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
These are the names H8034 of the men H582 which shall divide H5157 the land H776 unto you: Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun. H5126 And ye shall take H3947 one H259 prince H5387 of every tribe, H4294 to divide H5157 the land H776 by inheritance. H5157 And the names H8034 of the men H582 are these: Of the tribe H4294 of Judah, H3063 Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh. H3312 And of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Simeon, H8095 Shemuel H8050 the son H1121 of Ammihud. H5989 Of the tribe H4294 of Benjamin, H1144 Elidad H449 the son H1121 of Chislon. H3692 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Dan, H1835 Bukki H1231 the son H1121 of Jogli. H3020 The prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Joseph, H3130 for the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Manasseh, H4519 Hanniel H2592 the son H1121 of Ephod. H641 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Ephraim, H669 Kemuel H7055 the son H1121 of Shiphtan. H8204 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Zebulun, H2074 Elizaphan H469 the son H1121 of Parnach. H6535 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Issachar, H3485 Paltiel H6409 the son H1121 of Azzan. H5821 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Asher, H836 Ahihud H282 the son H1121 of Shelomi. H8015 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Naphtali, H5321 Pedahel H6300 the son H1121 of Ammihud. H5989 These are they whom the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 to divide the inheritance H5157 unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478 in the land H776 of Canaan. H3667
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 21
Commentary on Joshua 21 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 21
Jos 21:1-8. Eight and Forty Cities Given by Lot Out of the Other Tribes unto the Levites.
1-3. Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites—The most venerable and distinguished members of the three Levitical families, on behalf of their tribe, applied for the special provision that had been promised them to be now awarded (see on Nu 35:2). Their inheritance lay within the territory of every tribe. It was assigned in the same place and manner, and by the same commissioners as the other allotments. While the people, knowing the important duties they were to perform, are described (Jos 21:3) as readily conceding this "peculiar" to them, it had most probably been specified and reserved for their use while the distribution of the land was in progress.
4-8. the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites—The Levites were divided into Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the family of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all the rest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot was drawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by the priests, to whom thirteen cities were granted, and ten to the rest of the Kohathites (Jos 21:5); thirteen to the Gershonites (Jos 21:6), and twelve to the Merarites (Jos 21:7).
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
9-40. they gave … these cities which are here mentioned by name—It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehoboam.
41. All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs—This may appear too great a proportion compared with those of the other tribes. But it must be borne in mind that the list given here contains the names of every Levitical city (see on 1Ch 6:39-66); whereas only those cities of the other tribes are mentioned which lay on the frontier or along the boundary line. Besides, the Levites were not the exclusive inhabitants of those forty-eight cities; for there must have been also a considerable number of people kept there to cultivate the glebe lands and tend the cattle. Still further, the Levitical cities had nothing but "their suburbs round about them" [Jos 21:42]; whereas the other cities in Israel possessed a group of independent villages (see Jos 17:1-19:51).
Jos 21:43-45. God Gave Them Rest.
43-45. the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers—This is a general winding up of the history from the thirteenth chapter, which narrates the occupation of the land by the Israelites. All the promises made, whether to the people or to Joshua (Jos 1:5), had been, or were in the course of being fulfilled; and the recorded experience of the Israelites (Jos 21:45), is a ground of hope and confidence to the people of God in every age, that all other promises made to the Church will, in due time, be accomplished.