INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 21 This chapter contains the address of the Levites to the court, to have the cities and suburbs given them according to the command of God by Moses, Joshua 21:1; the grant of them by lot out of the several tribes, Joshua 21:3; the particular cities out of the tribes of Judah... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME NEAR THE HEADS OF THE FATHERS OF THE LEVITES,.... When the land was divided to the several tribes, and everyone knew the cities that belonged to them, and what they could and should part with to the Levites, and when the six cities of refuge were fixed; the Levites came to put in their cla... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SPAKE UNTO THEM AT SHILOH IN THE LAND OF CANAAN,.... Where the tabernacle was fixed, at or near which the above persons met to cast lots for the division of the land to the seven tribes that had not received their inheritance: SAYING, THE LORD COMMANDED BY THE HAND OF MOSES TO GIVE US CITI... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL GAVE UNTO THE LEVITES OUT OF THEIR INHERITANCE,.... Knowing full well there was such a command, made no objection to their motion, but freely gave them cities out of the portion of inheritance allotted to them; this they did AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD, AND IN OBEDIENC... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LOT CAME OUT FOR THE FAMILY OF THE KOHATHITES,.... The first lot that was drawn out of the pot or urn was for the descendants of Kohath, a son of Levi: AND THE CHILDREN OF AARON THE PRIEST, [WHICH WERE] OF THE LEVITES; who descended from Amram, the eldest son of Kohath, and these were not o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE REST OF THE CHILDREN OF KOHATH,.... Which did not descend from him in the line of Amram and Aaron, but of Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, who were not priests, but Levites: [HAD] BY LOT OUT OF THE FAMILIES OF THE TRIBE OF EPHRAIM, AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF DAN, AND OUT OF THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF GERSHON [HAD] BY LOT OUT OF THE FAMILIES OF THE TRIBE OF ISSACHAR,.... These were Levites who descended from Gershon, the eldest son of Levi, and had their cities by lot assigned them in tribes at a greater distance, not only out of Issachar, but OUT OF THE TRIBE OF ASHER, AND O... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN OF MERARI BY THEIR FAMILIES,.... The descendants of Merari, the third son of Levi: [HAD] OUT OF THE TRIBE OF REUBEN, AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF GAD; which were both on the other side Jordan: AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF ZEBULUN, TWELVE CITIES; in all forty eight, as the Lord commanded, Number... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL GAVE BY LOT UNTO THE LEVITES THESE CITIES WITH THEIR SUBURBS,.... Reaching two thousand cubits from the cities all around: these cities did not lie all together, and so could not be described by their coasts; but in the several tribes, and intermixed with their cities; whi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY GAVE OUT OF THE TRIBE OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH,.... Here follows a particular account of the several cities which were given out of each tribe, and first out of this: AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF THE CHILDREN OF SIMEON; which is joined with that of Judah, because the cities of it lay within it,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH THE CHILDREN OF AARON, [BEING] OF THE FAMILIES OF THE KOHATHITES,.... Who descending from Kohath, in the line of Aaron, were priests: [WHO WERE] OF THE CHILDREN OF LEVI, HAD; they were Levites, as descending from Levi, but were priests also, as being of the stock of Aaron, and the cities here... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY GAVE THEM THE CITY OF ARBA, THE FATHER OF ANAK,.... Which from him was called Kirjatharba, Joshua 14:15; and Anak, according to Kimchi, is not the name of a man, but a general name, comprehending the Anakims, a race of giants, among whom Arba was the chief and principal man, a prince and ru... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE FIELDS OF THE CITY, AND THE VILLAGES THEREOF,.... Which lay beyond the two thousand cubits: GAVE THEY TO CALEB THE SON OF JEPHUNNEH, FOR HIS POSSESSION; as Moses had promised, and Joshua had confirmed to him; and now the children of Israel gave them to him, and put him in the possession of,... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS THEY GAVE TO THE CHILDREN OF AARON THE PRIEST,.... The families of the Kohathites, that part of them which descended from him, and were priests: HEBRON WITH HER SUBURBS, [TO BE] A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; that had slain a person unawares, and without design; see on Joshua 20:3; AND LIBN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JATTIR WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Joshua 15:48; AND ESHTEMOA WITH HER SUBURBS; Joshua 15:50.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HOLON WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Joshua 15:51; AND DEBIR WITH HER SUBURBS; Joshua 15:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AIN WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Joshua 15:32; AND JUTTAH WITH HER SUBURBS; Joshua 15:55; [AND] BETHSHEMESH WITH HER SUBURBS; which is not mentioned among the cities of Judah, Joshua 15:21; only as in the borders of it, Joshua 21:10; and perhaps is the same Bethshemesh to which the ark was directed... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN, GIBEON WITH HER SUBURBS,.... See Gill "Jos 18:25"; from which came the Gibeonites. GEBA WITH HER SUBURBS. Of which Joshua 18:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANATHOTH WITH HER SUBURBS,.... This is not mentioned among the cities of Benjamin, Joshua 18:11; it was the native place of the Prophet Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:1; it lay about two or three miles north of Jerusalem; three, says, Jerom k. Rauwolff l speaks of it as a small village, when he travelled into... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE CITIES OF THE CHILDREN OF AARON, THE PRIESTS,.... Those of the Kohathites that came from him: [WERE] THIRTEEN CITIES WITH THEIR SUBURBS; and just so many are mentioned by name in Joshua 21:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN OF KOHATH, THE LEVITES,.... Who were not priests: WHICH REMAINED OF THE CHILDREN OF KOHATH; these are the children of Moses, as Jarchi says, and those that descended from Kohath in the lines of Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, EVEN THEY HAD THE CITIES OF THEIR LOT OUT OF... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY GAVE THEM SHECHEM, WITH HER SUBURBS, IN MOUNT EPHRAIM,.... Of which see Joshua 20:7; [TO BE] A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; which being on a mountain, was the more conspicuous, and the fitter for this purpose, as was Hebron in the hill country of Judea, Joshua 21:11; this is the second;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND KIBZAIM WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Which seems to, be the same with Jokneam, 1 Chronicles 6:68; of it we read nowhere else; AND BETHHORON WITH HER SUBURBS; upper Bethhoron, for there were two, an upper and a nether: see Joshua 16:3; FOUR CITIES; as mentioned by name.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF DAN, ELTEKEH WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Joshua 19:44; GIBBETHON WITH HER SUBURBS, Joshua 19:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
AIJALON WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Joshua 19:42; GATHRIMMON WITH HER SUBURBS, FOUR CITIES; Joshua 19:45.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH, TAANACH WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Of which see Joshua 17:10; AND GATHRIMMON WITH HER SUBURBS, there was a city of this name in Dan, as in Joshua 21:24; nor was it unusual for cities to be called by the same name in different tribes: TWO CITIES; these are called A... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE CITIES [WERE] TEN, WITH THEIR SUBURBS,.... Four out of Ephraim, four out of Dan, and two out of the half tribe of Manasseh: which were FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN OF KOHATH THAT REMAINED: who were of the other branch of the Kohathites, and who did not descend from Aaron, and were only... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UNTO THE CHILDREN OF GERSHON, OF THE FAMILIES OF THE LEVITES,.... The descendants of the second son of Levi: OUT OF THE [OTHER] HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH; that which was settled beyond Jordan: [THEY GAVE] GOLAN IN BASHAN, WITH HER SUBURBS, [TO BE] A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; see Joshua 20:8;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF ISSACHAR, KISHON WITH HER SUBURBS,.... From whence the river Kishon probably had its name, or the city from that; it is the same with Kishion, Joshua 19:20; and called Kedesh, 1 Chronicles 6:72. DABAREH WITH HER SUBURBS; the same with Daberath on the border of Zebulun, Joshu... [ Continue Reading ]
JARMUTH WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Called Ramoth, 1 Chronicles 6:73; very probably the same with Remeth, Joshua 19:21; ENGANNIM WITH HER SUBURBS; called Anem, 1 Chronicles 6:73; FOUR CITIES; so many are mentioned by name.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF ASHER, MISHAL WITH HER SUBURBS,.... The same with Misheal, Joshua 19:26; called Mashal, 1 Chronicles 6:74; ABDON WITH HER SUBURBS; not mentioned among the cities of Asher, unless the same with Hebron, Joshua 19:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
HELKATH WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Joshua 19:25; the same with Hukok in 1 Chronicles 6:75; AND REHOB WITH HER SUBURBS, FOUR CITIES; Joshua 19:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF NAPHTALI, KEDESH IN GALILEE WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Of which see Joshua 20:7; [TO BE] A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; this is the fourth city of refuge mentioned: AND HAMMOTHDOR WITH HER SUBURBS; the same with Hammon, 1 Chronicles 6:76; and with Hammath, Joshua 19:35; and is... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE CITIES OF THE GERSHONITES, ACCORDING TO THEIR FAMILIES,.... Which were divided among them, according to the number of their families: [WERE] THIRTEEN CITIES WITH THEIR SUBURBS; two out of the half tribe of Manasseh beyond Jordan, four out of Issachar, four out of Asher, and three out of Nap... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UNTO THE FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN OF MERARI, THE REST OF THE LEVITES,.... The descendants of the youngest son of Levi, who were all that remained of the Levites unprovided of cities: OUT OF THE TRIBE OF ZEBULUN, JOKNEAM WITH HER SUBURBS; which lay near Carmel, and was a royal city; Joshua 12:22... [ Continue Reading ]
DIMNAH WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Nowhere mentioned, unless the same with Rimmon, 1 Chronicles 6:77; NAHALAL WITH HER SUBURBS; see Joshua 19:15; FOUR CITIES; only two are mentioned, 1 Chronicles 6:77; and they by different names; the one is Rimmon, before observed, and the other Tabor; perhaps the same... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF REUBEN, BEZER WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Which was a city of refuge, and the fifth of them in this account, though not observed as such here, but is in the Greek version; see Joshua 20:8; AND JAHAZAH WITH HER SUBURBS; called Jahaz, Numbers 21:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
KEDEMOTH WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Near to which was a wilderness of that name; see Deuteronomy 2:26; AND MEPHAATH WITH HER SUBURBS; of which Joshua 13:18; where the two preceding cities are mentioned along with it: FOUR CITIES, Joshua 21:35, are not in some ancient copies of the Hebrew Bible, as is n... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF GAD,.... Which also, as that of Reuben, lay on the other side Jordan: RAMOTH IN GILEAD WITH HER SUBURBS; of which see Joshua 20:8; [TO BE] A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; and is the sixth and last city of refuge in this account: AND MAHANAIM WITH HER SUBURBS; here it was... [ Continue Reading ]
HESHBON WITH HER SUBURBS,.... Which was formerly the royal city of Sihon king of the Amorites, and was first given to and rebuilt by the Reubenites, but was upon the border of the tribe of Gad; and appears from hence to have been one of their cities, Numbers 21:26; JAZER WITH HER SUBURBS; sometimes... [ Continue Reading ]
SO ALL THE CITIES FOR THE CHILDREN OF MERARI BY THEIR FAMILIES,.... Which were distributed by lot to them, according to the number of their families, and were sufficient for them: WHICH WERE REMAINING OF THE FAMILIES OF THE LEVITES; the last division of them, besides those of the Kohathites, Levite... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE CITIES OF THE LEVITES, WITHIN THE POSSESSION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... As comprised in one sum total: [WERE] FORTY AND EIGHT CITIES WITH THEIR SUBURBS; which is just the number that Moses from the mouth of God ordered to be given unto them, before they entered into the land, and before... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE CITIES WERE EVERYONE WITH THEIR SUBURBS ROUND ABOUT THEM,.... Which reached to the space of two thousand cubits on every side; and such a space was assigned to everyone of the above cities for their cattle, to keep them in and lay up provision for them: THUS [WERE] ALL THEIR CITIES; six of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD GAVE UNTO ISRAEL ALL THE LAND WHICH HE SWARE TO GIVE UNTO THEIR FATHERS,.... It was all given them by lot, whether subdued or not subdued, and the far greater part was actually put into their hands, and they had as much as they could for the present occupy and cultivate; and such as wer... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD GAVE THEM REST ROUND ABOUT,.... Not only from their travels, with which they had been fatigued forty years in the wilderness, but from wars with the Canaanites they had been engaged in for some years past: ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HE SWARE UNTO THEIR FATHERS; not only to give them the lan... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE FAILED NOT OUGHT OF ANY GOOD THING,.... Not only every good thing in general, but every part and particular of that good thing; that, with all that was included in it, or were appendages to it, or circumstances of it: WHICH THE LORD HAD SPOKEN TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; as of their deliverance o... [ Continue Reading ]