
Text -- Joshua 21:3 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Jos 21:3 - -- Probably they gave the Levites promiscuously such cities as God commanded, and the lot appropriated them to their several houses or families.
Probably they gave the Levites promiscuously such cities as God commanded, and the lot appropriated them to their several houses or families.

Wesley: Jos 21:3 - -- That is, out of their several possessions; that the burden might be equally divided; and, that the Levites being dispersed among the several tribes, a...
That is, out of their several possessions; that the burden might be equally divided; and, that the Levites being dispersed among the several tribes, according to Jacob's prediction, Gen 49:7, might more easily, and effectually teach the Israelites God's law and judgments, which they were engaged to do, Deu 33:10, and that the people might upon all occasions resort to them, and enquire the meaning of the law at their mouths.

Wesley: Jos 21:3 - -- Not only the use, but the absolute dominion of them, as is manifest both from Jos 21:11-12, where a distinction is made between the city and suburbs o...
Not only the use, but the absolute dominion of them, as is manifest both from Jos 21:11-12, where a distinction is made between the city and suburbs of Hebron, and the fields and villages thereof; (the former given to the Levites, the latter to Caleb;) and from the return of these cities in the Jubilee, unto the Levites as to their proper owners, Lev 25:33-34.
JFB -> Jos 21:1-3
JFB: Jos 21:1-3 - -- The most venerable and distinguished members of the three Levitical families, on behalf of their tribe, applied for the special provision that had bee...
The most venerable and distinguished members of the three Levitical families, on behalf of their tribe, applied for the special provision that had been promised them to be now awarded (see on Num 35:2). Their inheritance lay within the territory of every tribe. It was assigned in the same place and manner, and by the same commissioners as the other allotments. While the people, knowing the important duties they were to perform, are described (Jos 21:3) as readily conceding this "peculiar" to them, it had most probably been specified and reserved for their use while the distribution of the land was in progress.
Clarke -> Jos 21:3
Clarke: Jos 21:3 - -- And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites - They cheerfully obeyed the Divine command, and cities for habitations were appointed to them out ...
And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites - They cheerfully obeyed the Divine command, and cities for habitations were appointed to them out of the different tribes by lot, that it might as fully appear that God designed them their habitations, as he designed the others their inheritances.
TSK -> Jos 21:3
unto the Levites : Gen 49:7; Deu 33:8-10; 1Chr. 6:54-81

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Poole -> Jos 21:3
Poole: Jos 21:3 - -- It seems most probable that they gave to the Levites promiscuously such cities as God commanded, and that the lot appropriated them to their several...
It seems most probable that they gave to the Levites promiscuously such cities as God commanded, and that the lot appropriated them to their several houses or families.
Out of their inheritance i.e. out of their several possessions; partly that the burden and loss might be equally divided and principally, that the Levites being dispersed among the several tribes, according to Jacob’ s prediction, Gen 49:7 , might more easily, and frequently, and effectually teach the Israelites God’ s law and judgments , which they were engaged to do, Deu 33:10 ; and that the people might upon all occasions resort to them, and require the meaning of the law at their mouths, Mal 2:7 .
These cities and their suburbs not only the use, but the absolute dominion of them, as is manifest both from Jos 21:11,12 , where a distinction is made between
the city and suburbs of Hebron and the fields and villages thereof , and the former are given to the Levites, the latter to Caleb; and from the return of these cities in the jubilee unto the Levites, as to their proper owners, Lev 25:33,34 .
Haydock -> Jos 21:3
Haydock: Jos 21:3 - -- Gave, by lot, ver. 4, &c. (Menochius) ---
Whether any changes were afterwards made, to grant more or less, in proportion to the numbers of the four...
Gave, by lot, ver. 4, &c. (Menochius) ---
Whether any changes were afterwards made, to grant more or less, in proportion to the numbers of the four families, (as seems to have been done with regard to the other tribes) or the cities were specified in four parcels, and the priests received the first lot, the text does not explain. (Calmet) ---
It is also uncertain what right the Levites had to these 48 cities. Some say that they had only the use of them, while others maintain that the cities were their property entirely, so that no other could live there without their consent. They could sell the houses, which returned to them in the year of the jubilee, if not redeemed before; but the suburbs were a common property of all the Levites, and could not be sold by any, Leviticus xxv. The cities, therefore, belonged to God, and he abandoned the property to his ministers. Other people might live among them, as they were not debarred from choosing their habitation in places which were not originally allotted to them. Thus we find that Gabaa was chiefly people by the tribe of Benjamin, when the outrage was offered to the Levite's wife, and no blame attached to the latter, Judges xix. Saul and his family were of the same town, though it belonged to the Levites, and David kept his court at Hebron, a sacerdotal city, for the first seven years of his reign. (Calmet) ---
Here also Caleb had probably resided, chap. xiv. 14. The priests and Levites were not indeed at this time sufficiently numerous to people all these cities; and Calmet supposes that they only received as many houses as they might occupy, being supplied with more by the magistrates as their numbers increased. But might not they let the houses, which they did not want to occupy, and receive the profits, so as to take possession of them when they had occasion? Were these 48 cities, which were the only part of the land to which the Levites had any claim, too many or too rich to compensate the labours of this most deserving tribe? It seems, therefore, unnecessary to call in the aid or interference of the magistrate, except any person were so bold as to refuse to give up what the law had so positively assigned to the Levites. Their rights were as well defined as those of any of the other tribes. (Haydock) ---
The land beyond the suburbs, was cultivated by the proprietors, who might either live in the town or country. Many of the priests and Levites chose to reside near the tabernacle, as Moses had encouraged them to do, Deuteronomy xviii. 6. Thus Nobe became a sacerdotal city; (1 Kings xxi. 1,) and after the temple was built, Jerusalem and its environs were the places of abode for most of the priests. (Calmet)
Gill -> Jos 21:3
Gill: Jos 21:3 - -- And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance,.... Knowing full well there was such a command, made no objection to their ...
And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance,.... Knowing full well there was such a command, made no objection to their motion, but freely gave them cities out of the portion of inheritance allotted to them; this they did
at the commandment of the Lord, and in obedience to it, even gave these cities and suburbs; after mentioned: this was done by the tribes themselves; as there were a certain number fixed by the commandment of God, they agreed among themselves how many and what cities should be given out of each tribe; and then lots were cast for them by Joshua, what and which cities should be appropriated to their several divisions, as the Kohathites that sprang from Aaron, and the rest of them that did not, and the Gershonites and Merarites, as follows.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Jos 21:1-45
TSK Synopsis: Jos 21:1-45 - --1 Eight and forty cities given by lot, out of the other tribes, unto the Levites.43 God gives the land, and rest unto the Israelites, according to his...
MHCC -> Jos 21:1-8
MHCC: Jos 21:1-8 - --The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided for, before they preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a very good found...
Matthew Henry -> Jos 21:1-8
Matthew Henry: Jos 21:1-8 - -- Here is, I. The Levites' petition presented to this general convention of the states, now sitting at Shiloh, Jos 21:1, Jos 21:2. Observe, 1. They ha...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Jos 21:1-3
Keil-Delitzsch: Jos 21:1-3 - --
After the cities of refuge had been set apart, the towns were also selected, which the different tribes were to give up for the priest and Levites t...
Constable: Jos 13:1--21:45 - --II. THE DIVISION OF THE LAND chs. 13--21
Chapters 13-24 describe how Joshua divided the land and the results of ...

Constable: Jos 21:1-42 - --2. The cities of the Levites ch. 21:1-42
The tribes also had to set aside 42 additional cities f...
