Joshua 21:4-5
descendants <01121> [the children.]
tribes <04294> [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 (Nu 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.
Joshua 21:20-26
Shechem <07927> [Shechem.]
Gezer <01507> [Gezer.]
Beth Horon <01032> [Beth-horon.]
Eltekeh <0514> [Eltekeh.]
Gibbethon <01405> [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.
Aijalon <0357> [Aijalon.]
[Ajalon.]
Gath Rimmon <01667> [Gathrimmon.]
Gathrimmon is said by Jerome to be a great town 10 miles from Diospolis, or Lydda, towards Eleutheropolis.
Aner and Bileam are mentioned in Chronicles, instead of Tanach and Gath-rimmon. (1 Ch 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.
Taanach <08590> [Tanach.]
