Joshua 21:2-12

2 And they spoke to them in Selo in the land of Chanaan, saying, The Lord gave commandment by Moses to give us cities to dwell in, and the country round about for our cattle.

3 So the children of Israel gave to the Levites in their inheritance by the command of the Lord the cities and the country round.

4 And the lot came out for the children of Caath; and the sons of Aaron, the priests the Levites, had by lot thirteen cities out of the tribe of Juda, and out of the tribe of Symeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin.

5 And to the sons of Caath that were left were lot ten cities, out of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasse.

6 And the sons of Gedson had thirteen cities, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Aser, and out of the tribe of Nephthali, and out of the half tribe of Manasse in Basan.

7 And the sons of Merari according to their families had by lot twelve cities, out of the tribe of Ruben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zabulon.

8 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities and their suburbs, as the Lord commanded Moses, by lot.

9 And the tribe of the children of Juda, and the tribe of the children of Symeon, and of the tribe of the children of Benjamin gave these cities, and they were assigned

10 to the sons of Aaron of the family of Caath of the sons of Levi, for the lot fell to these.

11 And they gave to them Cariatharboc the metropolis of the sons of Enac; this is Chebron in the mountain of Juda, and the suburbs round it.

12 But the lands of the city, and its villages Joshua gave to the sons of Chaleb the son of Jephonne for a possession.

Joshua 21:2-12 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. the hand of Moses.
• [b]. from.
• [c]. the land of Basan.
• [d]. was.
• [e]. he.
• [f]. parent city. See note chap. 10. 2.