约书亚记 21:41

Chinese NCV (Simplified)

在以色列人的地業中，利未人所得的城共四十八座，還有這些城的郊野。

Parallel Translations

Chinese Union (Simplified)
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 。

Contextual Overview

⁹ These are the names of the towns that came from the lands of Judah and Simeon. ¹⁰ The first choice of towns was given to the Kohath family groups of the Levites. ¹¹ They gave them Kiriath Arba, also called Hebron, and all its pastures in the mountains of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.) ¹² But the fields and the villages around Kiriath Arba had been given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. ¹³ So they gave the city of Hebron to the descendants of Aaron (Hebron was a city of safety). They also gave them the towns of Libnah, ¹⁴ Jattir, Eshtemoa, ¹⁵ Holon, Debir, ¹⁶ Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, and all the pastures around them. Nine towns were given from these two tribes. ¹⁷ They also gave the people of Aaron these cities that belonged to the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon, Geba, ¹⁸ Anathoth, and Almon. They gave them these four towns and the pastures around them.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

within: Genesis 49:7, Numbers 35:1-8, Deuteronomy 33:10

forty: At the last census, the tribe of Levi amounted only to 23,000 - Numbers 26:62, and it is thought by some that forty-eight cities was too great a proportion for this tribe. But it should be considered, that cities in ancient times were little more than villages.

Reciprocal: Joshua 21:35 - Dimnah 1 Chronicles 6:64 - the children

Gill's Notes on the Bible

All the cities of the Levites, within the possession of the children of Israel,.... As comprised in one sum total:

[were] forty and eight cities with their suburbs; which is just the number that Moses from the mouth of God ordered to be given unto them, before they entered into the land, and before they were in possession of one city in it, Numbers 35:7; which, as it is a proof of the omniscience, prescience, and predetermination of God; so of the sure and true prediction of Moses, who could not be otherwise certain than from the Lord of the Israelites being able to give so many cities to them, out of each of their tribes: and it is to be observed, that this tribe of Levi, though it had no share in the division of the land, yet had more cities by lot given to it than any other, excepting the tribe of Judah; though indeed, in the account of some of the tribes, all the cities in them are not mentioned; and besides, they had only the cities they had with their suburbs round about them, but not the lands belonging to them, nor the villages; however this shows that a large and liberal maintenance of the ministers of the Lord, that serve in his sanctuary should be allowed and made for them, as in the legal, so under the Gospel dispensation

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Joshua 21:41. Forty and eight cities — At the last census of the Hebrew people, related Numbers 26:0, we find from Numbers 26:62 that the tribe of Levi amounted only to 23,000; and it is supposed that forty-eight cities were too great a proportion for this tribe, the other tribes having so very few. But,

1. All the cities of the other tribes are not enumerated.

2. They had the circumjacent country as well as the cities.

3. The Levites had no other cities than those enumerated.

4. They had no country annexed to their cities, the 2,000 cubits for their cattle, c., excepted.

5. Cities in those ancient times were very small, as most villages went under this appellation

6. The Levites had now the appointment that was suited to their consequent increase. The other tribes might enlarge their borders and make conquests, but this was not suitable to the mere servants of God besides, had they made conquests, they would have become proprietors of the conquered land; and God determined that they should have no inheritance in Israel, HE himself being their portion.