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Joshua Chapter
Twenty-one
Joshua 21
Chapter Contents
Cities for the Levites. (1-8) The cities allotted to the
Levites. (9-42) God gave the land and rest to the Israelites, according to his
promise. (43-45)
Commentary on Joshua 21:1-8
(Read Joshua 21:1-8)
The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided
for, before they preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a
very good foundation; not their own merits or services, but the Divine precept.
The maintenance of ministers is not a thing left merely to the will of the
people, that they may let them starve if they please; they which preach the
gospel should live by the gospel, and should live comfortably.
Commentary on Joshua 21:9-42
(Read Joshua 21:9-42)
By mixing the Levites with the other tribes, they were
made to see that the eyes of all Israel were upon them, and therefore it was
their concern to walk so that their ministry might not be blamed. Every tribe
had its share of Levites' cities. Thus did God graciously provide for keeping
up religion among them, and that they might have the word in all parts of the
land. Yet, blessed be God, we have the gospel more diffused amongst us.
Commentary on Joshua 21:43-45
(Read Joshua 21:43-45)
God promised to give to the seed of Abraham the land of
Canaan for a possession, and now they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the
promise of the heavenly Canaan is as sure to all God's spiritual Israel; for it
is the promise of Him that cannot lie. There stood not a man before them. The
after-prevalence of the Canaanites was the effect of Israel's slothfulness, and
the punishment of their sinful inclination to the idolatries and abominations
of the heathen whom they harboured and indulged. There failed not aught of any
good thing, which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. In due season all
his promises will be accomplished; then will his people acknowledge that the
Lord has exceeded their largest expectations, and made them more than
conquerors, and brought them to their desired rest.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Joshua》
Joshua 21
Verse 1
[1] Then
came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and
unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of
the children of Israel;
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 alive of these
several families.
Verse 2
[2] And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD
commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs
thereof for our cattle.
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 gospel should live of the
gospel.
Verse 3
[3] And
the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the
commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.
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 Levites being dispersed among the several
tribes, according to Jacob's prediction, Genesis 49:7, might more easily, and effectually
teach the Israelites God's law and judgments, which they were engaged to do, Deuteronomy 33:10, and that the people might
upon all occasions resort to them, and enquire the meaning of the law at their
mouths.
And suburbs —
Not only the use, but the absolute dominion of them, as is manifest both from
verse Joshua 21:11,12, where a distinction is made
between the city and suburbs of Hebron, and the fields and villages thereof;
(the former given to the Levites, the latter to Caleb;) and from the return of
these cities in the Jubilee, unto the Levites as to their proper owners, Leviticus 25:33,34.
Verse 4
[4] And
the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron
the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah,
and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen
cities.
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 Levites might sell their houses until the Jubilee, Leviticus 25:33, much more might they let them;
and therefore it is probable their cities were not long uninhabited, many being
inclined to dwell with them by virtue of relations contracted with them; or out
of respect to the service of God, and the good of their souls.
Verse 5
[5] And the rest of the children of Kohath 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
Manasseh, ten cities.
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 the former.
Verse 9
[9] And
they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of
the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,
Judah and Simeon —
These are mentioned together, because the cities of Simeon lay within Judah's
portion.
Verse 10
[10]
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were
of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
Families —
That is, of the family, the plural number for the singular, which is not
unusual.
Verse 12
[12] But
the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of
Jephunneh for his possession.
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 several tribes from whom the cities and their suburbs were
taken; and to make the rest of the Israelites more chearfully resign part of
their possessions to the Levites, because even Caleb did so, though his
possession had been long before promised, and now actually given to him by
God's special command, as a mark of honour and compensation for his long and
faithful service.
Verse 16
[16] And
Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her
suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
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.
Verse 20
[20] And
the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the
children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of
Ephraim.
Which remained —
Over and above those who were priests.
Verse 25
[25] And
out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with
her suburbs; two cities.
Half the tribe —
Namely, that half which dwelt in Canaan.
Verse 41
[41] All
the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were
forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
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 were confined to their cities and
suburbs; the rest had large territories belonging to their cities, which also
so they were in a capacity of improving, which the Levites were not; so that
one of their cities might be more considerable than divers of the Levites.
Thirdly, God, was pleased to deal liberally with his ministers, to put honour
on those whom he foresaw many would be prone to despise; and, that being free
from outward distractions, they might more entirely and fervently devote
themselves to the service of God.
Verse 43
[43] And
the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their
fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
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.
Verse 44
[44] And
the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their
fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD
delivered all their enemies into their hand.
Gave them rest —
Namely, all the days of Joshua; for afterwards it was otherwise with them.
Verse 45
[45]
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the
house of Israel; all came to pass.
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 believers in
Christ have been always ready to bear their testimony to. And if in any thing
it has seemed to come short, they have been as ready to take all the blame to
themselves.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Joshua》
21 Chapter 21
Verses 1-45
Unto the Levites . . . these cities.
Ministers liberally treated
The liberality both of God and of His people to the ministers of
God is here very marvellous, in giving forty-eight cities to this one tribe of
Levi, which was the least of
all the tribes, yet have they the most cities given to them (Joshua 21:4; Joshua 21:10; Joshua 21:41), because it was the Lord’s
pleasure to have this tribe provided for in an honourable manner, seeing He
Himself took upon Him to be their portion and made choice of them for His
peculiar service; therefore did He deal thus bountifully with His ministers,
partly to put honour upon those whom He foresaw many would be prone to despise,
and partly that by this liberality they, being freed from worldly distractions,
might more entirely devote themselves to God’s service and to the instruction
of souls. (C. Ness.)
Ministers wisely located
God provided for the residence of His ministers in most ample
extent and number, and in a way suited to the spiritual instruction and benefit
of the nation. In temple service they were round about the habitation of His
holiness; and yet, in their ministerial instructions, dispersed over the whole
land. How exact a fulfilment of dying Jacob’s prediction, and that even though
mercy changed the curse into a blessing: “I will divide them in Jacob and
scatter them in Israel.” What an important appointment! and how adapted to the
communication and diffusion of Divine truth for their lips, as the messengers
of the Lord of hosts, were to keep knowledge, and at their mouth the people
were to seek the law! It is no common privilege, under the more exalted and
distinguished dispensation of the gospel, that the ministers of salvation are
not removed into a corner, but that as servants of the most high God they have
their stations assigned them, as may best promote the increase and instruction
of the Church. These are the stars which He holds in His right hand, and which,
great in wisdom and power, He numbers and calls by their names, What holy and
heavenly light and influence are they ordained to impart in their several
spheres! Without them the Christian Church would soon be involved in the most
degrading and destructive ignorance, and overwhelmed with the miseries of
corruption and error. Who that admits the importance of their services would
not yield room to them as being equally a privilege as a duty. Their residence
is to be esteemed a mercy, and no intrusion. Thus it has appeared that the Lord
has ever paid special regard to His ministers, and as here enjoined upon His
people, in obligation the most reasonable, to provide them habitations as well
as support. (W. Seaton.)
There failed not ought of
any good thing which the Lord had spoken.
Divine faithfulness
I. The
faithfulness of God in accomplishing his engagements toward the tribes of
Israel.
II. The
faithfulness of God to his church collectively in subsequent engagements.
III. The
faithfulness of God in his engagements to individual believers. I believe there
is no person experiencing the power of religion who has not had an increasing
evidence of the faithfulness of God in verifying His promises on which He has
caused him to hope. He has found--notwithstanding the dark appearances of
Divine providence--he has found that sort of satisfaction which he was taught
to expect from the exercise of faith and confidence in Jesus Christ and
obedience to Him. He has found, in seasons of pain and difficulty, that kind of
assistance on which he was taught to rely. The faithfulness of God in
performing His promises at present must, however, be in a great degree obscured
by the darkness of our present state; for everything is in perpetual motion. No
one can understand the nature of a beautiful building in the rubbish, or, while
it is actually rising, in the midst of the complicated instruments used in its
erection, but we must wait till it is finished before we can form a just
estimate of its beauty. And with respect to that great hope of which the
possession of Canaan was but a shadow and figure--the possession of the
heavenly inheritance--in a very short time every real believer will be able to
put his seal to the truth of the Divine promise. Let us rejoice that we have a
covenant of God, and a covenant ordered in all things and sure, which is all
our salvation and all our desire. And first, by way of improvement, let us
observe the propriety of remembering the way in which the Lord God hath led us.
If we consider the trials and sorrows of the present life as a part of that
holy dispensation, in that proportion shall we be disposed to glorify God. If
we trace the hand of man in these events, this may produce disquietude; but if
we could extend our view to the furthest limit, all this would frequently be
matter of gratitude, and we should be enabled to give thanks to God in
everything. Let us look forward to that state in which we shall have His
kindness fully displayed. (R. Hall, M. A.)
The triumphant record of God’s faithfulness
Verses 43-45 are the trophy reared on the battlefield, like the
lion of Marathon, which the Greeks set on its sacred soil. But the only name
inscribed on this monument is Jehovah’s. Other memorials of victories have
borne the pompous titles of commanders who arrogated the glory to themselves;
but the Bible knows of only one conqueror, and that is God. “The help that is
done on earth, He doeth it all Himself.” The military genius and heroic
constancy of Joshua, the eagerness for perilous honour that flamed, undimmed by
age, in Caleb, the daring and strong arms of many a humbler private in the
ranks, have their due recognition and reward; but when the history that tells
of these comes to sum up the whole, and to put the “philosophy” of the conquest
into a sentence, it has only one name to speak as cause of Israel’s victory.
That is the true point of view from which to look at the history of the world
and of the Church in the world. The difference between the “miraculous”
conquest of Canaan and the “ordinary” facts of history is not that God did the
one and men do the other; both are equally, though in different methods, His
acts. In the field of human affairs, as in the realm of nature, God is
immanent, though in the former His working is complicated by the mysterious
power of man’s will to set itself in antagonism to His; while yet, in manner
insoluble to us, His will is supreme. The very powers which are arrayed against
Him are His gift, and the issue which they finally subserve is His appointment.
It does not need that we should be able to pierce to the bottom of the
bottomless in order to attain and hold fast by the great conviction that there
is no power but of God, and that from Him are all things and to Him are all
things. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
The Divine fidelity acknowledged
We may note, too, in these verses, the threefold repetition of the
one thought, of God’s punctual and perfect fulfilment of His word. He “gave
unto Israel all the land which He sware to give”; “He gave them rest . . . according to
all that He sware”; “there failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord
had spoken.” It is the joy of thankful hearts to compare the promise with the
reality, to lay the one upon the other, as it were, and to declare how
precisely their, outlines correspond. The finished building is exactly
according to the plans drawn long before. God gives us the power of checking
His work, and we are unworthy to receive His gifts if we do not take delight in
marking and proclaiming how completely He has fulfilled His contract. It is no
small part of Christian duty, and a still greater part of Christian
blessedness, to do this. Many a fulfilment passes unnoticed, and many a joy,
which might be sacred and sweet as a token of love from His own hand, remains
common and unhallowed, because we fail to see that it is a fulfilled promise.
The eye that is trained to watch for God’s being as good as His word will never
have long to wait for proofs that He is. “Whoso is wise, and will observe these
things, even he shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.” And to such
an one faith will become easier, being sustained by experience; and a present
thus manifestly studded with indications of God’s faithfulness will merge into
a future still fuller of these. For it does not need that we should wait for
the end of the war to have many a token that His every word is true. The
struggling soldier can say, “No good thing has failed of all that the Lord has
spoken.” We look, indeed, for completer fulfilment when the fighting is done;
but there are brooks by the way for the warriors in the thick of the fight, of
which they drink, and, refreshed, lift up the head. We need not postpone this
glad acknowledgment till we can look back and down from the land of peace on
the completed campaign, but may rear this trophy on many a field, whilst still
we look for another conflict to-morrow. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
The Supreme Worker
We read that on a pyramid in Egypt the name and sounding titles of
the king in whose reign it was erected were blazoned on the plaster facing, but
beneath that transitory inscription the name of the architect was hewn,
imperishable, in the granite, and stood out when the plaster dropped away. So,
when all the short-lived records which ascribe the events of the Church’s
progress to her great men have perished, the one name of the true Builder will
shine out, and to the name of Jesus every knee shall bow. Let us not rely on
our own skill, courage, talents, orthodoxy, or methods, nor try to build
tabernacles for the witnessing servants beside the central one for the supreme
Lord, but ever seek to deepen our conviction that Christ, and Christ only,
gives all their powers to all, and that to Him, and Him only, is all victory to
be ascribed. It is an elementary and simple truth; but if we really lived in
its power we should go into the battle with more confidence, and come out of it
with less self-gratulation. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》
21 Chapter 21
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 and Simeon are mentioned by name, Joshua 21:9; then
those out of the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 21:17; next
those out of the tribe of Ephraim, Joshua 21:20;
afterwards those out of the tribe of Dan, Joshua 21:23; then
those out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 21:27; and
out of the tribe of Issachar, Joshua 21:28; and
out of the tribe of Asher, Joshua 21:30; and
of Naphtali, Joshua 21:32; and
of Zebulun, Joshua 21:34; and
of Reuben, Joshua 21:36; and
of Gad, Joshua 21:38; which
in all made forty eight, Joshua 21:41; and
the chapter is concluded with observing, that God gave Israel all the land of
Canaan, and rest in it, according to his promise, very faithfully and
punctually, Joshua 21:43.
Verse 1
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
claim for cities of habitation, they having no share in the division of the
land; and yet it was necessary they should have habitations; the persons that
undertook to put in a claim for them were the principal men among them; the
fathers of them were Kohath, Gershon, and Merari; the heads of those were the
chief men that were then living: these came
unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun; the high
priest and chief magistrate:
and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of
Israel; the princes appointed to divide the land with the two great
personages before mentioned, Numbers 34:17.
Verse 2
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 cities
to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle; this command
is extant in Numbers 35:2.
Verse 3
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 obedience to it, even gave
these cities and suburbs; after mentioned: this was done by the tribes themselves; as
there were a certain number fixed by the commandment of God, they agreed among
themselves how many and what cities should be given out of each tribe; and then
lots were cast for them by Joshua, what and which cities should be appropriated
to their several divisions, as the Kohathites that sprang from Aaron, and the
rest of them that did not, and the Gershonites and Merarites, as follows.
Verse 4
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 only Levites, but priests: these
had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of
Simeon,
and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities; which are
after mentioned by name; and as these were priests, whose business was to serve
in the temple, and at the altar, the cities assigned them by the lot, were, by
the wise disposal of divine Providence, ordered them out of those tribes which
lay nearest to Jerusalem; the place God had chosen to put his name in, where
the temple would be built, and the altars erected for sacrifices and incense.
Verse 5
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 Manasseh, ten cities; these other sort of Kohathites had their cities in tribes next
to the other three where the Kohathites that were priests had theirs.
Verse 6
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 out of the tribe of Naphtali, and
out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan; which was the other half
of the tribe beyond Jordan:
thirteen cities; as many as were given out of the tribes of
Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
Verse 7
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, Numbers 35:7.
Verse 8
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; which fulfilled Jacob's prophecy, that they should be divided and
scattered in Israel, Genesis 49:7; as
well as it was so ordered for the benefit of the several tribes, that they
might have the assistance of the priests and Levites, to instruct them in the
knowledge of the laws and commandments of God, and all divine things:
as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses; Numbers 35:2.
Verse 9
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, Joshua 19:1,
these cities which are here mentioned by name; Joshua 21:13.
Verse 10
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 hereafter mentioned in the
said tribe fell to their portion:
for theirs was the first lot; for being of the line of
Aaron, and priests, they had the honour and privilege to have the first lot
drawn for them, and out of the tribe for which the first lot was also drawn,
the tribe of Judah; here they had their cities allotted them, for a reason
before given.
Verse 11
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 ruler over them, as Ben Melech:
which city is Hebron in the hill country of Judah; as in Joshua 14:15; see Luke 1:39,
with the suburbs thereof round about it; as far as two
thousand cubits, which were to put their cattle in, and provision for them.
Verse 12
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, Joshua 14:6; and
the same is to be observed of all the other cities given to the Levites, that
they and their suburbs, extending to such a distance only, were given to them;
but the fields and villages, which belonged to them, continued the inheritance
of the tribes in which they were.
Verse 13
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 Libnah with her suburbs; a royal city, of which
see Joshua 10:29.
Verse 14
And Jattir with her suburbs,.... See Gill on Joshua 15:48,
and Eshtemoa with her suburbs; See Gill on Joshua 15:50.
Verse 15
And Holon with her suburbs,.... See Gill on Joshua 15:51,
and Debir with her suburbs; See Gill on Joshua 15:49.
Verse 16
And Ain with her suburbs,.... See Gill on Joshua 15:32,
and Juttah with her suburbs; See Gill on 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 by the
Philistines from Ashdod, 1 Samuel 6:9; in it
formerly was a temple dedicated to the sun, from whence it had its name:
nine cities out of those two tribes; and they seem all but
one, which is Ain, to be of the tribe of Judah, and that originally belonged to
it; and as that tribe had the largest number of cities in its lot, the more were
given out of it to the Levites, according to a rule prescribed, Numbers 35:8.
Verse 17
And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs,.... See Gill
on Joshua 18:25; from
which came the Gibeonites.
Geba with her suburbs. Of which See Gill on Joshua 18:24.
Verse 18
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; see Gill on Jeremiah 1:1; it
lay about two or three miles north of Jerusalem; three, says, JeromF11De
loc. Heb. fol. 88. H. . RauwolffF12Travels, par. 3. c. 2. p. 216.
speaks of it as a small village, when he travelled into those parts, and as
lying on a height or eminence, and which was within twenty furlongs of
Jerusalem, as Josephus writesF13Antiqu. l. 10. c. 7. sect. 3. :
and Almon with her suburbs; this also is not
mentioned among the cities of Benjamin, Joshua 18:11; it is
called Alemeth, 1 Chronicles 6:60.
Jarchi and Kimchi say it is the same with Bahurim, 2 Samuel 3:16;
where the Targum renders it by Almeth, and both words signify the same thing,
"youth":
four cities; which were a large number for so small a tribe as little
Benjamin to give.
Verse 19
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.
Verse 20
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 the tribe of Ephraim; and were as
follow.
Verse 21
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; city of refuge mentioned:
and Gezer with her suburbs: a place from whence the
Canaanites were not expelled; See Gill on Joshua 16:10.
Verse 22
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.
Verse 23
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs,.... See Gill
on Joshua 19:44,
Gibbethon with her suburbs; see Gill on Joshua 19:44.
Verse 24
Aijalon with her suburbs,.... See Gill on Joshua 19:42,
Gathrimmon with her suburbs, four cities; See Gill on Joshua 19:45.
Verse 25
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 Aner and Bilean in 1 Chronicles 6:70;
in process of time cities changed their names; two cities were a proper
proportion for this half tribe; two more were given out of the other half tribe
on the other side Jordan, as appears by what follows.
Verse 26
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 Levites, and not priests; See Gill on Joshua 21:20.
Verse 27
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; this
is the third city of refuge mentioned:
and Beeshterah with her suburbs; called Ashtaroth, 1 Chronicles 6:71;
which had been the royal city of Og, king of Bashan, where he had his palace, Deuteronomy 1:4.
Here seems to have been formerly a temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte; for
Beeshterah is a compound of "Beth" and "Ashterah", or
Astarte; that is, the house or temple of Astarte, but now become a city of the
Levites:
two cities; two more having been before given out of the other half tribe.
Verse 28
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; see Gill on Joshua 19:12.
Verse 29
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.
Verse 30
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.
Verse 31
Helkath with her suburbs,.... See Gill on Joshua 19:25; the
same with Hukok in 1 Chronicles 6:75,
and Rehob with her suburbs, four cities; See Gill on Joshua 19:28.
Verse 32
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 thought by some to be Tiberias, so called from the hot baths in or near it:
and Kartan with her suburbs; called Kirjathaim, 1 Chronicles 6:76;
but cannot be the Kirjathaim in Numbers 32:37; for
that belonged to the tribe of Reuben, and was on the other side Jordan:
three cities; this being a lesser tribe than some others
gave fewer cities, according to the rule in Numbers 35:8.
Verse 33
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 Naphtali.
Verse 34
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; See Gill on Joshua 12:22,
and Kartah with her suburbs; perhaps the same with
Kattath, Joshua 19:15.
Verse 35
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 with Chislothtabor, Joshua 19:12.
Verse 36
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; see Gill
on Numbers 21:23.
Verse 37
Kedemoth with her suburbs,.... Near to which was a
wilderness of that name; see Deuteronomy 2:26,
and Mephaath with her suburbs; of which See Gill on 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 noted by the Masorites;
but are in some others, as Kimchi owns, and stand in the Targum, in the
Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and in a manuscript referred to by
HottingerF5Thesaur. Philolog. l. 1. c. 2. p. 181, &c. ; and the
same words are to be, found in 1 Chronicles 6:78,
and are absolutely necessary to be retained, since without them there would be
but eight cities for the Merarites, whereas they are expressly said to be
twelve, Joshua 21:40.
Verse 38
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 the angels
met Jacob, which gave rise to the name of the place, Genesis 32:1;
afterwards a city was built here, and was on the borders of the tribe of Gad,
and belonged to it, Joshua 13:26;
mention is made of it in other places, 2 Samuel 2:8 1 Kings 2:8.
Verse 39
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 called Jaazer,
another city in the same country, and near Heshbon; see Numbers 21:32,
four cities in all: which were Ramothgilead, Mahanaim, Heshbon,
and Jazer.
Verse 40
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, Levites, and the
Gershonites:
were by their lot twelve cities; four out of
the tribe of Zebulun, four out of the tribe of Reuben, and four out of the
tribe of Gad, whose names are before given,
Verse 41
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 they were in possession of one city in it, Numbers 35:7; which,
as it is a proof of the omniscience, prescience, and predetermination of God;
so of the sure and true prediction of Moses, who could not be otherwise certain
than from the Lord of the Israelites being able to give so many cities to them,
out of each of their tribes: and it is to be observed, that this tribe of Levi,
though it had no share in the division of the land, yet had more cities by lot
given to it than any other, excepting the tribe of Judah; though indeed, in the
account of some of the tribes, all the cities in them are not mentioned; and
besides, they had only the cities they had with their suburbs round about them,
but not the lands belonging to them, nor the villages; however this shows that
a large and liberal maintenance of the ministers of the Lord, that serve in his
sanctuary should be allowed and made for them, as in the legal, so under the
Gospel dispensation.
Verse 42
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 them cities of
refuge, and forty two for the priests and Levites to dwell in, and for the
commodious use of their herds and flocks.
Verse 43
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
were in the hands of the Canaanites, were subject to pay tribute to them; and
it was owing to their own slothfulness and sluggishness that they did not
possess more hereafter; though it was the will of God that their enemies should
be driven out by little and little, until the Israelites were so increased as
to occupy the whole, lest any part of the land should lie waste and become
barren, and lest the wild beasts of the field should multiply upon them:
and they possessed it, and dwelt therein; each
according to their lot in the several places assigned them, as many cities as
they could at present people, and as much land as they could now manage.
Verse 44
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 land, but peace, rest, and safety in it:
and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; for whenever
any rose up to oppose them, they were immediately cut off: this is to be
understood while Joshua was living; for afterwards, sinning against God, they
were again and again delivered up into the hands of their enemies:
the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands; that is, that
made war with them.
Verse 45
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 out of Egypt, and passage through the Red sea and wilderness, with
all conveniences for them therein; so of their passage through Jordan, success
of their arms, the conquest of their enemies, possession of their land, a land
flowing with milk and honey:
all came to pass; exactly, precisely, and punctually, even
everything relative to their temporal and spiritual good: so all that God
promises to his spiritual Israel, with respect to their present comfort or
everlasting happiness, all is exactly fulfilled, all his promises in Christ are
yea and amen.
──《John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible》