Lux Domini

Joshua 21

Chapter context

What is happening in Joshua 21?

inheritancerestcovenant fidelityholy war

Joshua 21 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as allotment, refuge cities, and Joshua’s farewell covenants. Joshua tells of the crossing into Canaan, the fall of Jericho, complex campaigns in the land, tribal allotments, and a final renewal of covenant loyalty. Read this chapter with the wider themes of inheritance, rest, and covenant fidelity in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

1 Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;   2 And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.   3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.   4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.   5 And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.   6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.   7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.   8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.   9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,   10 Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.   11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.   12 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.   13 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,   14 And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,   15 And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,   16 And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.   17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,   18 Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.   19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.   20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.   21 For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,   22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.   23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,   24 Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.   25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.   26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.   27 And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.   28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,   29 Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.   30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,   31 Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.   32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.   33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.   34 And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,   35 Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.   36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,   37 Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.   38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,   39 Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.   40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.   41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.   42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.   43 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.   44 And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.   45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.  

Study helps

Glossary

Eleazar Person v. 1

God has helped. (1. ) The third son of Aaron ( Ex. 6:23 ). His wife, a daughter of Putiel, bore him Phinehas ( Ex. 6:25 ). After the death of Nadab and Abihu.

Joshua Tribe v. 1

Jehovah is his help, or Jehovah the Saviour. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, the successor of Moses as the leader of Israel. He is called Jehoshua in Num. 13:16 (A. V. ), and Jesus in Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8 .

Nun Person v. 1

Beyond the fact that he was the father of Joshua nothing more is known of him ( Ex. 33:11 ).

Canaan Place v. 2

Biblical region. Modern identification: Canaan.

Shiloh Place v. 2

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Seilun.

Benjamin Person v. 4, 17

Son of my right hand. (1. ) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel ( Gen. 35:18 ). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place.

Kohathites People v. 4, 10

The descendants of Kohath. They formed the first of the three divisions of the Levites ( Ex. 6:16 , 18; Num. 3:17 ).

Simeon Person v. 4, 9

Hearing. (1. ) The second son of Jacob by Leah ( Gen. 29:33 ). He was associated with Levi in the terrible act of vengeance against Hamor and the Shechemites (34:25, 26).

Kohath Person v. 5, 20, 26

Assembly, the second son of Levi, and father of Amram ( Gen. 46:11 ). He came down to Egypt with Jacob, and lived to the age of one hundred and thirty-three years ( Ex. 6:18 ).

Bashan Place v. 6, 27

Biblical region. Modern identification: Saham al Jawlan.

Naphtali Person v. 6, 32

My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid ( Gen. 30:8 ). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons ( Gen. 46:24 ). Little is known of him as an individual.

Gad Person v. 7, 38

Fortune; luck. (1. ) Jacob’s seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and the brother of Asher ( Gen. 30:11-13 ; 46:16 , 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, “A troop cometh: and she called,” etc.

Merari Person v. 7, 34, 40

Sad; bitter, the youngest son of Levi, born before the descent of Jacob into Egypt, and one of the seventy who accompanied him thither ( Gen. 46:11 ; Ex. 6:16 ).

Reuben Person v. 7, 36

Behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 29:32 ). His sinful conduct, referred to in Gen. 35:22 , brought down upon him his dying father’s malediction (48:4).

Zebulun Person v. 7, 34

Dwelling, the sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 30:20 ). Little is known of his personal history. He had three sons (46:14).

Levi Person v. 10

Adhesion. (1. ) The third son of Jacob by Leah. The origin of the name is found in Leah’s words ( Gen. 29:34 ).

Anak Person v. 11

Long-necked, the son of Arba, father of the Anakim ( Josh. 15:13 ; 21:11 , Heb. Anok ).

City People v. 11-13, 21, 27, 32, 38

The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain ( Gen. 4:17 ). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12).

Hebron Place v. 11, 13

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. Modern identification: Tel Rumeida.

Caleb Tribe v. 12

A dog. (1. ) One of the three sons of Hezron of the tribe of Judah. He is also called Chelubai ( 1 Chr. 2:9 ). His descendants are enumerated (18-20, 42-49). (2. ) A “son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah” ( 1 Chr. 2:50 ).

Jephunneh Person v. 12

Nimble, or a beholder. (1. ) The father of Caleb, who was Joshua’s companion in exploring Canaan ( Num. 13:6 ), a Kenezite ( Josh. 14:14 ). (2. ) One of the descendants of Asher ( 1 Chr. 7:38 ).

Libnah Place v. 13

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell Bornat.

Eshtemoa Place v. 14

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. Modern identification: As Samu.

Jattir Place v. 14

Pre-eminent, a city in the mountains of Judah ( Josh. 15:48 ; 21:14 ). Modern identification: Khirbet Attir.

Debir Place v. 15

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Rabud.

Holon Place v. 15

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Alin.

Ain Place v. 16

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Asan.

Beth-shemesh Place v. 16

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tel Bet Shemesh.

Juttah Place v. 16

Extended, a Levitical city in the mountains or hill-country of Judah ( Josh. 15:55 ; 21:16 ). Its modern name is Yutta, a place about 5 1/2 miles south of Hebron. Modern identification: Yatta.

Geba Place v. 17

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jaba.

Gibeon Place v. 17

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: El Jib.

Almon Place v. 18

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Almit.

Anathoth Place v. 18

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Ras el Kharruba.

Gezer Place v. 21

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tel Gezer.

Shechem Place v. 21

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell Balatah.

Beth-horon Place v. 22

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Beit Ur al Tahta.

Kibzaim Place v. 22

Two heaps, a city of Ephraim, assigned to the Kohathite Levites, and appointed as a city of refuge (Josh. 21: 22). It is also called Jokmeam ( 1 Chr. 6:68 ). Modern identification: Tel al Mazar.

Eltekeh Place v. 23

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tel Shalaf.

Gibbethon Place v. 23

A height, a city of the Philistines in the territory of Dan, given to the Kohathites ( Josh. 19:44 ; 21:23 ). Modern identification: Tell Melat.

Aijalon Place v. 24

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Yalo.

Gath-rimmon Place v. 24

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tel Gerisa.

Gath-rimmon Place v. 25

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Belameh.

Taanach Place v. 25

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell Ta’anakh.

Beeshterah Place v. 27

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell Ashtara.

Golan Place v. 27

Exile, a city of Bashan ( Deut. 4:43 ), one of the three cities of refuge east of Jordan, about 12 miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee ( Josh. 20:8 ). There are no further notices of it in Scripture. Modern identification: Saham al Jawlan.

Daberath Place v. 28

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Horvat Devora.

Kishion Place v. 28

Hardness, a city of Issachar assigned to the Gershonite Levites ( Josh. 19:20 ), the same as Kishon (21:28). Modern identification: Tell Qisyon.

En-gannim Place v. 29

Fountain of gardens. (1. ) A town in the plains of Judah ( Josh. 15:34 ), north-west of Jerusalem, between Zanoah and Tappuah. It is the modern Umm Jina. (2. ) A city on the border of Machar. Modern identification: Khirbet Beit Jann.

Jarmuth Place v. 29

Height. (1. ) A town in the plain of Judah ( Josh. 15:35 ), originally the residence of one of the Canaanitish kings (10:3, 5, 23). Modern identification: Kokab el Hawa.

Abdon Place v. 30

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tel Avdon.

Mishal Place v. 30

( Josh. 19:26 ), a town of Asher, probably the same as Mishal. Modern identification: Tell Keisan.

Helkath Place v. 31

Smoothness, a town of Asher, on the east border ( Josh. 19:25 ; 21:31 ); called also Hukok ( 1 Chr. 6:75 ). Modern identification: Tel Qashish.

Rehob Place v. 31

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell Bir el Gharbi.

Galilee Place v. 32

Biblical region. Modern identification: Galilee.

Hammoth-dor Place v. 32

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Hamat Tiberias.

Kartan Place v. 32

Double city, a town of Naphali, assigned to the Gershonite Levites, and one of the cities of refuge ( Josh. 21:32 ). Modern identification: Khirbet el Qureiyeh.

Kedesh Place v. 32

Sanctuary. (1. ) A place in the extreme south of Judah ( Josh. 15:23 ). Probably the same as Kadesh-barnea (q. v. ). (2. ) A city of Issachar ( 1 Chr. 6:72 ). Possibly Tell Abu Kadeis, near Lejjun. Modern identification: Tel Kedesh.

Jokneam Place v. 34

Gathered by the people, ( Josh. 19:11 ; 21:34 ), a city “of Carmel” (12:22), i. e., on Carmel, allotted with its suburbs to the Merarite Levites. Modern identification: Tel Yokneam.

Kartah Place v. 34

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet el Qureiyeh.

Dimnah Place v. 35

Dunghill, a city of Zebulun given to the Merarite Levites ( Josh. 21:35 ). In 1 Chr. 6:77 the name “Rimmon” is substituted. Modern identification: Rumana.

Nahalal Place v. 35

Pasture, a city in Zebulun on the border of Issachar ( Josh. 19:15 ), the same as Nahalol ( Judg. 1:30 ). It was given to the Levites. Modern identification: Horbat Sefan.

Bezer Place v. 36

Ore of gold or silver. (1. ) A city of the Reubenites; one of the three cities of refuge on the east of Jordan (Deut. 4: 43; Josh. 20:8 ). Modern identification: Umm el Amad.

Jahaz Place v. 36

Trodden down. Modern identification: Khirbet el Medeiyineh.

Kedemoth Place v. 37

Beginnings; easternmost, a city of Reuben, assigned to the Levites of the family of Merari ( Josh. 13:18 ). It lay not far north-east of Dibon-gad, east of the Dead Sea. Modern identification: Aleiyan.

Mephaath Place v. 37

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Umm ar Rasas.

Gilead Place v. 38

Biblical region. Modern identification: Tell edh Dhahab esh Sherqiyeh.

Mahanaim Place v. 38

Two camps, a place near the Jabbok, beyond Jordan, where Jacob was met by the “angels of God,” and where he divided his retinue into “two hosts” on his return from Padan-aram ( Gen. 32:2 ). Modern identification: Tell edh Dhahab el Gharbi.

Ramoth Place v. 38

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tall er Rumeith.

Heshbon Place v. 39

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell Hesban.

Jazer Place v. 39

He (God) helps, a city of the Amorites on the east of Jordan, and assigned, with neighbouring places in Gilead, to Gad ( Num. 32:1 , 35; Josh. 13:25 ). It was allotted to the Merarite Levites (21:39). Modern identification: Khirbet Sara.