约书亚记 21

1 那时，利未人的众族长来到祭司以利亚撒和嫩的儿子约书亚，并以色列各支派的族长面前，

2 在迦南地的示罗对他们说：从前耶和华藉着摩西吩咐给我们城邑居住，并城邑的郊野可以牧养我们的牲畜。

3 於是以色列人照耶和华所吩咐的，从自己的地业中，将以下所记的城邑和城邑的郊野给了利未人。

4 为哥辖族拈阄：利未人的祭司、亚伦的子孙，从犹大支派、西缅支派、便雅悯支派的地业中，按阄得了十三座城。

5 哥辖其馀的子孙，从以法莲支派、但支派、玛拿西半支派的地业中，按阄得了十座城。

6 革顺的子孙，从以萨迦支派、亚设支派、拿弗他利支派、住巴珊的玛拿西半支派的地业中，按阄得了十三座城。

7 米拉利的子孙，按着宗族，从流便支派、迦得支派、西布伦支派的地业中，按阄得了十二座城。

8 以色列人照着耶和华藉摩西所吩咐的，将这些城邑和城邑的郊野，按阄分给利未人。

9 从犹大支派、西缅支派的地业中，将以下所记的城给了利未支派哥辖宗族亚伦的子孙；因为给他们拈出头一阄，

10 a

11 将犹大山地的基列亚巴和四围的郊野给了他们。亚巴是亚衲族的始祖。（基列亚巴就是希伯仑）。

12 惟将属城的田地和村庄给了耶孚尼的儿子迦勒为业。

13 以色列人将希伯仑，就是误杀人的逃城和属城的郊野，给了祭司亚伦的子孙；又给他们立拿和属城的郊野，

14 雅提珥和属城的郊野，以实提莫和属城的郊野，

15 何仑和属城的郊野，底璧和属城的郊野，

16 亚因和属城的郊野，淤他和属城的郊野，伯示麦和属城的郊野，共九座城，都是从这二支派中分出来的。

17 又从便雅悯支派的地业中给了他们基遍和属城的郊野，迦巴和属城的郊野，

18 亚拿突和属城的郊野，亚勒们和属城的郊野，共四座城。

19 亚伦子孙作祭司的共有十三座城，还有属城的郊野。

20 利未支派中哥辖的宗族，就是哥辖其馀的子孙，拈阄所得的城有从以法莲支派中分出来的。

21 以色列人将以法莲山地的示剑，就是误杀人的逃城和属城的郊野，给了他们；又给他们基色和属城的郊野，

22 基伯先和属城的郊野，伯和仑和属城的郊野，共四座城；

23 又从但支派的地业中给了他们伊利提基和属城的郊野，基比顿和属城的郊野，

24 亚雅仑和属城的郊野，迦特临门和属城的郊野，共四座城；

25 又从玛拿西半支派的地业中给了他们他纳和属城的郊野，迦特临门和属城的郊野，共两座城。

26 哥辖其馀的子孙共有十座城，还有属城的郊野。

27 以色列人又从玛拿西半支派的地业中将巴珊的哥兰，就是误杀人的逃城和属城的郊野，给了利未支派革顺的子孙；又给他们比施提拉和属城的郊野，共两座城；

28 又从以萨迦支派的地业中给了他们基善和属城的郊野，大比拉和属城的郊野，

29 耶末和属城的郊野，隐干宁和属城的郊野，共四座城；

30 又从亚设支派的地业中给了他们米沙勒和属城的郊野，押顿和属城的郊野，

31 黑甲和属城的郊野，利合和属城的郊野，共四座城；

32 又从拿弗他利支派的地业中将加利利的基低斯，就是误杀人的逃城和属城的郊野，给了他们；又给他们哈末多珥和属城的郊野，加珥坦和属城的郊野，共三座城。

33 革顺人按着宗族所得的城，共十三座，还有属城的郊野。

34 其馀利未支派米拉利子孙，从西布伦支派的地业中所得的，就是约念和属城的郊野，加珥他和属城的郊野，

35 丁拿和属城的郊野，拿哈拉和属城的郊野，共四座城；

36 又从流便支派的地业中给了他们比悉和属城的郊野，雅杂和属城的郊野，

37 基底莫和属城的郊野，米法押和属城的郊野，共四座城；

38 又从迦得支派的地业中，将基列的拉末，就是误杀人的逃城和属城的郊野，给了他们；又给他们玛哈念和属城的郊野，

39 希实本和属城的郊野，雅谢和属城的郊野，共四座城。

40 其馀利未支派的人，就是米拉利的子孙，按着宗族拈阄所得的，共十二座城。

41 利未人在以色列人的地业中所得的城，共四十八座，并有属城的郊野。

42 这些城四围都有属城的郊野，城城都是如此。

43 这样，耶和华将从前向他们列祖起誓所应许的全地赐给以色列人，他们就得了为业，住在其中。

44 耶和华照着向他们列祖起誓所应许的一切话，使他们四境平安；他们一切仇敌中，没有一人在他们面前站立得住。耶和华把一切仇敌都交在他们手中。

45 耶和华应许赐福给以色列家的话一句也没有落空，都应验了。

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约书亚记 21 Commentary

Chapter 21

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)

Verses 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.

Verses 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.

Verses 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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Chapter Summary

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.