Joshua 21:16-26

16 Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes.

17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,

18 Anathoth and Almon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.

19 The total number of towns for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim:

21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer,

22 Kibzaim and Beth Horon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.

23 Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon,

24 Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.

25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—two towns.

26 All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.

Joshua 21:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

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, Jos 21:1,2; the grant of them by lot out of the several tribes, Jos 21:3-8; the particular cities out of the tribes of Judah and Simeon are mentioned by name, Jos 21:9-16; then those out of the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 21:17-19; next those out of the tribe of Ephraim, Jos 21:20-22; afterwards those out of the tribe of Dan, Jos 21:23-26; then those out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Jos 21:27; and out of the tribe of Issachar, Jos 21:28,29; and out of the tribe of Asher, Jos 21:30,31; and of Naphtali, Jos 21:32,33; and of Zebulun, Jos 21:34,35; and of Reuben, Jos 21:36,37; and of Gad, Jos 21:38-40; which in all made forty eight, Jos 21:41,42; 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, Jos 21:43-45.

Cross References

• 1. S Numbers 34:11
• 2. Joshua 15:55
• 3. S Joshua 15:10
• 4. S Joshua 9:3
• 5. S Joshua 18:24; S Nehemiah 11:31
• 6. 2 Samuel 23:27; 1 Kings 2:26; Ezra 2:23; Nehemiah 7:27; Nehemiah 11:32; Isaiah 10:30; Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 11:21; Jeremiah 32:7
• 7. 2 Chronicles 31:15
• 8. ver 4
• 9. S Joshua 17:7; Joshua 20:7
• 10. S Joshua 10:33
• 11. S Joshua 10:10
• 12. 1 Samuel 1:1
• 13. S Joshua 19:44
• 14. S Joshua 10:12
• 15. S Joshua 19:45
• 16. S Joshua 12:21
• 17. ver 5