Joshua 21:38-45

38 from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim,

39 Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands—four towns in all.

40 The total number of towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, came to twelve.

41 The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands.

42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.

44 The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hands.

45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Joshua 21:38-45 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 Deuteronomy 4:43
• 2. S Joshua 12:2
• 3. S Genesis 32:2
• 4. S Joshua 13:25
• 5. ver 7
• 6. Numbers 35:7
• 7. Deuteronomy 34:4
• 8. Deuteronomy 11:31
• 9. S Deuteronomy 17:14
• 10. S Exodus 33:14; Joshua 1:13
• 11. S Deuteronomy 6:19
• 12. S Exodus 23:31
• 13. Deuteronomy 7:24; Deuteronomy 21:10
• 14. Joshua 23:14; Nehemiah 9:8