Matthew Poole's Commentary 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; Cities given out of the other tribes by lot to the Levites, Joshua 21:1-8. Particularly to the priests, the children of Aaron, Joshua 21:9-19; to the Levites, the Kohathites, Joshua 21:20-26, the Gershonites, Joshua 21:27-33, and Merarites, Joshua 21:34-40; in all forty-eight cities, with their suburbs, Joshua 21:41,42. The Israelites quietly enjoy the Promised Land, Joshua 21:43-45. Then, i.e. when the whole land was distributed unto the several tribes, but not actually possessed by them; which was the proper season for them to put in their claim. The fathers of the Levites were Kohath, Gershom, and Merari, and the heads of these were the chief persons now alive of these several families. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. It seems most probable that they gave to the Levites promiscuously such cities as God commanded, and that the lot appropriated them to their several houses or families. Out of their inheritance, i.e. out of their several possessions; partly that the burden and loss might be equally divided and principally, that the Levites being dispersed among the several tribes, according to Jacob’s prediction, Genesis 49:7, might more easily, and frequently, and effectually teach the Israelites God’s law and judgments, which they were engaged to do, Deu 33:10; and that the people might upon all occasions resort to them, and require the meaning of the law at their mouths, Malachi 2:7. These cities and their suburbs; not only the use, but the absolute dominion of them, as is manifest both from Joshua 21:11,12, where a distinction is made between the city and suburbs of Hebron, and the fields and villages thereof, and the former are given to the Levites, the latter to Caleb; and from the return of these cities in the jubilee unto the Levites, as to their proper owners, Leviticus 25:33,34. 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. Which three tribes were nearest to the temple, where their business lay. Thirteen cities; for though the priests were now few enough for one city, yet respect was to be had to their succeeding numbers; this division being made for all future generations. And seeing the Levites might sell their houses until the jubilee, Leviticus 25:33, much more might they let them; and therefore it is probable their cities were not very long uninhabited, many being inclined to dwell with them by virtue of relations contracted with them, or dependence upon or expectation from them; or out of respect to the service of God, and the good of their souls. 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. The children of Kohath were of Aaron’s family, or priests, but Levites only. These tribes are nearest to the three former, and so the Kohathites are placed next to their brethren the Aaronites. Ten cities; fewer than they gave out for the three former tribes, because their inheritance was less than the former. See Numbers 35:8. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. These cities with their suburbs; of which See Poole "Numbers 35:2". 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, Judah and Simeon are mentioned together, because the cities of Simeon lay within Judah’s portion. 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. Of the families, i.e. of the family, the plural number for the singular, which is not unusual. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. The fields of the city, i.e. all beyond the 2000 cubits expressed Numbers 35:5. This is here mentioned, not as his peculiar case, but as one eminent instance, to show that it was so in all the rest of the cities here named; that the fields and villages thereof still belonged to the several tribes from whom the cities and their suburbs were taken; and to make the rest of the Israelites more contentedly and cheerfully resign so great a part of their possessions to the Levites, because even Caleb did so, though his possession had been long before promised, and now actually given to him by God’s special command, as a mark of honour and compensation for his long and faithful service. 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, No text from Poole on this verse. And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs, Holon, called Hilen, 1 Chronicles 6:58, as Juttah here is called Ashan, 1 Chronicles 6:59, and Kibzaim called Jokmeam, 1 Chronicles 6:68, and so some others, the names of the places being changed by length of time, and upon special occasions, as was frequent among the Jews; though their doctors add, that some of these places here mentioned, being now in the Canaanites’ possession, and not speedily recovered from them, there were others put in their stead. And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes. Ain here, and Gibeon Joshua 21:17, and some others here named, are not named 1Ch 6, either because they were destroyed in some of those hostile invasions and wars wherewith their land was grievously harassed and wasted before that time; or they appear there under other names, as was said. And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities. No text from Poole on this verse. All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. The families which remained of the children of Kohath, over and above those of them who were priests. 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, No text from Poole on this verse. And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities. No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities. No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities. To wit, that half which dwelt in Canaan, by comparing this with Joshua 21:27. All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities. No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs, No text from Poole on this verse. Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs. No text from Poole on this verse. 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, No text from Poole on this verse. Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities. No text from Poole on this verse. And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs, Bezer, a city of refuge, as it is called Joshua 20:8, and therefore needless to be here repeated. Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities. No text from Poole on this verse. 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, No text from Poole on this verse. Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs. Quest. Why hath this tribe, which was the least of all, more cities than any of them? Answ. First, It doth not appear that they had more; for though all the cities of the Levites be expressed, it is not so with the other tribes, but divers of their cities are omitted, as is evident. Secondly, The Levites were confined to their cities and suburbs; the rest had large territories belonging to their cities, which also they were in a capacity of improving, which the Levites were not; so that one of their cities might be more considerable than divers of the Levites. Thirdly, God was pleased to deal liberally with his ministers, partly to put honour upon those whom he foresaw many would be prone to despise; and partly, that being free from all outward distractions, they might more entirely and fervently devote themselves to the service of God, and the instruction of souls. These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities. No text from Poole on this verse. And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. He gave them the right to all, and the actual possession of the greatest part of it, and power to possess the rest as soon as it was needful and convenient for them, which was by degrees, when their numbers were increased, &c., Exodus 23:29,30, and the absolute dominion of all the people remaining in it. 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. To wit, all the days of Joshua, by comparing Joshua 1:5, for afterwards it was otherwise with them. There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. No text from Poole on this verse. |
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