1._Then came near the heads, _etc Here we have at a later period a
narrative of what ought to have preceded. For no cities of refuge were
appointed before they had been assigned to the Levites. To this may be
added what was formerly said, that Joshua and Eleazar had made an end
of dividing the land.... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And the lot came out for the families, _etc Here is first described
the number of cities of which we shall have to speak by and bye.
Secondly, it is distinctly said that the lot fell out to the children
of Aaron in the tribe of Judah. This did not happen fortuitously,
because God in his admirable... [ Continue Reading ]
20._And the families of the children of Kohath, _etc Why it was
necessary that the Levites should be dispersed among the different
tribes, the reader may see in my Commentaries on the Books of Moses.
This dispersion had, indeed, been imposed on their progenitor as a
punishment for the cruelty and pe... [ Continue Reading ]
41._All the cities of the Levites, _etc This passage more especially
shows what I have already more than once adverted to, that the
boundaries of the other tribes were not so confined as not to
comprehend a far larger number of cities than is actually mentioned.
It is perfectly well known that Levi... [ Continue Reading ]
43._And the Lord gave unto Israel, _etc Should any one raise a
question as to this rest, the answer is easy. The nations of Canaan
were so completely overcome with fear, that they thought they could
not better consult their interest than by servility flattering the
Israelites, and purchasing peace f... [ Continue Reading ]