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Texts -- Joshua 21:1-22 (NET)

Context
Levitical Cities
21:1 The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leaders 21:2 in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said , “The Lord told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle .” 21:3 So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings , as the Lord had instructed . 21:4 The first lot belonged to the Kohathite clans . The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah , Simeon , and Benjamin . 21:5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim , and from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh . 21:6 Gershon’s descendants were allotted thirteen cities from the clans of the tribe of Issachar , and from the tribes of Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan . 21:7 Merari’s descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben , Gad , and Zebulun . 21:8 So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas , as the Lord had instructed Moses . 21:9 They assigned from the tribes of Judah and Simeon the cities listed below. 21:10 They were assigned to the Kohathite clans of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron , for the first lot belonged to them . 21:11 They assigned them Kiriath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak ), that is, Hebron , in the hill country of Judah , along with its surrounding grazing areas . 21:12 (Now the city’s fields and surrounding towns they had assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property .) 21:13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter ), Libnah , 21:14 Jattir , Eshtemoa , 21:15 Holon , Debir , 21:16 Ain , Juttah , and Beth Shemesh , along with the grazing areas of each– a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes . 21:17 From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned Gibeon , Geba , 21:18 Anathoth , and Almon , along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities . 21:19 The priests descended from Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing areas . 21:20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim . 21:21 They assigned them Shechem (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter ) in the hill country of Ephraim , Gezer , 21:22 Kibzaim , and Beth Horon , along with the grazing areas of each– a total of four cities .

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Bible Dictionary

  • Levites

    [smith] (descendants of Levi). Sometimes the name extends to the whole tribe, the priests included, (Exodus 6:25; Leviticus 25:32; Numbers 35:2; Joshua 21:3,41) etc; sometimes only to those members of the tribe who were not priests, ...
    [nave] LEVITES The descendants of Levi. Set apart as ministers of religion, Num. 1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; 26:57-62; Deut. 10:8; 1 Chr. 15:2. Substituted in the place of the firstborn, Num. 3:12, 41-45; 8:14, 16-18; 18:6. Religious ...

  • MERARI

    [isbe] MERARI - me-ra'-ri (merari, "bitter"; Mararei): (1) The 3rd son of Levi, his brothers, Gershon and Kohath, being always mentioned together with him (Gen 46:11; Ex 6:16 ff). He was among those 70 who went down to Egypt with J...

  • Levite

    [ebd] a descendant of the tribe of Levi (Ex. 6:25; Lev. 25:32; Num. 35:2; Josh. 21:3, 41). This name is, however, generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe which was set apart for the subordinate offices of the sanc...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Joshua

    [nave] JOSHUA 1. Called also Jehoshua, and Jehoshuah, and Oshea. Son of Nun, Num. 13:8; 1 Chr. 7:27. Intimately associated with Moses, Ex. 24:13; 32:17; 33:11. A religious zealot, Num. 11:28. Sent with others to view the promise...

  • EZEKIEL, 2

    [isbe] EZEKIEL, 2 - II. Significance of Ezekiel in Israel's Religious History. Under the first head we will consider the formal characteristics and significance of the book; and the examination of its contents will form the subject...

  • Lot

    [nave] LOT, The Prov. 16:33; 18:18; Isa. 34:17; Joel 3:3. The scapegoat chosen by, Lev. 16:8-10. The land of Canaan divided among the tribes by, Num. 26:55; Josh. 15; 18:10; 19:51; 21; 1 Chr. 6:61, 65; Ezek. 45:1; 47:22; 48:29;...

  • LEVITICAL CITIES

    [isbe] LEVITICAL CITIES - le-vit'-i-kal I. LEGAL PROVISIONS 1. Numbers 2. Deuteronomy II. WELLHAUSEN'S VIEW III. ALTERNATIVE VIEW AND EVIDENCE 1. Traces of the Cities 2. Wellhausen's Arguments Answered 3. Van Hoonacker's Reply 4. E...

  • TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

    [isbe] TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT - || I. EARLIEST FORM OF WRITING IN ISRAEL 1. Invention of Alphabet 2. The Cuneiform 3. References to Writing in the Old Testament 4. Inscriptions after Settlement in Canaan 5. Orthography of the Pe...

  • Priest

    [smith] The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin. --The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct ...
    [nave] PRIEST. Before Moses Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6, 10, 11; 6:20; 7:1-21. Jethro, Ex. 2:16. Priests in Israel before the giving of the law, Ex. 19:22, 24. Called angel, Eccl. 5:6. Mosaic Ex. 28:1-4; 29:9, 44; Num....

  • Judah, Tribe of

    [ebd] Judah and his three surviving sons went down with Jacob into Egypt (Gen. 46:12; Ex. 1:2). At the time of the Exodus, when we meet with the family of Judah again, they have increased to the number of 74,000 males (Num. 1:26, ...

  • PALESTINE, 2

    [isbe] PALESTINE, 2 - III. Palestine in the Historic Books of the Old Testament. 1. Book of Joshua: Joshua is the great geographical book of the Old Testament; and the large majority of the 600 names of places, rivers and mountains...

  • Libnah

    [ebd] transparency; whiteness. (1.) One of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (Num. 33:20, 21). (2.) One of the royal cities of the Canaanites taken by Joshua (Josh. 10:29-32; 12:15). It became one of the Levitical t...
    [isbe] LIBNAH - lib'-na (libhnah "whiteness," "transparency," "pavement" (compare Ex 24:10 where libhnath, is translated "paved work" or a "compact foundation"); Lebna): (1) A desert camp of the Israelites between Rimmon-perez and ...
    [smith] (whiteness). A royal city of the Canaanites which lay in the southwest part of the Holy Land, taken by Joshua immediately after the rout of Beth-horon. It was near Lachish, west of Makkedah. It was appropriated with its "sub...
    [nave] LIBNAH 1. A station of the Israelites in the desert, Num. 33:20. 2. A city of Judah, captured by Joshua, Josh. 10:29-32, 39; 12:15. Allotted to the priests, Josh. 21:13; 1 Chr. 6:57. Seacherib besieged; his army defeated ...

  • Shechem

    [isbe] SHECHEM - she'-kem (shekhem, "shoulder"; Suchem, he Sikima, ta Sikima, etc.; the King James Version gives "Sichem" in Gen 12:6; and "Sychem" in Acts 7:16): 1. Historical: This place is first mentioned in connection with Abra...
    [smith] (back or shoulder). An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. Its present name, Nablus , is a corruption of Neapolis,...
    [nave] SHECHEM 1. Called also Sichem and Sychem, a district in the central part of the land of Canaan. Abraham dwells in, Gen. 12:6. Jacob buys a piece of ground in, and erects an altar, Gen. 33:18-20. The flocks and herds of Jac...

  • Eshtemoa

    [ebd] obedience, a town in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 21:14; 1 Chr. 6:57), which was allotted, with the land round it, to the priests. It was frequented by David and his followers during their wanderings; and he sent presents o...
    [isbe] ESHTEMOA - esh-te-mo'-a, esh'-te-mo-a ('eshtemoa`): A Levitical city in the hill country of Judah (Josh 21:14; 1 Ch 6:57); Eshtemoh ('eshtemoh, Josh 15:50). In Ch 4:17,19, Eshtemoa is said to be a Maacathite and "son" of Ish...
    [smith] and in shorter form Eshtemoh (obedience), a town of Judah in the mountains, (Joshua 15:50) allotted to the priest. (Joshua 21:14; 1 Chronicles 6:57) It was one of the places frequented by David and his followers during the...
    [nave] ESHTEMOA 1. Called also Eshtemoh. A town of Canaan assigned to Judah, Josh. 15:50. Allotted to the Aaronites, Josh. 21:14; 1 Chr. 6:57. David shared spoil with, 1 Sam. 30:28. 2. A descendant of Ezra, 1 Chr. 4:17, 19.

  • Anathoth

    [ebd] the name of one of the cities of refuge, in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh. 21:18). The Jews, as a rule, did not change the names of the towns they found in Palestine; hence this town may be regarded as deriving its name from t...
    [isbe] ANATHOTH - an'-a-thoth (`anathoth; Anathoth): A town which lay between Michmash and Jerusalem (Isa 10:30), in the territory of Benjamin, assigned to the Levites (Josh 21:18). It was the native place of Abiathar (1 Ki 2:26), ...
    [smith] a priests? city belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, with "suburbs." (Joshua 21:18; 1 Chronicles 6:60) Anathoth lay about three miles from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 10:30) The cultivation of the priests survives in tilled fields o...
    [nave] ANATHOTH 1. A Levitical city in Benjamin, Josh. 21:18; 1 Chr. 6:60. Abiathar confined in, 1 Kin. 2:26. Birthplace of Jeremiah, Jer. 1:1; 32:7-12; of Abiezer, 2 Sam. 23:27; of Jehu, 1 Chr. 12:3. Prophecies against, Jer. 11...

  • Jattir

    [ebd] pre-eminent, a city in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:48; 21:14).
    [isbe] JATTIR - jat'-er (yattir, and yattir): A town in the hill country of Judah, mentioned in conjunction with Shamir and Socoh (Josh 15:48); one of the cities given to the "children of Aaron the priest" (Josh 21:14; 1 Ch 6:57). ...
    [smith] (pre-eminent), a town of Judah in the mountain districts, (Joshua 15:48) one of the group containing Socho, Eshtemoa, etc. See also (Joshua 21:14; 1 Samuel 30:27; 1 Chronicles 6:57) By Robinson it is identified with ?At...
    [nave] JATTIR, a Levitical city, Josh. 15:48; 21:14; 1 Sam. 30:27; 1 Chr. 6:57.

  • Gibeon

    [ebd] hill-city, "one of the royal cities, greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty" (Josh. 10:2). Its inhabitants were Hivites (11:19). It lay within the territory of Benjamin, and became a priest-city (18:25; 21:17)....
    [isbe] GIBEON - gib'-e-un (gibh`on): One of the royal cities of the Hivites (Josh 9:7). It was a greater city than Ai; and its inhabitants were reputed mighty men (Josh 10:2). It fell within the territory allotted to Benjamin (Josh...
    [smith] (hill city), one of the four , cities of the Hivites, the inhabitants of which made a league with Joshua, (Joshua 9:3-15) and thus escaped the fate of Jericho and Ai. Comp. ch. (Joshua 11:19) Gibeon lay within the territory o...
    [nave] GIBEON 1. A city of the Hivites, Josh. 9:3, 17; 2 Sam. 21:2. The people of, adroitly draw Joshua into a treaty, Josh. 9. Made servants by the Israelites, when their sharp practice was discovered, Josh. 9:27. The sun stand...

  • Hebron

    [ebd] a community; alliance. (1.) A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. It was built "seven years before Zoan in ...
    [smith] (alliance). The third son of Kohath, who was the second son of Levi. (Exodus 6:18; Numbers 3:19; 1 Chronicles 6:2,18; 23:12) He was the founder of a family of Hebronites, (Numbers 3:27; 26:58; 1 Chronicles 26:23,30,31)...
    [nave] HEBRON 1. A city of Asher, Josh. 19:28. 2. A city of Judah, S. of Jerusalem. When built, Num. 13:22. Fortified, 2 Chr. 11:10. Called Kirjath-arba, Gen. 23:2; Arba, Gen. 35:27; Josh. 15:13. Abraham dwells and Sarah dies a...

  • Almon

    [ebd] hidden, one of the sacerdotal cities of Benjamin (Josh. 21:18), called also Alemeth (1 Chr. 6:60).
    [isbe] ALMON - al'-mon (`almon, "hidden"): A Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh 21:18), the same as "Allemeth" the Revised Version (British and American), "Alemeth" the King James Version, of 1 Ch 6:60 (which see).
    [smith] (concealed) a city within the tribe of Benjamin, with "suburbs" given to the priests. (Joshua 21:18) [ALEMETH]
    [nave] ALMON, Levitical city of Benjamin, Josh. 21:18. Called Alemeth, 1 Chr. 6:60.
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Jacob blessed all 12 of his sons and foretold what would become of each of them and their descendants. He disqualified Reuben, Simeon, and Levi from leadership and gave that blessing to Judah. He granted the double portion to...
  • The previous chapter dealt with the general borders of the land and its tribal boundaries. This one gives regulations concerning special towns in the land.285According to the plan of revelation established previously in Numbe...
  • Six of these Levitical towns were also cities of refuge.The appointment of cities of refuge was a divine provision for the safety of a killer who was not guilty of premeditated murder (cf. Deut. 19:1-13; Josh. 20:1-9). God ha...
  • I. The conquest of the land chs. 1-12A. Preparations for entering Canaan chs. 1-21. God's charge to Joshua 1:1-92. Joshua's charge to Israel 1:10-183. The spying out of Jericho ch. 2B. Entrance into the land 3:1-5:121. Passag...
  • In one sense verses 1-9 are a preamble to the whole book. They contain the basic principles that were to guide Joshua and Israel so they could obtain all that God had promised their forefathers.1:1 The first word of the book ...
  • The residents of the town of Gibeon decided that if they could not defeat the Israelites they would join them. This has been a strategy that enemies of believers have employed for centuries (cf. Num. 25:1-2).9:1-2 Israel is t...
  • The writer identified 31 kings in the order in which Joshua defeated them."Many of the same names appear in the Amarna letters, thus confirming the historicity of our text."158"The description was not complete. Shechem is not...
  • Chapters 13-24 describe how Joshua divided the land and the results of that division. Many if not all the Israelite tribes did not conquer or control all the land allotted to them (15:63; 16:10; 17:12-13). The record of the a...
  • After the process of assigning land to the three tribes mentioned above, Israel's attention turned to relocating the tabernacle in a more central location (v. 1). God undoubtedly made the choice of Shiloh (lit. rest; cf. Deut...
  • Probably the leaders identified the towns first and then assigned the various groups of Levites to particular cities by lot (vv. 3-4). The priests (Aaron's descendants) received 13 cities within the tribal territories of Juda...
  • The Lord spread out the priests' 13 towns as follows. Nine were in Judah and Simeon (vv. 9-16), and four were in Benjamin (vv. 17-19)....
  • There were 10 of these towns: four in Ephraim (vv. 21-22), four in Dan (vv. 23-24), and two in western Manasseh (v. 25)....
  • There were 12 towns in which the Merarites resided: four in Zebulun (vv. 34-35), four in Reuben (vv. 36-37), and four in Gad (vv. 38-39).In all, the Levites received 48 cities with their surrounding pasture lands including th...
  • These verses conclude the account of the division of the land proper (chs. 13-21; cf. 1:2-6; 11:23). They bind the two parts of the second half of the book together. They form a theological conclusion to the entire book up to...
  • The main part of the second half of the Book of Joshua dealing with the division of the land ends with the appointment of the Levitical cities (chs. 13-21). The rest of the book deals with settlement in the land (chs. 22-24)....
  • The 11 tribes wisely tried to settle this problem with the Benjamites peacefully (v. 12; cf. Josh. 22:13-20). Unfortunately the Benjamites decided to support the residents of Gibeah who were their kinsmen. They should have si...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • Bethshemesh was the closest Israelite town to Ekron. It stood about 12 miles east-southeast of Ekron. To get there the cows walked east up the Sorek Valley, Samson's home area. Evidently the Israelites who were reaping their ...
  • Most of the prophetical books begin with some indication of authorship and date to put them in their historical contexts, and this is true of the Book of Jeremiah.1:1 The words (Heb. debarim, writings, prophecies, deeds, and ...
  • This is the sixth and last message that Ezekiel received from the Lord the night before the refugees reached the exiles with the message that Jerusalem had fallen (cf. 33:21-22). It too deals with God's plans for Israel in th...
  • The tribe of Dan was to receive the northernmost section of the Promised Land. The order of tribes from north to south, north of the sacred district, was Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben and Judah--seven tribal...

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