CHAPTER 21
. EIGHT AND
FORTY CITIES
GIVEN BY LOT
OUT OF THE OTHER
TRIBES UNTO THE LEVITES.
1-3. Then came near the heads of the
fathers of the Levites—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 ). 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 () 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.
4-8. the lot came out for the
families of the Kohathites—The Levites were divided into
Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the family
of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all the
rest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot was
drawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by the
priests, to whom thirteen cities were granted, and ten to the rest of
the Kohathites (Joshua 21:5);
thirteen to the Gershonites (Joshua 21:5), and twelve to the Merarites (Joshua 21:5).
Joshua 21:5. THE CITIES
OF THE PRIESTS.
9-40. they gave . . . these cities
which are here mentioned by name—It was overruled by the
unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the
priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a
provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully
manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehoboam.
41. All the cities of the Levites
within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight
cities with their suburbs—This may appear too great a
proportion compared with those of the other tribes. But it must be
borne in mind that the list given here contains the names of every
Levitical city (see on );
whereas only those cities of the other tribes are mentioned which lay
on the frontier or along the boundary line. Besides, the Levites were
not the exclusive inhabitants of those forty-eight cities; for there
must have been also a considerable number of people kept there to
cultivate the glebe lands and tend the cattle. Still further, the
Levitical cities had nothing but "their suburbs round about
them" [Joshua 21:42]; whereas
the other cities in Israel possessed a group of independent villages
(see Joshua 17:1-19).
Joshua 17:1-6. GOD GAVE
THEM REST.
43-45. the Lord gave unto Israel all
the land which he sware to give unto their fathers—This is a
general winding up of the history from the thirteenth chapter, which
narrates the occupation of the land by the Israelites. All the
promises made, whether to the people or to Joshua (), had been, or were in the course of being fulfilled; and the
recorded experience of the Israelites (), is a ground of hope and confidence to the people of God
in every age, that all other promises made to the Church will, in due
time, be accomplished.
CHAPTER 21
. EIGHT AND FORTY CITIES GIVEN BY LOT OUT OF THE OTHER TRIBES UNTO THE LEVITES.
1-3. Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites—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 ). 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 () 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.
4-8. the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites—The Levites were divided into Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the family of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all the rest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot was drawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by the priests, to whom thirteen cities were granted, and ten to the rest of the Kohathites (Joshua 21:5); thirteen to the Gershonites (Joshua 21:5), and twelve to the Merarites (Joshua 21:5).
Joshua 21:5. THE CITIES OF THE PRIESTS.
9-40. they gave . . . these cities which are here mentioned by name—It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehoboam.
41. All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs—This may appear too great a proportion compared with those of the other tribes. But it must be borne in mind that the list given here contains the names of every Levitical city (see on ); whereas only those cities of the other tribes are mentioned which lay on the frontier or along the boundary line. Besides, the Levites were not the exclusive inhabitants of those forty-eight cities; for there must have been also a considerable number of people kept there to cultivate the glebe lands and tend the cattle. Still further, the Levitical cities had nothing but "their suburbs round about them" [Joshua 21:42]; whereas the other cities in Israel possessed a group of independent villages (see Joshua 17:1-19).
Joshua 17:1-6. GOD GAVE THEM REST.
43-45. the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers—This is a general winding up of the history from the thirteenth chapter, which narrates the occupation of the land by the Israelites. All the promises made, whether to the people or to Joshua (), had been, or were in the course of being fulfilled; and the recorded experience of the Israelites (), is a ground of hope and confidence to the people of God in every age, that all other promises made to the Church will, in due time, be accomplished.