Joshua 13:14

He gave none inheritance] assigned no district as a tribal territory, gave them only scattered cities within the lots of the other tribes. The sacrifices of the Lord] (In Joshua 13:33, simply 'The Lord') Cp. Numbers 18:20. Their professional absorption in spiritual things made it, however, all the more necessary that their material wants should be provided for (see 1 Corinthians 9:13 for an enunciation of this principle and its application to the Christian ministry). Accordingly we find their promised cities duly assigned to the Levites in Joshua 21 (cp. Numbers 35).

15-23. Territory of Reuben: see on Joshua 13:8.

16, 17. Plain] RM 'table-land.' The plateau of Madebah includes the sites of Hesbân, the ancient capital, Dibon (=Dhîban, where the famous 9th cent. b.c. monument of Mesha, known as the 'Moabite Stone,' was discovered in 1868) and other towns of Reuben. Dibon (Numbers 32:34; Numbers 33:45) was actually occupied by Gad.