And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan ,.... Where the tabernacle was fixed, at or near which the above persons met to cast lots for the division of the land to the seven tribes that had not received their inheritance: saying, the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle ; this command is extant in Numbers 35:2 . read more
The ecclesiastical settlement of Canaan. Though the ecclesiastical institutions of the Christian Church differ, in some respects materially, from these of the Jewish, yet inasmuch as the law and the gospel came from the same All-wise Hand, we may naturally expect that the main principles of each will be the same. Perhaps we have insisted too much of late on the fact that the law was "done away in Christ," and too little on the qualifying truth that Christ came "not to destroy, but to... read more
At Shiloh. Another instance of exact accuracy. Shiloh was now the place of assembly in Israel (see Joshua 18:1 ). The Lord commanded. The command is given in Numbers 35:1-34 . We have here, therefore, another quotation from the books of Moses. If we refer to it we find how exactly the precepts were carried out. First, the six cities of refuge were to be appointed, and then forty-two more were to be added to them. Calvin, not noticing this, has complained that this narrative is not in... read more
Joshua 21:2. The Lord commanded Observe: the maintenance of ministers is not an arbitrary thing, left purely to the good-will of the people. No: as the God of Israel commanded that the Levites should be provided for, so hath the Lord Jesus ordained (and a perpetual ordinance it is) “that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” read more
Cities for the Levites (20:1-21:45)The Levites were given forty-eight cities throughout Israel, along with surrounding pasture lands for their cattle (see 21:41-42; Numbers 35:1-8). Among these cities were six cities of refuge (Numbers 35:6). These were cities where a person who had killed another could flee for safety until he had been lawfully judged (Exodus 21:12-14). If he was found guilty of murder he was to be executed, but if he was found to have caused the death accidentally, he could... read more
Shiloh. See note on Joshua 18:1 . The LORD commanded = Jehovah commanded. Compare Numbers 35:1-4 .Leviticus 25:33 . hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for what is effected by it. suburbs = common lands, or pasture lands; and so throughout the chapter, fifty-seven times. read more
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
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
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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 21:1-8
Here is, I. The Levites? petition presented to this general convention of the states, now sitting at Shiloh, Josh. 21:1, 2. Observe, 1. They had not their lot assigned them till they made their claim. There is an inheritance provided for all the saints, that royal priesthood, but then they must petition for it. Ask, and it shall be given you. Joshua had quickened the rest of the tribes who were slack to put in their claims, but the Levites, it may be supposed, knew their duty and interest... read more