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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》