Joshua 21:8-18

8 Thus the sons of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses.

9 And they gave out of the tribe of the sons of Judah and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon these cities which are here mentioned by name;

10 and the first lot was of the sons of Aaron, of the family of Kohath, of the sons of Levi;

11 and they gave them the city of Arba of the father of Anak, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah, with its suburbs round about.

12 But the fields of the city and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

13 Thus they gave to the sons of Aaron the priest Hebron with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for manslayers and Libnah with its suburbs

14 and Jattir with its suburbs and Eshtemoa with its suburbs

15 and Holon with its suburbs and Debir with its suburbs

16 and Ain with its suburbs and Juttah with its suburbs and Bethshemesh with its suburbs: nine cities out of those two tribes.

17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs,

18 Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs: four cities.

Joshua 21:8-18 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.