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;
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.
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.
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.
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.
6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
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.
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.
11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
12 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
14 And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
15 And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
16 And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
18 Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.
19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
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.
21 For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,
22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.
23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
24 Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.
25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
27 And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.
28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
29 Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.
30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,
31 Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
34 And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,
35 Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
37 Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.
38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
39 Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.
41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
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.
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.
45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
1 Then came near H5066 the heads H7218 of the fathers H1 of the Levites H3881 unto Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and unto Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 and unto the heads H7218 of the fathers H1 of the tribes H4294 of the children H1121 of Israel; H3478
2 And they spake H1696 unto them at Shiloh H7887 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 commanded H6680 by the hand H3027 of Moses H4872 to give H5414 us cities H5892 to dwell in, H3427 with the suburbs H4054 thereof for our cattle. H929
3 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 gave H5414 unto the Levites H3881 out of their inheritance, H5159 at the commandment H6310 of the LORD, H3068 these cities H5892 and their suburbs. H4054
4 And the lot H1486 came out H3318 for the families H4940 of the Kohathites: H6956 and the children H1121 of Aaron H175 the priest, H3548 which were of the Levites, H3881 had by lot H1486 out of the tribe H4294 of Judah, H3063 and out of the tribe H4294 of Simeon, H8099 and out of the tribe H4294 of Benjamin, H1144 thirteen H7969 H6240 cities. H5892
5 And the rest H3498 of the children H1121 of Kohath H6955 had by lot H1486 out of the families H4940 of the tribe H4294 of Ephraim, H669 and out of the tribe H4294 of Dan, H1835 and out of the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh, H4519 ten H6235 cities. H5892
6 And the children H1121 of Gershon H1648 had by lot H1486 out of the families H4940 of the tribe H4294 of Issachar, H3485 and out of the tribe H4294 of Asher, H836 and out of the tribe H4294 of Naphtali, H5321 and out of the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 in Bashan, H1316 thirteen H7969 H6240 cities. H5892
7 The children H1121 of Merari H4847 by their families H4940 had out of the tribe H4294 of Reuben, H7205 and out of the tribe H4294 of Gad, H1410 and out of the tribe H4294 of Zebulun, H2074 twelve H8147 H6240 cities. H5892
8 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 gave H5414 by lot H1486 unto the Levites H3881 these cities H5892 with their suburbs, H4054 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 by the hand H3027 of Moses. H4872
9 And they gave H5414 out of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Judah, H3063 and out of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Simeon, H8095 these cities H5892 which are here mentioned H7121 by name, H8034
10 Which the children H1121 of Aaron, H175 being of the families H4940 of the Kohathites, H6956 who were of the children H1121 of Levi, H3878 had: for theirs was the first H7223 H7223 lot. H1486
11 And they gave H5414 them the city H7151 of Arba H704 H7153 the father H1 of Anak, H6061 which city is Hebron, H2275 in the hill H2022 country of Judah, H3063 with the suburbs H4054 thereof round about H5439 it.
12 But the fields H7704 of the city, H5892 and the villages H2691 thereof, gave H5414 they to Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh H3312 for his possession. H272
13 Thus they gave H5414 to the children H1121 of Aaron H175 the priest H3548 Hebron H2275 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Libnah H3841 with her suburbs, H4054
14 And Jattir H3492 with her suburbs, H4054 and Eshtemoa H851 with her suburbs, H4054
15 And Holon H2473 with her suburbs, H4054 and Debir H1688 with her suburbs, H4054
16 And Ain H5871 with her suburbs, H4054 and Juttah H3194 with her suburbs, H4054 and Bethshemesh H1053 with her suburbs; H4054 nine H8672 cities H5892 out of those two H8147 tribes. H7626
17 And out of the tribe H4294 of Benjamin, H1144 Gibeon H1391 with her suburbs, H4054 Geba H1387 with her suburbs, H4054
18 Anathoth H6068 with her suburbs, H4054 and Almon H5960 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892
19 All the cities H5892 of the children H1121 of Aaron, H175 the priests, H3548 were thirteen H7969 H6240 cities H5892 with their suburbs. H4054
20 And the families H4940 of the children H1121 of Kohath, H6955 the Levites H3881 which remained H3498 of the children H1121 of Kohath, H6955 even they had the cities H5892 of their lot H1486 out of the tribe H4294 of Ephraim. H669
21 For they gave H5414 them Shechem H7927 with her suburbs H4054 in mount H2022 Ephraim, H669 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Gezer H1507 with her suburbs, H4054
22 And Kibzaim H6911 with her suburbs, H4054 and Bethhoron H1032 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892
23 And out of the tribe H4294 of Dan, H1835 Eltekeh H514 with her suburbs, H4054 Gibbethon H1405 with her suburbs, H4054
24 Aijalon H357 with her suburbs, H4054 Gathrimmon H1667 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892
25 And out of the half H4276 tribe H4294 of Manasseh, H4519 Tanach H8590 with her suburbs, H4054 and Gathrimmon H1667 with her suburbs; H4054 two H8147 cities. H5892
26 All the cities H5892 were ten H6235 with their suburbs H4054 for the families H4940 of the children H1121 of Kohath H6955 that remained. H3498
27 And unto the children H1121 of Gershon, H1648 of the families H4940 of the Levites, H3881 out of the other half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 they gave Golan H1474 in Bashan H1316 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Beeshterah H1203 with her suburbs; H4054 two H8147 cities. H5892
28 And out of the tribe H4294 of Issachar, H3485 Kishon H7191 with her suburbs, H4054 Dabareh H1705 with her suburbs, H4054
29 Jarmuth H3412 with her suburbs, H4054 Engannim H5873 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892
30 And out of the tribe H4294 of Asher, H836 Mishal H4861 with her suburbs, H4054 Abdon H5658 with her suburbs, H4054
31 Helkath H2520 with her suburbs, H4054 and Rehob H7340 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892
32 And out of the tribe H4294 of Naphtali, H5321 Kedesh H6943 in Galilee H1551 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Hammothdor H2576 with her suburbs, H4054 and Kartan H7178 with her suburbs; H4054 three H7969 cities. H5892
33 All the cities H5892 of the Gershonites H1649 according to their families H4940 were thirteen H7969 H6240 cities H5892 with their suburbs. H4054
34 And unto the families H4940 of the children H1121 of Merari, H4847 the rest H3498 of the Levites, H3881 out of the tribe H4294 of Zebulun, H2074 Jokneam H3362 with her suburbs, H4054 and Kartah H7177 with her suburbs, H4054
35 Dimnah H1829 with her suburbs, H4054 Nahalal H5096 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities. H5892
36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, H7205 Bezer H1221 with her suburbs, and Jahazah H3096 with her suburbs,
37 Kedemoth H6932 with her suburbs, and Mephaath H4158 with her suburbs; four H702 cities. H5892
38 And out of the tribe H4294 of Gad, H1410 Ramoth H7433 in Gilead H1568 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Mahanaim H4266 with her suburbs, H4054
39 Heshbon H2809 with her suburbs, H4054 Jazer H3270 with her suburbs; H4054 four H702 cities H5892 in all.
40 So all the cities H5892 for the children H1121 of Merari H4847 by their families, H4940 which were remaining H3498 of the families H4940 of the Levites, H3881 were by their lot H1486 twelve H8147 H6240 cities. H5892
41 All the cities H5892 of the Levites H3881 within H8432 the possession H272 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were forty H705 and eight H8083 cities H5892 with their suburbs. H4054
42 These cities H5892 were every one H5892 H5892 with their suburbs H4054 round about H5439 them: thus were all these cities. H5892
43 And the LORD H3068 gave H5414 unto Israel H3478 all the land H776 which he sware H7650 to give H5414 unto their fathers; H1 and they possessed H3423 it, and dwelt H3427 therein.
44 And the LORD H3068 gave them rest H5117 round about, H5439 according to all that he sware H7650 unto their fathers: H1 and there stood H5975 not a man H376 of all their enemies H341 before H6440 them; the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 all their enemies H341 into their hand. H3027
45 There failed H5307 not ought H1697 of any good H2896 thing H1697 which the LORD H3068 had spoken H1696 unto the house H1004 of Israel; H3478 all came to pass. H935
1 Then came near the heads of fathers' `houses' of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of fathers' `houses' of the tribes of the children of Israel;
2 and they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Jehovah, these cities with their suburbs.
4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
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.
6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
7 The children of Merari according to their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by Moses.
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:
10 and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.
11 And they gave them Kiriath-arba, `which Arba was' the father of Anak (the same is Hebron), in the hill-country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
12 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13 And unto the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with its suburbs,
14 and Jattir with its suburbs, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
15 and Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs,
16 and Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, `and' Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs,
18 Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities.
19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21 And they gave them Shechem with its suburbs in the hill-country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Gezer with its suburbs,
22 and Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Beth-horon with its suburbs; four cities.
23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs,
24 Aijalon with its suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; four cities.
25 And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; two cities.
26 All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbs.
27 And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh `they gave' Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Be-eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.
28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,
29 Jarmuth with its suburbs, En-gannim with its suburbs; four cities.
30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs,
31 Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities.
32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Hammoth-dor with its suburbs, and Kartan with its suburbs; three cities.
33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
34 And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, and Kartah with its suburbs,
35 Dimnah with its suburbs, Nahalal with its suburbs; four cities.
36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its suburbs, and Jahaz with its suburbs,
37 Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.
38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,
39 Heshbon with its suburbs, Jazer with its suburbs; four cities in all.
40 All `these were' the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.
41 All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus it was with all these cities.
43 So Jehovah gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
44 And Jehovah 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; Jehovah delivered all their enemies into their hand.
45 There failed not aught of any good thing which Jehovah had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
1 And the heads of the fathers of the Levites draw nigh unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel,
2 and they speak unto them in Shiloh, in the land of Canaan, saying, `Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses to give to us cities to dwell in, and their suburbs for our cattle.'
3 And the sons of Israel give to the Levites, out of their inheritance, at the command of Jehovah, these cities and their suburbs:
4 And the lot goeth out for the families of the Kohathite, and there are for the sons of Aaron the priest (of the Levites), out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, by lot thirteen cities,
5 and for the sons of Kohath who are left, out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, by lot ten cities:
6 And for the sons of Gershon `are', out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, by lot, thirteen cities.
7 For the sons of Merari, for their families, `are', out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8 And the sons of Israel give to the Levites these cities and their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses, by lot.
9 And they give out of the tribe of the sons of Judah, and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, these cities which are called by name;
10 and they are for the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathite, of the sons of Levi, for theirs hath been the first lot;
11 and they give to them the city of Arba father of Anak (it `is' Hebron), in the hill-country of Judah, and its suburbs round about it;
12 and the field of the city and its villages they have given to Caleb son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13 And to the sons of Aaron the priest they have given the city of refuge `for' the man-slayer, Hebron and its suburbs, and Libnah and its suburbs,
14 and Jattir and its suburbs, and Eshtemoa and its suburbs,
15 and Holon and its suburbs, and Debir and its suburbs,
16 and Ain and its suburbs, and Juttah and its suburbs, Beth-Shemesh and its suburbs; nine cities out of these two tribes.
17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon and its suburbs, Geba and its suburbs,
18 Anathoth and its suburbs, and Almon and its suburbs -- four cities;
19 all the cities of the sons of Aaron the priests, `are' thirteen cities and their suburbs.
20 And for the families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, who are left of the sons of Kohath, even the cities of their lot are of the tribe of Ephraim;
21 and they give to them the city of refuge `for' the man-slayer, Shechem and its suburbs, in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Gezer and its suburbs,
22 and Kibzaim and its suburbs, and Beth-Horon and its suburbs -- four cities.
23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and its suburbs, Gibbethon and its suburbs,
24 Aijalon and its suburbs, Gath-Rimmon and its suburbs -- four cities.
25 And out of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Taanach and its suburbs, and Gath-Rimmon and its suburbs -- two cities;
26 all the cities `are' ten and their suburbs, for the families of the sons of Kohath who are left.
27 And for the sons of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, the city of refuge `for' the man-slayer, Golan in Bashan and its suburbs, and Beeshterah and its suburbs -- two cities.
28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon and its suburbs, Dabarath and its suburbs,
29 Jarmuth and its suburbs, En-Gannim and its suburbs -- four cities.
30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal and its suburbs, Abdon and its suburbs,
31 Helkath and its suburbs, and Rehob and its suburbs -- four cities.
32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, the city of refuge `for' the man-slayer, Kedesh in Galilee and its suburbs, and Hammoth-Dor and its suburbs, and Kartan and its suburbs -- three cities;
33 all the cities of the Gershonite, for their families, `are' thirteen cities and their suburbs.
34 And for the families of the sons of Merari, the Levites, who are left, `are,' out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam and its suburbs, Kartah and its suburbs,
35 Dimnah and its suburbs, Nahalal and its suburbs -- four cities.
36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer and its suburbs, and Jahazah and its suburbs,
37 Kedemoth and its suburbs, and Mephaath and its suburbs -- four cities.
38 And out of the tribe of Gad, the city of refuge `for' the man-slayer, Ramoth in Gilead and its suburbs, and Mahanaim and its suburbs,
39 Heshbon and its suburbs, Jazer and its suburbs -- `in' all four cities.
40 All the cities for the sons of Merari, for their families, who are left of the families of the Levites -- their lot is twelve cities.
41 All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel `are' forty and eight cities, and their suburbs.
42 These cities are each city and its suburbs round about it; so to all these cities.
43 And Jehovah giveth to Israel the whole of the land which He hath sworn to give to their fathers, and they possess it, and dwell in it;
44 and Jehovah giveth rest to them round about, according to all that which He hath sworn to their fathers, and there hath not stood a man in their presence of all their enemies, the whole of their enemies hath Jehovah given into their hand;
45 there hath not fallen a thing of all the good thing which Jehovah spake unto the house of Israel -- the whole hath come.
1 Then the chief fathers of the Levites drew near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
2 and they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, and their suburbs for our cattle.
3 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the word of Jehovah, these cities and their suburbs.
4 And the lot came forth for the families of the Kohathites. And the children of Aaron the priest, of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
5 And the children of Kohath that remained 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.
6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
7 The children of Merari according to their families had by lot out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8 And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities and their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded through Moses.
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 were mentioned by name,
10 and which the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, of the children of Levi had (for theirs was the first lot);
11 and they gave them Kirjath-Arba, [which Arba was] the father of Anak, that is, Hebron, in the mountain of Judah, with its suburbs round about it.
12 But the fields of the city and the hamlets thereof gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13 And they gave to the children of Aaron the priest the city of refuge for the slayer, Hebron and its suburbs; and Libnah and its suburbs,
14 and Jattir and its suburbs, and Eshtemoa and its suburbs,
15 and Holon and its suburbs, and Debir and its suburbs,
16 and Ain and its suburbs, and Juttah and its suburbs, [and] Beth-shemesh and its suburbs: nine cities out of those two tribes;
17 and out of the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon and its suburbs, Geba and its suburbs,
18 Anathoth and its suburbs, and Almon and its suburbs; four cities.
19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities and their suburbs.
20 And to the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites that remained of the children of Kohath, [they gave cities]. And the cities of their lot were out of the tribe of Ephraim,
21 and they gave them the city of refuge for the slayer, Shechem and its suburbs in mount Ephraim; and Gezer and its suburbs,
22 and Kibzaim and its suburbs, and Beth-horon and its suburbs: four cities;
23 and out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and its suburbs, Gibbethon and its suburbs,
24 Ajalon and its suburbs, Gath-Rimmon and its suburbs: four cities;
25 and out of half the tribe of Manasseh, Taanach and its suburbs and Gath-Rimmon and its suburbs: two cities.
26 All the cities were ten and their suburbs, for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
27 And to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of half the tribe of Manasseh, [they gave] the city of refuge for the slayer, Golan in Bashan and its suburbs; and Beeshterah and its suburbs: two cities;
28 and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion and its suburbs, Dabrath and its suburbs,
29 Jarmuth and its suburbs, En-gannim and its suburbs: four cities;
30 and out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal and its suburbs, Abdon and its suburbs,
31 Helkath and its suburbs, and Rehob and its suburbs: four cities;
32 and out of the tribe of Naphtali, the city of refuge for the slayer, Kedesh in Galilee, and its suburbs; and Hammoth-Dor and its suburbs, and Kartan and its suburbs: three cities.
33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities and their suburbs.
34 And to the families of the children of Merari, that remained of the Levites, [they gave] out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam and its suburbs, Kartah and its suburbs,
35 Dimnah and its suburbs, Nahalal and its suburbs: four cities;
36 and out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer and its suburbs, and Jahzah and its suburbs,
37 Kedemoth and its suburbs, and Mephaath and its suburbs: four cities;
38 and out of the tribe of Gad, the city of refuge for the slayer, Ramoth in Gilead and its suburbs; and Mahanaim and its suburbs,
39 Heshbon and its suburbs, Jaazer and its suburbs: four cities in all.
40 [These were] all the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, which remained of the families of the Levites, and their lot was twelve cities.
41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities and their suburbs.
42 Each one of these cities had its suburbs round about it: thus were all these cities.
43 And Jehovah gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give unto their fathers; and they took possession of it, and dwelt in it.
44 And Jehovah gave them rest round about, according to all that he had sworn unto their fathers; and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them: Jehovah gave all their enemies into their hand.
45 There failed nothing of all the good things that Jehovah had spoken to the house of Israel: all came to pass.
1 Then came near the heads of fathers' [houses] of the Levites to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers' [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel;
2 and they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Yahweh commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs of it for our cattle.
3 The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their suburbs.
4 The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
5 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.
6 The children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
7 The children of Merari according to their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8 The children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as Yahweh commanded by Moses.
9 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:
10 and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.
11 They gave them Kiriath Arba, [which Arba was] the father of Anak (the same is Hebron), in the hill-country of Judah, with the suburbs of it round about it.
12 But the fields of the city, and the villages of it, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13 To the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with its suburbs,
14 and Jattir with its suburbs, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
15 and Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs,
16 and Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, [and] Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17 Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs,
18 Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities.
19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
20 The families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21 They gave them Shechem with its suburbs in the hill-country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Gezer with its suburbs,
22 and Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Beth Horon with its suburbs; four cities.
23 Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs,
24 Aijalon with its suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; four cities.
25 Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; two cities.
26 All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbs.
27 To the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh [they gave] Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Be-eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.
28 Out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,
29 Jarmuth with its suburbs, En Gannim with its suburbs; four cities.
30 Out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs,
31 Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities.
32 Out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Hammothdor with its suburbs, and Kartan with its suburbs; three cities.
33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
34 To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, and Kartah with its suburbs,
35 Dimnah with its suburbs, Nahalal with its suburbs; four cities.
36 Out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its suburbs, and Jahaz with its suburbs,
37 Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.
38 Out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,
39 Heshbon with its suburbs, Jazer with its suburbs; four cities in all.
40 All [these were] the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.
41 All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their suburbs.
42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus it was with all these cities.
43 So Yahweh gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers; and they possessed it, and lived therein.
44 Yahweh gave them rest round about, according to all that he swore to their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; Yahweh delivered all their enemies into their hand.
45 There failed not anything of any good thing which Yahweh had spoken to the house of Israel; all came to pass.
1 Then the heads of the families of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest and Joshua, the son of Nun, and to the heads of families of the tribes of the children of Israel;
2 And said to them in Shiloh in the land of Canaan, The Lord gave orders by Moses that we were to have towns for living in, with their grass-lands for our cattle.
3 And the children of Israel out of their heritage gave to the Levites these towns with their grass-lands, by the order of the Lord.
4 And the heritage came out for the families of the Kohathites: the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, were given thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
5 The rest of the children of Kohath by their families were given ten towns from the tribes of Ephraim and Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
6 The children of Gershon by their families were given thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar and Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh which was in Bashan.
7 The children of Merari by their families were given twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben and Gad and Zebulun.
8 All these towns with their grass-lands the children of Israel gave by the decision of the Lord to the Levites, as the Lord had given orders by Moses.
9 From the tribes of the children of Judah and the children of Simeon they gave these towns, listed here by name:
10 These were for the children of Aaron among the families of the Kohathites, of the children of Levi: for they came first in the distribution.
11 They gave them Kiriath-arba, the town of Arba, the father of Anak, (which is Hebron) in the hill-country of Judah, with its grass-lands.
12 But the open country round the town, and its unwalled places, they gave to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, as his property.
13 And to the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its grass-lands, the town where the taker of life might be safe, and Libnah with its grass-lands;
14 And Jattir with its grass-lands, and Eshtemoa with its grass-lands;
15 And Holon with its grass-lands, and Debir with its grass-lands;
16 And Ain, and Juttah, and Beth-shemesh, with their grass-lands; nine towns from those two tribes.
17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave Gibeon and Geba with their grass-lands;
18 Anathoth and Almon with their grass-lands, four towns.
19 Thirteen towns with their grass-lands were given to the children of Aaron, the priests.
20 The rest of the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, were given towns from the tribe of Ephraim.
21 And they gave them Shechem with its grass-lands in the hill-country of Ephraim, the town where the taker of life might be safe, and Gezer with its grass-lands;
22 And Kibzaim and Beth-horon with their grass-lands, four towns.
23 And from the tribe of Dan, Elteke and Gibbethon with their grass-lands;
24 Aijalon and Gath-rimmon with their grass-lands, four towns.
25 And from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach and Gath-rimmon with their grass-lands, two towns.
26 All the towns of the rest of the families of the children of Kohath were ten with their grass-lands.
27 And to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, they gave from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its grass-lands, the town where the taker of life might be safe, and Ashtaroth with its grass-lands, two towns.
28 And from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion and Daberath with their grass-lands;
29 Jarmuth and En-gannim with their grass-lands, four towns.
30 And from the tribe of Asher, Mishal and Abdon, with their grass-lands:
31 Helkath and Rehob with their grass-lands, four towns.
32 And from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its grass-lands, the town where the taker of life might be safe, and Hammoth-dor and Kartan with their grass-lands, three towns.
33 All the towns of the Gershonites with their families were thirteen with their grass-lands.
34 And to the rest of the Levites, that is, the families of the children of Merari, they gave from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam and Kartah with their grass-lands;
35 Dimnah and Nahalal with their grass-lands, four towns.
36 And from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer and Jahaz with their grass-lands;
37 Kedemoth and Mephaath with their grass-lands, four towns.
38 And from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead, the town where the taker of life might be safe, and Mahanaim with their grass-lands;
39 Heshbon and Jazer with their grass-lands, four towns.
40 All these towns were given to the children of Merari by their families, that is, the rest of the families of the Levites; and their heritage was twelve towns.
41 All the towns of the Levites, among the heritage of the children of Israel, were forty-eight towns with their grass-lands.
42 Every one of these towns had grass-lands round it.
43 So the Lord gave to Israel all the land which he gave by oath to their fathers; so it became their heritage and their living-place.
44 And the Lord gave them peace on every side, as he had said to their fathers: all those who were against them gave way before them, for the Lord gave them all up into their hands.
45 The Lord kept faith with the house of Israel about all the good which he said he would do for them, and all his words came true.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Joshua 21
Commentary on Joshua 21 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
After the cities of refuge had been set apart, the towns were also selected, which the different tribes were to give up for the priest and Levites to dwell in according to the Mosaic instructions in Numbers 35:1-8, together with the necessary fields as pasturage for their cattle. The setting apart of the cities of refuge took place before the appointment of the Levitical towns, because the Lord had given commandment through Moses in Numbers 35:6, that they were to give to the Levites the six cities of refuge, and forty-two cities besides, i.e., forty-eight cities in all. From the introductory statement in Joshua 21:1, Joshua 21:2, that the heads of the fathers (see Exodus 6:14, Exodus 6:25) of the Levitical families reminded the distribution committee at Shiloh of the command of God that had been issued through Moses, that towns were to be given them to dwell in, we cannot infer, as Calvin has done, that the Levites had been forgotten, till they came and asserted their claims. All that is stated in these words is, “that when the business had reached that point, they approached the dividers of the land in the common name of the members of their tribe, to receive by lot the cities appointed for them. They simply expressed the commands of God, and said in so many words, that they had been deputed by the Levites generally to draw lots for those forty-eight cities with their suburbs, which had been appointed for that tribe” ( Masius ). The clause appended to Shiloh , “ in the land of Canaan ,” points to the instructions in Numbers 34:29 and Numbers 35:10, to give the children of Israel their inheritance in the land of Canaan .
Number of the cities which the different families of Levi received from each tribe. The tribe of Levi was divided into three branches, - The Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites (see Num 3 and Exodus 6:16-19). The Kohathites again were divided into the four families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel (Exodus 6:18); and the family of Amram into two lines, consisting of the descendants of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 6:20). The priesthood was committed to the line of Aaron (Numbers 18:1-7); but the other descendants of Amram, i.e., the descendants of Moses, were placed on a par with the other descendants of Levi, and numbered among the simple Levites (Num. 3; 1 Chronicles 6:1-7). The towns in which the different families of Levi were to dwell were determined by lot; but in all probability the towns which each tribe was to give up to them were selected first of all, so that the lot merely decided to which branch of the Levites each particular town was to belong.
Joshua 21:4
The first lot came out for the families of Kohath, and among these again for the sons of Aaron, i.e., the priests. They received thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. “This did not happen by chance; but God, according to His wonderful counsel, placed them just in that situation which He had determined to select for His own temple” ( Calvin ).
Joshua 21:5
The rest of the Kohathites, i.e., the descendants of Moses, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, received ten towns from Ephraim, Dan, and half Manasseh.
Joshua 21:6
The Gershonites received thirteen towns from Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and half Manasseh in Bashan.
Joshua 21:7-8
The Merarites received twelve towns from Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
The number of towns thus assigned to the Levites will not appear too large, if we consider, (1) that judging from the number of towns in so small a land, the greater part of them cannot have been very large; (2) that the Levites were not the sole possessors of these towns, but simply received the number of dwelling-houses which they actually required, with meadow land for their cattle in the suburbs of the towns, whilst the rest of the space still belonged to the different tribes; and (3) that if the 23,000 males, the number of the Levites at the second census which was taken in the steppes of Moab, were distributed among the thirty-five towns, it would give 657 males, or 1300 male and female Levites for every town. On the other hand, offence has been taken at the statement, that thirteen towns were given up to the priests; and under the idea that Aaron could hardly have had descendants enough in Joshua's time from his two sons who remained alive to fill even two towns, to say nothing of thirteen, the list has been set down as a document which was drawn up at a much later date ( Maurer , etc.). But any one who takes this ground not only attributes to the distribution commission the enormous shortsightedness of setting apart towns for the priests merely to meet their existing wants, and without any regard to the subsequent increase which would take place in their numbers, but also forms too large an estimate of the size of the towns, and too small an estimate of the number of the priests. Moreover, it was never intended that the towns should be filled with priests' families; and the number of priests alive at that time is not mentioned anywhere. But if we bear in mind that Aaron died in the fortieth year of the journeys of the Israelites, at the age of 123 years (Numbers 33:38), and therefore was eighty-three years old at the time of the exodus from Egypt, his descendants might have entered upon the fourth generation seven years after his death. Now his two sons had twenty-four male descendants, who were the founders of the twenty-four classes instituted by David (1 Chron 24). And if we only reckon six males to each of the next generations, there would be 144 in the third generation, who would be between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five when the distribution of the land took place, and who might therefore have had 864 male children living at that time; so that the total number of males in the families of the priests might have amounted to more than 1000, that is to say, might have consisted of at least 200 families.
Names of the Levitical Towns .
(Note: There is a similar list in 1 Chron 6:54-81, though in some respects differently arranged, and with many variations in the names, and corruptions of different kinds in the text, which show that the author of the Chronicles has inserted an ancient document that was altogether independent of the book before us. Thus in the Chronicles there are only forty-two towns mentioned by name instead of forty-eight, although it is stated in 1 Chronicles 6:45. that 13 + 10 + 13 + 12, i.e., forty-eight towns in all, were given up to the Levites. The names omitted are (1) Jutta in Judah; (2) Gibeon in Benjamin; (3 and 4) Ethekeh and Gibbethon in Dan; (5 and 6) and Jokneam and Nahalal in Zebulun (compare Joshua 21:16, Joshua 21:17, Joshua 21:23, Joshua 21:34, and Joshua 21:35, with 1 Chronicles 6:59-60, 1 Chronicles 6:68, 1 Chronicles 6:77. In some cases also the author of the Chronicles gives different names, though some of them indeed are only different forms of the same name, e.g., Hilen for Holon, Alemeth for Almon, Ashtaroth for Beeshterah, Mashal for Misheal, Hammon for Hammoth-dor, Kirjathaim for Kartan (compare 1 Chronicles 6:58, 1 Chronicles 6:60, 1 Chronicles 6:71, 1 Chronicles 6:74, 1 Chronicles 6:76, with Joshua 21:15, Joshua 21:18, Joshua 21:27, Joshua 21:30, Joshua 21:32); or in some cases possibly different names of the same town, e.g., Jokmeam for Kibzaim, and Ramoth for Jarmuth, and Anem for En-gannim (1 Chronicles 6:68, 83, and Joshua 21:22, Joshua 21:29); whilst some evidently give the true reading, viz., Ashan for Ain, and Bileam for Gath-rimmon (1 Chronicles 6:59, 1 Chronicles 6:70; Joshua 21:16, Joshua 21:26). The majority, however, are faulty readings, viz., Aner for Tanach, Kedesh for Kishon, Hukok for Helkath, Rimmon and Tabor (compare 1 Chronicles 6:70, 1 Chronicles 6:72, 1 Chronicles 6:75, 1 Chronicles 6:77, with Joshua 21:25, Joshua 21:28, Joshua 21:31, Joshua 21:34-35).)
Joshua 21:9-19
The priests' towns: ( a ) in Judah and Simeon (Joshua 21:9-16); ( b ) in Benjamin (Joshua 21:17-19).
Joshua 21:9-12
In the tribe of Judah the priests received Kirjath-arba , or Hebron , with the necessary pasturage round about the town (see Numbers 35:2), whilst the field of the town with the villages belonging to it remained in the hands of Caleb and his family as their possession (Joshua 14:12.).
Joshua 21:13-16
Joshua 21:13 contains a repetition of Joshua 21:11, occasioned by the parenthetical remark in Joshua 21:12. They also received Libnah in the lowland (see Joshua 15:42; Joshua 10:29); Jattir (Joshua 15:48), Eshtemoah (Joshua 15:50), Holon (Joshua 15:51), and Debir (Joshua 15:15, Joshua 15:49; Joshua 10:38) on the mountains of Judah; Ain , for which we should read Ashan (1 Chronicles 6:44; cf. Joshua 15:42), in the tribe of Simeon (Joshua 19:7); Juttah on the mountains (Joshua 15:55); and Beth-shemesh in the lowland (Joshua 15:10).
Joshua 21:17-19
In the tribe of Benjamin they received Gibeon (see Joshua 9:3), Geba (Joshua 18:24), also Anathoth and Almon , which are missing in the list of the towns of Benjamin (see at Joshua 18:24).
Joshua 21:20-25
Towns of the Levites . - Joshua 21:20-26. The other Kohathites received four towns from the tribe of Ephraim (Joshua 21:21, Joshua 21:22), four from Dan (Joshua 21:23, Joshua 21:24), and two from the half tribe of Manasseh on this side of the Jordan (Joshua 21:25). From Ephraim they received Shechem (see Joshua 17:7), Gezer (Joshua 10:33), Kibzaim - for which we find Jockmeam in 1 Chronicles 6:68, possibly a different name for the same place, which has not yet been discovered - and Beth-horon , whether Upper or Lower is not stated (see Joshua 10:10). From Dan they received Elthekeh and Gibbethon (Joshua 19:44), Ajalon and Gath-rimmon (Joshua 19:42, Joshua 19:45). From half Manasseh they received Taanach (Joshua 17:11; Joshua 12:21) and Gath-rimmon - eye to the previous verse, for Bileam (1 Chronicles 6:70), i.e., Jibleam (Joshua 17:11).
Joshua 21:26
Thus they received ten towns in all.
Joshua 21:27-33
The Gershonites received two towns from eastern Manasseh: Golan (Joshua 20:8; Deuteronomy 4:43), and Beeshterah. Beeshterah (contracted from Beth-eshterah , the house of Astarte), called Ashtaroth in 1 Chronicles 6:56, may possibly have been the capital of king Og ( Ashtaroth-karnaim , Genesis 14:5), if not one of the two villages named Astaroth , which are mentioned by Eusebius in the Onom. ( s. v. Astharoth-karnaim ), and are described by Jerome as duo castella in Batanaea, novem inter se millibus separata inter Adaram et Abilam civitates , though Adara and Abila are too indefinite to determine the situation with any exactness. At any rate, the present Busra on the east of the Hauran cannot be thought of for a moment; for this was called Βόσσορα or Βοσορρά , i.e., בּצרה , in ancient times, as it is at the present day (see 1 Macc. 5:26, and Joseph. Ant. xii. 8, 3), and was corrupted into Bostra by the Greeks and Romans. Nor can it be the present Kul'at Bustra on the north of Banyas upon a shoulder of the Hermon, where there are the ruins of a magnificent building, probably a temple of ancient date ( Burckhardt , Syr. pp. 93, 94; Rob. Bibl. Res. pp. 414-15), as Knobel supposes, since the territory of the Israelites did not reach so far north, the land conquered by Joshua merely extending to Baal-gad, i.e., Banyas, at the foot of the Hermon (see Joshua 11:17), and the land to the east of the Jordan, or Bashan, only to the Hermon itself, or more correctly, merely to the districts of Geshuri and Maacah at the south-eastern border of the Hermon (see at Deuteronomy 3:8, Deuteronomy 3:14).
Joshua 21:28-29
From Issachar they received four towns: Kishon (Joshua 19:20), Dabrath (Joshua 19:12), Jarmuth = Remeth (see Joshua 19:21), and En-gannim (Joshua 19:21, or Anem , 1 Chronicles 6:73).
Joshua 21:30-31
From Asher they received four towns: Mishal or Masal (Joshua 19:26; cf. 1 Chronicles 6:74), Abdon (Joshua 19:28), Helkath (Joshua 19:25, called Hukok in 1 Chronicles 6:75, probably a copyist's error), and Rehob (Joshua 19:28).
Joshua 21:32
From Naphtali they received three towns: Kedesh (Joshua 19:37 and Joshua 12:22), Hammoth-dor (called Hammath in Joshua 19:35, and Hammon in 1 Chronicles 6:76), and Kartan (contracted from Kartain for Kirjatha i m, 1 Chronicles 6:76; like Dothan in 2 Kings 6:13, from Dothain in Genesis 37:17). Kartan is not mentioned among the towns of Naphtali in Joshua 19:33.; according to Knobel it may possibly be Katanah , a place with ruins to the north-east of Safed ( Van de Velde , Mem. p. 147).
Joshua 21:33
They received thirteen towns in all.
Joshua 21:34-35
The Merarites received twelve towns. From the tribe of Zebulun they received four: Jokneam (Joshua 19:11 : see at Joshua 12:22), Kartah and Dimnah ,
(Note: Many commentators identify Dimnah with Rimmono in 1 Chronicles 6:77, but without sufficient reason; for the next of the Chronicles is no doubt corrupt in this passage, as it has only two names, Rimmono and Tabor , instead of four.)
which are not mentioned among the towns of Zebulun in Joshua 19:11., and are unknown, and Nahalal (Joshua 19:15).
Joshua 21:36-37
From Reuben they received four: Gezer (Joshua 20:8 : see Deuteronomy 4:43), Jahza , Kedemoth , and Mephaath (Joshua 13:18).
(Note: R. Jacob ben Chajim has omitted Joshua 21:36 and Joshua 21:37 from his Rabbinical Bible of the year 1525 as spurious, upon the authority of Kimchi and the larger Masora; but upon insufficient grounds, as these verses are to be found in many good MSS and old editions of an earlier date than 1525, as well as in all the ancient versions, and could not possibly have been wanting from the very first, since the Merarites received twelve towns, which included the four that belonged to Reuben. In those MSS in which they are wanting, the omission was, no doubt, a copyist's error, occasioned by the homoioteleuto'n (see de Rossi variae lectt. ad h. l ., and J. H. Michaelis' Note to his Hebrew Bible).)
Joshua 21:38-39
From Gad they received four towns: Ramoth in Gilead, and Mahanaim (see at Joshua 13:26), Heshbon (Joshua 13:17) and Jaezer (Joshua 13:25 : see at Numbers 21:32).
Joshua 21:40-42
They received twelve towns in all. - In Joshua 21:41 and Joshua 21:42 the list of the Levitical towns is closed with a statement of their total number, and also with the repetition of the remark that “these cities were every one with their suburbs round about them.” ום עיר עיר , city city, i.e., every city, with its pasture round about it.
Joshua 21:43-45 form the conclusion to the account of the division of the land in Josh 13-21, which not only points back to Joshua 11:23, but also to Joshua 1:2-6, and connects the two halves of our book together. By the division of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, the promise which Joshua had received from God after the death of Moses was fulfilled (Joshua 1:2.). The Lord had given Israel the whole land which He had sworn to the fathers (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 15:18, compared with Joshua 1:3-4); and they had now taken possession of it to dwell therein.
Joshua 21:44
He had also procured them rest round about, as He had sworn to their fathers, inasmuch as not a man of all their enemies stood against them. The expression “gave them rest,” etc., points back to Deuteronomy 12:9-10, and refers to all the divine promises of the Pentateuch which assured the Israelites of the peaceable possession of Canaan, such as Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 3:20, etc. No enemy had been able to withstand them, as the Lord had promised Joshua (Joshua 1:5). “ The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand .” It is true the Canaanites were not all exterminated; but those who were left had become so powerless, that they could neither accomplish nor attempt anything against Israel, so long as the Israelites adhered faithfully to their God, or so long as Joshua and the elders who were his contemporaries were alive (Judges 2:6.), because the Lord had overwhelmed them with fear and terror before the Israelites.
(Note: “If any one should raise a question as to their actual peace, the solution is easy enough. The tribes of Canaan were so alarmed and broken down with their fear, that in their opinion nothing could serve their purpose better than to purchase peace from the children of Israel by the most obsequious servility. Clearly, therefore, the land was subdued and their home at peace, since no one disturbed them, or attempted anything against them; there were no threats, no snares, no violence, and no conspiracy.” - Calvin .)
Joshua 21:45
Of all the good words which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel not one had fallen, i.e., remained unfulfilled (Numbers 6:12); all had come to pass (vid., Joshua 23:14). הטּוב כּל־הדּבר relates to the gracious promises of God with regard to the peaceful possession of Canaan, which formed the basis of all the salvation promised to Israel, and the pledge of the fulfilment of all the further promises of God. Notwithstanding the fact that many a tract of country still remained in the hands of the Canaanites, the promise that the land of Canaan should be given to the house of Israel for a possession had been fulfilled; for God had not promised the immediate and total destruction of the Canaanites, but only their gradual extermination (Exodus 23:29-30; Deuteronomy 7:22). And even though the Israelites never came into undisputed possession of the whole of the promised land, to the full extent of the boundaries laid down in Numbers 34:1-12, never conquering Tyre and Sidon for example, the promises of God were no more broken on that account than they were through the circumstance, that after the death of Joshua and the elders his contemporaries, Israel was sometimes hard pressed by the Canaanites; since the complete fulfilment of this promise was inseparably connected with the fidelity of Israel to the Lord.
(Note: With reference to this apparent discrepancy between the promises of God and the actual results, Calvin observes, that “in order to remove every appearance of discrepancy, it is right to distinguish well between the clear, unwavering, and certain fidelity of God in the fulfilment of His promises, and the weakness and indolence of the people, which caused the blessings of God to slip from their hands. Whatever war the people undertook, in whatever direction they carried their standards, there was victory ready to their hand; nor was there anything to retard or prevent the extermination of all their enemies except their own slothfulness. Consequently, although they did not destroy them all, so as to empty the land for their own possession, the truth of God stood out as distinctly as if they had; for there would have been no difficulty in their accomplishment of all that remained to be done, if they had only been disposed to grasp the victories that were ready to their hand.”)