Joshua 21

The Israelites give cities unto the Levites , by lot , to inhabit , and also the suburbs thereunto appertaining , ver.1, etc. After that , are specified the cities which fell by lot unto the children of Aaron , v.8. The names of the cities that were given to the Kohathites , 20. As also unto the Gersonites , 27. and Merarites , 34. All the cities that were given to the Levites , were eight and forty , with their suburbs , 41. The Israelites do quietly possess the land of Canaan promised unto their fathers , 43.

1. Then drew near the heads of the fathers of the Levites [i.e. chiefest over the families of the Levites , of which there were three , viz. the Kohathites , Gersonites , and Merarites] unto Eleazar the Priest , and unto Josua the son of Nun : and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel .

2. And they spake unto them at Silo [Where the Ark of the Covenant , and the Tent of the Congregation were set up] in the land of Canaan , saying , The LORD commanded by the ministery of Moseh , [Heb. By the hand of Moseh . So also v.8.] that cities should be given us to dwell in , and their suburbs for our beasts .

3. Therefore the children of Israel gave unto the Levites of their inheritance , according to the mouth of the LORD , these cities , and the suburbs thereof .

4. Then the lot came out for the families of Kohathites : and for the children of Aaron the Priest , of the Levites , (there) were of the tribe of Juda , ad of the tribe of Simeon , and of the tribe of Benjamin by lot , thirteen cities . [Of which see further below ver. 11, etc.]

5. And to the rest of the children of Kahath , (there) fell by lot of the families of the tribe of Ephraim , and of the tribe of Dan , and of the half tribe of Manasseh , ten cities . [Whereof see further below ver.20.]

6. And unto the children of Gerson , of the families of the tribe of Issachar , and of the tribe of Aser , and of the tribe of Naphtali , and of the half tribe of Manasseh in Basan , by lot , thirteen cities . [Whereof see further below ver. 27, & c.]

7. Unto the children of Merari according to their families , of the tribe of Reuben , and of the tribe of Gad , and of the tribe of Zebulon , twelve cities . [Of these twelve cities , see below ver. 38 , & c.]

8. so thwe children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these suburbs and their suburbs , as the LORD had commanded by the ministery of Moseh. [Heb. By the hand of Moseh , as above ver.2.]

9. Furthermore , they gave of the tribe of the children of Juda, and of the tribe of the children of Simeon , these cities , which were named :

10. That they were the children of Aaron 's , of the families of the Kahathites , of the children of Levi : for the first lot was theirs .

11. So they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anok [Oth. Enak, Joshua 15:13 .] ( that is Hebron ) on the mountain of Juda , and the subrbs thereof [i.e. fields and the meadows that lay round about the cities] round about it .

12. But the field of the city [viz. two thousand ells or cubits distant from the city . See Numb. 35.5.] and the villages thereof , they gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunne for his possession . [See above chapter 14.14.]

13. Thus they gave unto the children of Aaron the Priest , the free city of the slayer , Hebron , and her suburbs , [In the Register or Roll of names of these cities here below mentioned , and in the Register or Roll thereof , 1 Chronicles 6:57. we finde sometimes some difference in some names of Cities . This cometh to pass from thence , that some names of the Cities by length of time are changed ; or that some cities have had more then one name] and Libna , and her suburb . [See Jos .10.29.]

14. And Fatthir and her suburbs , and Esthemoa and her suburbs ,

15. And Cholon and her suburbs , and Debir and her suburbs ,

16. And Ain and her suburbs , and Jutta and her suburbs , and Bethsemes [See of this city 2 Kings 14. on v.11.] and her suburbs : nine cities of these two tribes.

17. And of the tribe of Benjamin , Gibeon and her suburbs , Geba and her suburbs .

18. Anathoth [Where the Prophet Jeremia was born , Jer.1.1.] and her suburbs , and Almon [this city is also called Allemeth , both signifying youth. It is also called Bachurim , 2 Sam.3.16. which signifieth the same] and her suburbs : four cities .

19. All the cities of the children of Aaron the Priest , were thirteen cities and their suburbs.

20. Now unto the families of the children of Kahat , the Levites which remained of the children of Kahat : they had the cities of their lot of the tribe of Ephraim .

21. And they gave Sichem a free city of the slayer , and her suburbs upon mount Ephraim , and Gezer [See Judges 1:29.] and her suburbs :

22. And Kibzaim and her suburbs , Beth-horon and her suburbs : four cities.

23. And the tribe of Dan , Elteke and her suburbs , Gibbethon and her suburbs ,

24. Ajalon and her suburbs , Gath-Rimmon and her suburbs : four cities .

25. And the tribe of Manasseh , Thaanach and her suburbs , Gath-Rimmon and her suburbs : two cities .

26. All the cities for the families of the rest of the children of Kahat , are ten with their suburbs .

27. And unto the children of Gerson , of the families of the Levites , of the half tribe of Manasseh , the free city of the slayer , Golan in Basan and her suburbs , and Beesthera and her suburbs : four cities .

28. And of the tribe of Issachar , Kisjod and her suburbs, and Dobrath and her suburbs ,

29. Jarmuth and her suburbs , Engannim and her suburbs : four cities .

30. And of the tribe of Aser , Misal and her suburbs , Abdon and her suburbs ,

31. And Helkath and her suburbs , and Rehob and her suburbs : four cities .

32. And of the tribe of Naphtali , the free city of the slayer , Kedes in Galilee and her suburbs , and Kartan and her suburbs : three cities .

33. All the cities of the Gersonites , according to their families , are thirteen cities and their suburbs .

34. Now unto the families of the children of Merari , of the rest of the Levites ( was given ) of the tribe of Zebulon , Jokneam and her suburbs , Karta and her suburbs ,

35. Dimna and her suburbs , Nahalal and her suburbs : four cities .

36. And of the tribe of Reuben , Bezer and her suburbs , and Jaza and her suburbs ,

37. Kedemoth and her suburbs , and Mephaath and her suburbs : four cities .

38. Now of the tribe of Gad , the free city of the slayer , Ramoth in Gilead and her suburbs , and Mahanaim and her suburbs ,

39. Hesbon and her suburbs , Jaezer and her suburbs : all those cities are four .

40. All those cities were the childrens of Merari , according to their families , which yet were remaining of the families of the children of the Levites : and their lot was twelve cities .

41. All the cities of the Levites in the midst of their inheritance of the children of Israel , were forty eight cities and their suburbs . [The tribe of Levi was least among all the tribes of the Levites , for in the same were numbred onely 20000 men , Numb. 16 . How cometh it then to pass , that other tribes that were as numerous again , and more , had but twelve , or sixteen , or nineteen , or twenty cities , and the tribe of Levi had forty eighty? The answer is , That all the cities of the other tribes are not named ; but all the cities of the Levites are named . Secondly , the Levites might dwell no where but in cities , but so might the other tribes ; and therefore the Levites had need of more cities then the other tribes .]

42. These cities were each { Heb. city city ] with their suburbs round about them : so was it with all the cities.

43. Thus the LORD gave unto Israel [i.e. unto the children of Israel] all the land , which he had sworn to give unto their fathers : and they inherited it , and dwelt therein .

44. And the LORD gave them rest round about , according to all that had sworn unto their fathers : and not one man of all their enemies subsisted before their face , [i.e. no man was able to withstand or annoy the children of Israel] all their enemies the LORD gave into their hand .

45. There fell not one word of all the good words which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel : it came all ( to pass .)