destroyed in some of those invasions wherewith their land was grievously wasted before that time; or they appear there under other names.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which remained — Over and above those who were priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
Half the tribe — Namely, that half which dwelt in Canaan.... [ Continue Reading ]
Forty eight cities — Why hath this tribe, which was the least of all, more cities than any of them? 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. Secondly, the Levites w... [ Continue Reading ]
All the land — 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 for them, which was when their numbers were increased, and the absolute dominion of all the people remaining in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Gave them rest — Namely, all the days of Joshua; for afterwards it was otherwise with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
All came to pass — Such an acknowledgment as this, here subscribed by Joshua, in the name of all Israel, we afterward find made by Solomon; and all Israel did in effect say amen to it, 1 Kings 8:56. The inviolable truth of God's promise, and the performance of it to the uttermost, is what all believ... [ Continue Reading ]