Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Joshua 21:3

A SUMMARY OF THE CITIES ASSIGNED"And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Jehovah, these cities with their suburbs."And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, and by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities."And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 21:1-8

The casting of lots 21:1-8Probably the leaders identified the towns first and then assigned the various groups of Levites to particular cities by lot (Joshua 21:3-4). The priests (Aaron’s descendants) received 13 cities within the tribal territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin (Joshua 21:4). The rest of the Kohathites-Aaron was a descendant of Kohath-obtained 10 cities in Ephraim, Dan, and western Manasseh (Joshua 21:5). The Gershonites lived in 13 cities in Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 21:1-42

2. The cities of the Levites 21:1-42The tribes also had to set aside 42 additional cities for the priests and Levites to inhabit (cf. Numbers 35:1-8). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 21:1-45

The Assignment of Forty-eight Cities to the Levites2. The injunction to Moses was given in the plains of Moab, and is recorded in Numbers 35:2-5.3-8. Number and localities of the cities distributed to each of the families of Levi.9-42. Detailed specification of the cities:—Cities of the Aaronites (Priests) in Judah and Benjamin (9-19); of the Kohathites in Ephraim, Dan, and W. Manasseh (20-26); of the Gershonites in E. Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali (27-33); of the Merarites in... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Joshua 21:1-42

CHAPTER XXVIII.THE INHERITANCE OF THE LEVITES.Joshua 21:1-42. ONCE and again we have found reference made to the fact that Levites received no territorial inheritance among their brethren (Joshua 13:14, Joshua 13:33; Joshua 14:3-4). They had a higher privilege: the Lord was their inheritance. In the present chapter we have an elaborate account of the arrangements for their settlement; it will therefore be suitable here to rehearse their history, and ascertain the relation they now stood in to... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Joshua 21:1-45

8. The Portion of the Levites CHAPTER 21 1. The Levites, the children of Aaron, and their portions (Joshua 21:1-8 ) 2. Kohath (Joshua 21:9-26 ) 3. Gershon (Joshua 21:27-33 ) 4. Merari (Joshua 21:34-40 ) 5. The Lord’s faithfulness (Joshua 21:41-45 ) In chapters 13:14, 33 and 14:3, 4 the statement is made that Moses gave no inheritance to the Levites. The Lord was their inheritance. After the tribes had received their allotments the heads of the fathers of the Levites came to Joshua... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 21:1-45

TWO FOOLISH OATHS AND FOOLISH ACTIONS (vv. 1-14) God had not told Israel to totally destroy Benjamin, including women and children, but Israel had done this except for the 600 men hiding in the Rock Rimmon. Now they realize that a tribe of Israel is on the verge of extinction. Why did they not think of this before? But they had virtually decreed that Benjamin should be extinct by the fact that they swore an oath to the effect that no woman of Israel must be given as a wife to a Benjamite... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Joshua 21:1-45

SPECIAL CITIES ; ALTAR OF WITNESS THE CITIES OF REFUGE (Joshua 20:0 ) The decree concerning the cities of refuge was considered in its place. It will be well, however, again to notice that they were not instituted to shield criminals but innocent murderers. Whether innocent or guilty though, the murdered had an asylum until his case could be heard by the authorities (Joshua 20:6 ). If innocent he was permitted to remain in the city, immune from the legal avenger, until the death of the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Joshua 21:1-45

After Rest Joshua 20-24 THE twentieth chapter deals with the Cities of Refuge. A very beautiful expression is that "City of Refuge." Very suggestive, too. But there is a great black shadow in the middle of it: for why should men want refuge? The term is noble in itself, but what is it in its suggestion? Surely it means that there is a pursuing storm. We have heard travellers say that by making haste they will just be in time to escape the impending tempest; so they quicken their steps, and... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Joshua 21:3

Out of their inheritance, means that the Levites were to be settled in the midst of their brethren, their office of ministering before the Lord, made it necessary that every tribe should be near the Levites. Sweet type this of the presence of Jesus in the midst of his people. It was the promise of the Old Testament, that God would dwell in the midst of his people. Zechariah 2:10 . And Jesus, who is the promise itself in the new, assured his people of his being always with them, even to the end... read more

Group of Brands