Bible Commentaries
Joshua 21

Introduction

Overview

Joshua 21:1, Eight and forty cities given by lot, out of the other tribes, unto the Levites; Joshua 21:43, God gives the land, and rest unto the Israelites, according to his promise.

Verse 1

the heads: Joshua 19:51, Exodus 6:14, Exodus 6:25

Eleazar: Joshua 14:1, Joshua 17:4, Numbers 34:17-29

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:22 - for the priests Genesis 49:7 - I will divide Leviticus 25:32 - the cities Numbers 3:17 - General Nehemiah 11:36 - And of Ezekiel 48:10 - for the priests

Verse 2

Shiloh: Joshua 18:1

The Lord: Numbers 35:2-8, Ezekiel 48:9-18, Matthew 10:10, Galatians 6:6, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:18

Reciprocal: Joshua 14:4 - save cities

Verse 3

unto the Levites: Genesis 49:7, Deuteronomy 33:8-10, 1 Chronicles 6:54-81

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge Numbers 35:7 - General Numbers 35:8 - possession Joshua 21:8 - by lot

Verse 4

the children: Joshua 21:8-19, Joshua 24:33, 1 Chronicles 6:54-60

the tribe: These tribes furnished more habitation to the Levites, in proportion, than any of the other tribes, because they possessed a more extensive inheritance, agreeably to what Moses had commanded - Numbers 35:8. It is worthy of remark, that the principal part of this tribe, whose business was to minister at the sanctuary, which sanctuary was afterwards established at Jerusalem, had their appointment nearest to that city; so that they were always within reach of the sacred work which God had appointed them.

Reciprocal: Joshua 21:10 - General 1 Chronicles 6:61 - left

Verse 5

Joshua 21:20-26, Genesis 46:11, Exodus 6:16-25, Numbers 3:27, 1 Chronicles 6:18, 1 Chronicles 6:19, 1 Chronicles 6:61, 1 Chronicles 6:66-70

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:54 - of the families

Verse 6

Joshua 21:27-33, Exodus 6:16, Exodus 6:17, Numbers 3:21, Numbers 3:22, 1 Chronicles 6:62, 1 Chronicles 6:71-76

Verse 7

Joshua 21:34-40, Exodus 6:19, Numbers 3:20, 1 Chronicles 6:63, 1 Chronicles 6:77-81

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:47 - Merari

Verse 8

by lot: Joshua 21:3, Joshua 18:6, Numbers 33:54, Numbers 35:3, Proverbs 16:33, Proverbs 18:18

as the Lord: Numbers 32:2

Reciprocal: Joshua 21:4 - the children

Verse 9

these cities: Joshua 21:13-18, 1 Chronicles 6:65

mentioned: Heb. called

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 31:15 - the cities Luke 1:39 - into

Verse 10

Joshua 21:4, Exodus 6:18, Exodus 6:20-26, Numbers 3:2-4, Numbers 3:19, Numbers 3:27, Numbers 4:2

Verse 11

And they: 1 Chronicles 6:55

the city of Arba: or, Kirjath-arba, Joshua 15:13, Joshua 15:14, Joshua 15:54, Genesis 23:2, Genesis 35:27, Judges 1:10

is Hebron: 2 Samuel 2:1-3, 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 2 Samuel 15:7

in the hill: Joshua 20:7-9, Luke 1:39

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:3 - General Joshua 10:6 - mountains Joshua 14:13 - gave unto Judges 1:20 - they gave 2 Samuel 2:3 - the cities

Verse 12

Joshua 14:13-15, 1 Chronicles 6:55-57

Reciprocal: Judges 1:20 - they gave 2 Samuel 2:3 - the cities

Verse 13

they gave: 1 Chronicles 6:56

Hebron: Joshua 15:54

a city: Joshua 20:7, Numbers 35:6

Libnah: Joshua 10:29, Joshua 15:42, 1 Chronicles 6:57, Isaiah 37:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 13:22 - Hebron Joshua 10:36 - Hebron Joshua 21:9 - these cities 2 Kings 8:22 - Libnah 2 Chronicles 21:10 - Libnah Luke 1:39 - city

Verse 14

Jattir: Jattir or Jether, according to Eusebius, was situated in the district of Daroma, or the southern part of Judah, 20 miles - south from Eleutheropolis, towards the city of Malatha. Joshua 15:48, 1 Samuel 30:27, 1 Samuel 30:28

Eshtemoa: Eusebius says Eshtemoa, or Esthema, was a great city in the south of Judah, and in the district of Eleutheropolis, north of that city. Joshua 15:50, Eshtemoh

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:57 - Libnah

Verse 15

Holon: Joshua 15:51, 1 Chronicles 6:58, Hilen

Debir: Joshua 12:13, Joshua 15:49

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:38 - Debir

Verse 16

Ain: Joshua 15:42, 1 Chronicles 6:59, Ashan

Juttah: Eusebius says Juttah was a great town 18 miles south from Eleutheropolis. Joshua 15:55

Bethshemesh: Joshua 15:10, 1 Samuel 6:9, 1 Samuel 6:12, 1 Chronicles 6:59

Reciprocal: Joshua 19:22 - Bethshemesh Joshua 19:41 - Irshemesh 2 Kings 14:11 - Bethshemesh 1 Chronicles 6:60 - thirteen cities 2 Chronicles 25:21 - Bethshemesh

Verse 17

Gibeon: Joshua 9:3, Joshua 18:25, 1 Chronicles 6:60

Geba: Joshua 18:24, Gaba

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 13:3 - Geba 1 Kings 15:22 - Geba 2 Kings 23:8 - Geba Nehemiah 12:29 - Geba Isaiah 10:29 - Geba Jeremiah 1:1 - in Anathoth Jeremiah 37:12 - the land Zechariah 14:10 - from Geba

Verse 18

Anathoth: Anathoth was situated about three miles northward from Jerusalem according to Eusebius and Jerome - in Jeremiah 1:20, or twenty furlongs, according to Josephus. Ant. I. x. c. 7 sec. 3. 1 Kings 2:26, Isaiah 10:30, Jeremiah 1:1

Almon: 1 Chronicles 6:60, Alemeth

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 16:5 - Bahurim Ezra 2:23 - Anathoth Nehemiah 11:32 - Anathoth Jeremiah 32:7 - Anathoth Jeremiah 37:12 - the land

Verse 19

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 32:7 - Anathoth

Verse 20

Joshua 21:5, 1 Chronicles 6:66

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:61 - left 2 Chronicles 11:14 - suburbs

Verse 21

Shechem: Joshua 20:7, Genesis 33:19, Judges 9:1, 1 Kings 12:1

Gezer: Joshua 16:10, 1 Kings 9:15-17, 1 Chronicles 6:67

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge Joshua 10:33 - Gezer Joshua 17:7 - Shechem

Verse 22

Bethhoron: Joshua 16:3, Joshua 16:5, Joshua 18:13, Joshua 18:14, 1 Chronicles 6:68

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:10 - Bethhoron 1 Kings 9:17 - Bethhoron

Verse 23

Eltekeh: Joshua 19:44, Joshua 19:45

Gibbethon: Probably the Gabatha mentioned by Eusebius and Jerome, as situated in the south of Judah, 12 miles from Eleutheropolis, where the prophet Habakkuk's sepulchre was shown.

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 15:27 - Gibbethon 1 Kings 16:15 - And the people were encamped

Verse 24

Aijalon: Joshua 10:12, Joshua 19:42, Ajalon, 1 Chronicles 6:69

Gathrimmon: Gathrimmon is said by Jerome to be a great town 10 miles from Diospolis, or Lydda, towards Eleutheropolis.

Reciprocal: Joshua 19:45 - Gathrimmon

Verse 25

Aner and Bileam are mentioned in Chronicles, instead of Tanach and Gath-rimmon - 1 Chronicles 6:70. Either the cities had at this time different names, or afterwards their names were changed; or the Levites, being by some means dispossessed of the cities first assigned them, received others from their brethren. A careful examination of the marginal references will discover other variations of this kind, which may be accounted for in the same manner.

Tanach: Joshua 17:11, Judges 5:19

Reciprocal: Judges 1:27 - Taanach 1 Chronicles 6:69 - Gathrimmon

Verse 26

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:61 - ten cities

Verse 27

And unto: Joshua 21:6

Golan: Joshua 20:8, Deuteronomy 1:4, Deuteronomy 4:43, 1 Chronicles 6:71

Beeshterah: It is very probable that Beesh-terah is a contraction of baith ashtaroth, "the house of Ashtaroth," and the same as Ashtaroth, which is the reading in 1 Chronicles 6:71.

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge 1 Chronicles 6:62 - Gershom

Verse 28

Dabareh: Joshua 19:12, 1 Chronicles 6:72, 1 Chronicles 6:73

Verse 29

Jarmuth: This seems to be the same city with Remeth, Joshua 10:19, Joshua 10:21, and Ramoth, 1 Chronicles 6:73, mentioned with Engannim. Joshua 10:3, Joshua 10:23, Joshua 12:11

Reciprocal: Joshua 19:21 - Engannim 1 Chronicles 6:72 - Daberath

Verse 30

Mishal: Joshua 19:25-28, Misheal, 1 Chronicles 6:74, 1 Chronicles 6:75, Mashal

Reciprocal: Joshua 19:26 - Misheal

Verse 31

Rehob: See note on Numbers 13:21. Judges 1:31, Judges 18:21, 1 Chronicles 6:75

Reciprocal: Joshua 2:1 - harlot's house Joshua 19:30 - Rehob

Verse 32

Kedesh: Joshua 19:37, Joshua 20:7, 1 Chronicles 6:76

Hammothdor: Supposed by many to be the same as Tiberias; so called from the hot-baths, as the word Chammoth may denote, in its vicinity. Joshua 19:35, Hammath

Kartan: Supposed to be the same as Kirjathaim. 1 Chronicles 6:76

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge Joshua 12:22 - Kedesh Judges 4:6 - Kedeshnaphtali 1 Chronicles 6:72 - Kedesh Matthew 4:15 - Galilee Mark 3:7 - Galilee

Verse 34

And unto: Joshua 21:7, 1 Chronicles 6:77

Jokneam: Joshua 12:22, Joshua 19:11, Joshua 19:15

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:47 - Merari 1 Chronicles 6:63 - Merari

Verse 35

Dimnah: This and the following verse are wholly omitted by the Masora, and many Hebrew Bibles which are esteemed very highly; though, without them, neither the twelve cities of the Merarites in particular - Joshua 21:40, nor the forty-eight Levitical cities in general - Joshua 21:41, nor the six cities of refuge, can be made up. But these two verses, are thus absolutely necessary for the truth and consistency of this chapter, are happily preserved in no less than 149 manuscripts collated by Dr. Kennicott, and upwards of 40 collated by De Rossi. Joshua 21:35

Reciprocal: Joshua 19:15 - Kattath 1 Chronicles 6:77 - Rimmon

Verse 36

Bezer: Joshua 20:8, Deuteronomy 4:43, 1 Chronicles 6:78, 1 Chronicles 6:79

Jahazah: Joshua 13:18, Numbers 21:23, 1 Chronicles 6:78, Jahzah

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge Jeremiah 48:21 - Jahazah Jeremiah 48:24 - Bozrah

Verse 37

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 2:26 - Kedemoth Joshua 13:18 - Jahaza 1 Chronicles 6:78 - Jahzah Jeremiah 48:21 - Jahazah

Verse 38

Ramoth: Joshua 20:8, 1 Kings 22:3, 1 Chronicles 6:80

Mahanaim: Genesis 32:2, 2 Samuel 17:24, 2 Samuel 19:32

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge Deuteronomy 4:43 - Ramoth Joshua 13:26 - Mahanaim 1 Kings 4:13 - Ramothgilead 2 Kings 8:28 - Ramothgilead Hosea 6:8 - Gilead

Verse 39

Heshbon: Joshua 13:17, Joshua 13:21, Numbers 21:26-30, Numbers 32:37, 1 Chronicles 6:81

Jazer: Numbers 32:1, Numbers 32:3, Numbers 32:35, Jaazer, Isaiah 16:8, Isaiah 16:9, Jeremiah 48:32

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:80 - Ramoth 1 Chronicles 26:31 - Jazer

Verse 40

Reciprocal: Joshua 21:35 - Dimnah

Verse 41

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

Verse 42

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:64 - the children

Verse 43

Genesis 12:7, Genesis 13:15, Genesis 15:13-21, Genesis 26:3, Genesis 26:4, Genesis 28:4, Genesis 28:13, Genesis 28:14, Exodus 3:8, Exodus 23:27-31, Psalms 44:3, Psalms 106:42-45

Reciprocal: Joshua 22:4 - given rest Joshua 23:9 - For the Lord Joshua 23:14 - not one thing 1 Kings 8:34 - which thou gavest 1 Chronicles 17:21 - by driving 2 Chronicles 6:25 - which thou Nehemiah 9:8 - hast performed Nehemiah 9:24 - So the Psalms 44:2 - drive out Psalms 105:44 - gave Jeremiah 32:22 - which

Verse 44

Joshua 1:15, Joshua 11:23, Joshua 22:4, Joshua 22:9, Deuteronomy 7:22-24, Deuteronomy 31:3-5, Hebrews 4:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 23:31 - deliver the Exodus 33:14 - rest Deuteronomy 2:33 - the Lord Joshua 2:24 - Truly the Lord Joshua 11:8 - the Lord Joshua 23:1 - the Lord Joshua 23:9 - For the Lord 1 Samuel 26:8 - God 2 Samuel 7:1 - the Lord 1 Kings 8:56 - hath given rest 2 Chronicles 13:16 - God delivered Psalms 47:3 - subdue Acts 9:31 - the churches

Verse 45

Joshua 23:14, Joshua 23:15, Numbers 23:19, 1 Kings 8:56, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 10:19 - And the Genesis 35:12 - the land Genesis 35:22 - Now the sons Joshua 2:24 - Truly the Lord Joshua 3:10 - drive out from Joshua 11:23 - And the land Joshua 24:13 - And I 1 Kings 8:15 - hath Nehemiah 9:24 - So the Psalms 78:55 - cast Psalms 136:21 - General Isaiah 42:9 - the former Isaiah 48:3 - and I Ezekiel 48:29 - General