About Joshua

Joshua records the conquest and division of the Promised Land, demonstrating God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Abraham.

Author: JoshuaWritten: c. 1400-1370 BCReading time: ~6 minVerses: 45
ConquestFaithfulnessObedienceInheritanceLeadershipCovenant

King James Version

Joshua 21

45 verses with commentary

Towns for the Levites

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;

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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; 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.</strong><br><br>The Levites...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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.</strong><br><br>The Levites' appeal <strong>"The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses"</strong> (<em>Yahweh tsivah beyad-Moshe</em>, יְהוָה צִוָּה בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה) grounds their request in direct divine revelation rat...
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And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.</strong><br><br>Israel's obedience is emphasized: they <strong>"gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance"</strong> (<em>vayitnu veney-Yisrael laLeviim menachalatam</em>, וַיִּתְּנוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל לַלְוִיִּם מִנַּחֲלָתָם). The verb <em>natan</em...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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.</strong><br><br>The allocation <strong>"by lot"</strong> (<em>bagoral</em>, בַּגּוֹרָל) demonstrates divine sovereignty in apportioning cities—the <e...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(4-8) The order of the distribution—viz., (1) to priests, (2) to Kohathites, (3) to Gershonites, (4) to Merarites—is in strict agreement with the order of priority observed in the exodus. In the camp of Israel there were two squares surrounding the tabernacle: an inner square of priests and Levites, an outer square of the tribes of Israel, three on each side. The inner square was arranged thus:—Th...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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.</strong><br><br>The <strong>"rest of the children of Kohath"</strong> (<em>velivney Kehat hanotarim</em>, וְלִבְנֵי קְהָת הַנּוֹתָרִים) refers to non-Aaronic Kohathites who served the Tabernacle but couldn't offer sac...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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.</strong><br><br>The <strong>"children of Gershon"</strong> (<em>velivney Gershon</em>, וְלִבְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן) were descended from Levi's firstborn son (Exodus 6:16-17). Despite p...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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.</strong><br><br><strong>"The children of Merari"</strong> (<em>livney Merari</em>, לִבְנֵי מְרָרִי) were Levi's third son's descendants (Exodus 6:16, 19). They received <strong>"twelve cities"</strong> from Reuben, Gad (both Transjordanian tr...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This summary verse emphasizes Israel's complete obedience. The phrase <strong>"gave by lot"</strong> (<em>vayitnu...bagoral</em>, וַיִּתְּנוּ...בַּגּוֹרָל) combines human agency (giving) with divine sovereignty (lot-casting). Israel actively o...
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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, mentioned: Heb. called

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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,</strong><br><br>This transitional verse introduces the detailed city-by-city listing that follows (verses 10-42). The phrase <strong>"mentioned by name"</strong> (<em>yikra ethen beshem</em>, יִקְרָא אֶתְהֶן בְּשֵׁם) emphasizes specificity—...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for their's was the first lot.</strong><br><br>This verse emphasizes the Aaronic priesthood's priority: <strong>"their's was the first lot"</strong> (<em>ki lahem hayah hagoral rishonah</em>, כִּי לָהֶם הָיָה הַגּוֹרָל רִאשׁוֹנָה). Though lot-casting involves apparent chance, God so...
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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. the city: or, Kirjatharba

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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.</strong><br><br>The priests received <strong>"Hebron"</strong> (<em>Chevron</em>, חֶבְרוֹן), whose name means "association" or "alliance"—fitting for a city fostering covenant community between God and His people. The phrase <strong>"the city ...
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But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.</strong><br><br>This verse clarifies the allocation: while Hebron's urban center and surrounding pastures went to the priests, <strong>"the fields...and the villages"</strong> (<em>sede ha'ir vechatserehah</em>, שְׂדֵה הָעִיר וַחֲצֵרֶיהָ) remained Caleb's personal inheritance. ...
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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,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer</strong> (חֶבְרוֹן עִיר מִקְלָט הָרֹצֵחַ, Chevron ir miklat harotzeach)—The Aaronic priesthood received Hebron, one of six <em>arei miklat</em> (cities of refuge) where those guilty of manslaughter could flee from the blood avenger. Hebron held profound patriarchal significance...
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And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs</strong> (יַתִּר וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת־אֶשְׁתְּמֹעַ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁהָ, Yattir ve'et-migrashehah ve'et-Eshtemoa ve'et-migrashehah)—These Judahite hill country cities continued the allocation to Aaron's descendants. Jattir appears in David's list of cities receiving spoils from Amalekite raids (1 Samuel 30:27), suggesting ongoing pries...
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And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs</strong> (חֹלֹן וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת־דְּבִר וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁהָ, Cholon ve'et-migrashehah ve'et-Devir ve'et-migrashehah)—Debir merits special attention as the former Canaanite stronghold Kiriath-sepher ("city of books"), conquered by Caleb's nephew Othniel (Joshua 15:15-17; Judges 1:11-13). Its transformation from pagan learning center to...
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And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes</strong> (עַיִן וְיֻתָּה וּבֵית־שֶׁמֶשׁ, Ayin veYuttah uVeit-Shemesh)—Beth-shemesh ("house of the sun") carried pagan connotations, likely a former Canaanite solar worship site, yet became a Levitical city. This site later witnessed the judgment upon those who looked in...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 14 Jos 14:1-5. The Nine Tribes and a Half to Have Their Inheritance by Lot. **1. these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan--**This chapter forms the introduction to an account of the allocation of the land west of Jordan, or Canaan proper, to the nine tribes and a half. It was also made by lot in presence of a select number of superintendents, ap...
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And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs</strong> (מִמַּטֵּה בִנְיָמִן אֶת־גִּבְעוֹן וְאֶת־גֵּבַע, mimateh Vinyamin et-Givon ve'et-Geva)—The shift to Benjamin introduces cities of immense historical significance. Gibeon, whose inhabitants deceived Joshua into a treaty (Joshua 9), became a high place where Solomon offered 1,000 burnt offerings and receive...
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Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities</strong> (עֲנָתוֹת וְאֶת־עַלְמוֹן אַרְבַּע עָרִים, Anatot ve'et-Almon arba arim)—Anathoth gains profound significance as the hometown of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1), himself a member of the Aaronic priesthood. That this Levitical city produced Israel's weeping prophet demonstrates how priestly cities served as seedb...
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All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs</strong> (כָּל־עָרֵי בְנֵי־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים שְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵה עָרִים וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן, kol-arei benei-Aharon hakohanim shlosh-esreh arim umigrsheihen)—This summary verse emphasizes the distinct inheritance of <strong>the children of Aaron, the priests</strong> versus other Kohathite Levites (vers...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**4. The children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim--**As two and a half tribes were settled on the east Jordan, and the Levites had no inheritance assigned them in land, there would have been only eight and a half tribes to provide for. But Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph, had been constituted two tribes (Ge 48:5), and although Levi was excluded, the original number of ...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>The families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath</strong> (מִשְׁפְּחוֹת בְּנֵי־קְהָת הַלְוִיִּם הַנּוֹתָרִים מִבְּנֵי קְהָת, mishpechot benei-Kehat haLevi'im hanota'rim mibbenei Kehat)—The phrase <em>hanota'rim</em> ("which remained") distinguishes the non-Aaronic Kohathites from Aaron's priestly descendants already allocated thirteen cities. Koh...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5. the children of Israel ... divided the land--**that is, they made the preliminary arrangements for the work. A considerable time was requisite for the survey and measurement.

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,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>They gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer</strong> (שְׁכֶם עִיר־מִקְלַט הָרֹצֵחַ בְּהַר אֶפְרָיִם, Shechem ir-miklat harotzeach behar Efrayim)—Shechem holds unparalleled covenantal significance: Abraham's first altar in Canaan (Genesis 12:6-7), where God first promised the land; the site where Jacob purchased land and dug a well (Genesi...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Jos 14:6-15. Caleb by Privilege Requests and Obtains Hebron. **6-11. Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb ... said--**This incident is recorded here because it occurred while the preparations were being made for casting the lots, which, it appears, were begun in Gilgal. The claim of Caleb to the mountains of Hebron as his personal and family possessions was founded on ...
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And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Beth-horon with her suburbs; four cities</strong> (קִבְצַיִם וּבֵית־חוֹרֹן אַרְבַּע עָרִים, Kivtzayim uVeit-Choron arba arim)—Beth-horon ("house of the hollow") consisted of Upper and Lower Beth-horon, twin fortress cities controlling the crucial Beth-horon ascent from the coastal plain to the central highlands. Joshua's greatest victory occurred here when God...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Jos 14:6-15. Caleb by Privilege Requests and Obtains Hebron. **6-11. Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb ... said--**This incident is recorded here because it occurred while the preparations were being made for casting the lots, which, it appears, were begun in Gilgal. The claim of Caleb to the mountains of Hebron as his personal and family possessions was founded on ...
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And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs</strong> (מִמַּטֵּה־דָן אֶת־אֶלְתְּקֵה וְאֶת־גִּבְּתוֹן, mimateh-Dan et-Eltekeh ve'et-Gibbeton)—The shift to Dan introduces a tragic trajectory. Dan, assigned the fertile coastal plain, failed to drive out the Amorites and was "forced into the hill country" (Judges 1:34-35). Eventually most of the tribe migrated ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Jos 14:6-15. Caleb by Privilege Requests and Obtains Hebron. **6-11. Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb ... said--**This incident is recorded here because it occurred while the preparations were being made for casting the lots, which, it appears, were begun in Gilgal. The claim of Caleb to the mountains of Hebron as his personal and family possessions was founded on ...
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Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Aijalon with her suburbs, Gath-rimmon with her suburbs; four cities</strong> (אַיָּלוֹן וְגַת־רִמּוֹן אַרְבַּע עָרִים, Ayalon veGat-Rimon arba arim)—Aijalon's valley witnessed another cosmic miracle when Joshua commanded, <strong>"Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon"</strong> (Joshua 10:12). This city, where the moon halted, became a Levitical posses...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Jos 14:6-15. Caleb by Privilege Requests and Obtains Hebron. **6-11. Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb ... said--**This incident is recorded here because it occurred while the preparations were being made for casting the lots, which, it appears, were begun in Gilgal. The claim of Caleb to the mountains of Hebron as his personal and family possessions was founded on ...
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And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs; two cities.</strong><br><br>These final two cities complete the Kohathite allocation from the non-priestly Levites. The Hebrew <em>migrash</em> (מִגְרָשׁ, "suburbs") refers to the pasture lands extending outward from each city, essential for Levitical livestock. Tanach (also spelled Taanach) w...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Jos 14:6-15. Caleb by Privilege Requests and Obtains Hebron. **6-11. Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb ... said--**This incident is recorded here because it occurred while the preparations were being made for casting the lots, which, it appears, were begun in Gilgal. The claim of Caleb to the mountains of Hebron as his personal and family possessions was founded on ...
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All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.</strong><br><br>This summary verse totals the allocation for non-priestly Kohathites (descendants of Kohath who weren't Aaron's line). The phrase "that remained" (<em>hannotarim</em>, הַנּוֹתָרִים) distinguishes them from Aaron's descendants who received thirteen cities (verses 4, 19). The ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Jos 14:6-15. Caleb by Privilege Requests and Obtains Hebron. **6-11. Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb ... said--**This incident is recorded here because it occurred while the preparations were being made for casting the lots, which, it appears, were begun in Gilgal. The claim of Caleb to the mountains of Hebron as his personal and family possessions was founded on ...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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 Beesh-terah with her suburbs; two cities.</strong><br><br>The Gershonites were the second division of Levites, descended from Gershon (or Gershom), Moses' eldest son (Exodus 2:22). Their allocation b...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**12. give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day--**this highland region. **for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there--**The report of the spies, who tried to kindle the flame of sedition and discontent, related chiefly to the people and condition of this mountain district, and hence it was promised as the reward of Caleb's truth, piety, and faithfulness.

And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,</strong><br><br>The Gershonite allocation continues with cities from Issachar's territory in the Jezreel Valley and surrounding regions. Kishon (<em>Qishyon</em>, קִשְׁיוֹן) should not be confused with the Kishon River where Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera (Judges 4:7, 13). The city's exact location rema...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**13-14. Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb Hebron for an inheritance--**Joshua, who was fully cognizant of all the circumstances, not only admitted the claim, but in a public and earnest manner prayed for the divine blessing to succor the efforts of Caleb in driving out the idolatrous occupiers.

Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Jarmuth with her suburbs, En-gannim with her suburbs; four cities.</strong><br><br>These final two cities complete Issachar's contribution to the Gershonite allocation. Jarmuth (יַרְמוּת) in Issachar should not be confused with the Canaanite royal city of the same name in Judah defeated by Joshua (Joshua 10:3, 5, 23). Multiple cities bore identical names throughout Israel—a reminder that c...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**13-14. Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb Hebron for an inheritance--**Joshua, who was fully cognizant of all the circumstances, not only admitted the claim, but in a public and earnest manner prayed for the divine blessing to succor the efforts of Caleb in driving out the idolatrous occupiers.

And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,</strong><br><br>The Gershonite allocation continues with cities from Asher, the northernmost western tribe along the Mediterranean coast. Mishal (מִישָׁל) is listed as Mashal in 1 Chronicles 6:74, demonstrating common spelling variations in ancient Hebrew manuscripts. Its exact location remains uncertain, thoug...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**15. Kirjath-arba--**that is, the city of Arba, a warrior among the native race remarkable for strength and stature. **the land had rest from war--**Most of the kings having been slain and the natives dispirited, there was no general or systematic attempt to resist the progress and settlement of the Israelites.

Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.</strong><br><br>These final two cities complete Asher's contribution to Gershonite Levites. Helkath (חֶלְקַת) derives from <em>cheleq</em> (חֵלֶק, "portion" or "allotment"), emphasizing the concept of inheritance central to Joshua's land distribution. The city is mentioned in the border description of Asher (Joshua 19:25) a...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammoth-dor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.</strong><br><br>Naphtali's allocation begins with Kedesh in Galilee, another city holding dual function as Levitical city and <em>ir miklat</em> (עִיר מִקְלָט, "city of refuge"). The name Kedesh (קֶדֶשׁ) me...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 15 Jos 15:1-12. Borders of the Lot of Judah. **1. This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah--**In what manner the lot was drawn on this occasion the sacred historian does not say; but it is probable that the method adopted was similar to that described in Jos 18:10. Though the general survey of the country had not been completed, some rough draft or delineation of the fi...
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All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.</strong><br><br>This summary totals the Gershonite allocation across four tribes: half-Manasseh (2 cities), Issachar (4 cities), Asher (4 cities), and Naphtali (3 cities). The number thirteen parallels the priestly Kohathites' thirteen cities (verse 19), demonstrating equitable provision ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**2. the bay--**Hebrew, "tongue." It pushes its waters out in this form to a great distance [Robinson].

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,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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,</strong><br><br>The Merarites, descendants of Levi's youngest son Merari, receive the final Levitical allocation. The phrase "the rest of the Levites" (<em>leviyim hannotarim</em>, הַלְוִיִּם הַנּוֹתָרִים) identifies them as the remai...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**3. Maaleh-akrabbim--**Hebrew, "the ascent of scorpions"; a pass in the "bald mountain" (see on Jos 11:17), probably much infested by these venomous reptiles.

Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.</strong><br><br>These final two cities complete Zebulun's contribution to Merarite Levites. Dimnah (דִּמְנָה) appears only here in Scripture, and the 1 Chronicles 6:77 parallel lists Rimmon instead, suggesting either scribal variation or that Dimnah and Rimmon were alternative names for the same location. Rimmon (רִמּוֹן, "pom...
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And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,</strong><br><br>The Merarite allocation continues with cities from Reuben, the Transjordanian tribe occupying territory east of the Dead Sea. Bezer (בֶּצֶר, meaning "fortress" or "stronghold") held triple significance: Levitical city, city of refuge, and one of the cities later designated for the altar wh...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5. the end--**that is, the mouth of the Jordan.

Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.</strong><br><br>These final two cities complete Reuben's contribution to the Merarite Levites. Kedemoth (קְדֵמוֹת, "eastern places" from <em>qedem</em>, קֶדֶם, "east") emphasizes the city's Transjordanian location east of the Dead Sea. The name appears in Deuteronomy 2:26 as the wilderness from which Moses sent peace me...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**6. Beth-hogla--**now Ain Hajla, a fine spring of clear and sweet water, at the northern extremity of the Dead Sea, about two miles from the Jordan [Robinson]. **Beth-arabah--**"the house," or "place of solitude," in the desert of Judah (Jos 15:61). **stone of Bohan the son of Reuben--**the sepulchral monument of a Reubenite leader, who had been distinguished for his bravery, and had fallen i...
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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,

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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,</strong><br><br>Gad's contribution begins with Ramoth in Gilead (רָמֹת גִּלְעָד, "heights of Gilead"), the third eastern city of refuge (along with Bezer in Reuben and Golan in Manasseh). The city's designation "in Gilead" distinguishes it from other cities ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**7. Achor--**(see on Jos 7:26). **Adummim--**a rising ground in the wilderness of Jericho, on the south of the little brook that flowed near Jericho (Jos 16:1). **En-shemesh--**"the fountain of the sun"; "either the present well of the apostle, below Bethany, on the road to Jericho, or the fountain near to St. Saba" [Robinson]. **En-rogel--**"the fuller's fountain," on the southeast of Jeru...
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Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.</strong><br><br>These final two cities complete Gad's contribution to Merarite Levites. Heshbon (חֶשְׁבּוֹן) was originally the capital of Sihon, king of the Amorites, before Moses conquered it (Numbers 21:25-26; Deuteronomy 2:24-30). The city's transformation from pagan Amorite capital to Levitical city illustrates rede...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse totals the Merarite allocation: four cities each from Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad (twelve total). The phrase "which were remaining of the families of the Levites" (<em>hanotarim mimishpechot haleviyim</em>, הַנּוֹתָרִי...
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All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.</strong><br><br>This grand total summarizes the entire Levitical city allocation: thirteen priestly cities (verse 19), ten non-priestly Kohathite cities (verse 26), thirteen Gershonite cities (verse 33), and twelve Merarite cities (verse 40)—totaling forty-eight cit...
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These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.</strong><br><br>This concluding statement emphasizes uniformity in provision—every Levitical city came with <em>migrash</em> (מִגְרָשׁ, pasture lands) extending approximately 1000 cubits (500 meters) in each direction (Numbers 35:4-5). The repetition "every one... all these cities" stresses compreh...
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The Lord Gives Rest

And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

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KJV Study Commentary

This verse powerfully testifies to God's complete faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The phrase 'the LORD gave unto Israel all the land' (<em>vayiten Yahweh leYisrael et-kol-haarets</em>, וַיִּתֵּן יְהוָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ) uses the perfect tense emphasizing accomplished action—God's gift was complete. The phrase 'which he sware to give unto ...
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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.

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KJV Study Commentary

This verse emphasizes the rest and victory God provided Israel, fulfilling promises made to Moses. The phrase 'the LORD gave them rest round about' (<em>vayanach Yahweh lahem misaviv</em>, וַיָּנַח יְהוָה לָהֶם מִסָּבִיב) uses <em>nuach</em> (נוּחַ), meaning to rest, settle, or cease from conflict. This rest wasn't merely military cessation but covenant peace—the goal of redemptive history (Hebrew...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Jos 15:13-15. Caleb's Portion and Conquest. **13. unto Caleb he gave a part among the children of Judah--**(See on Jos 14:6).

There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

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KJV Study Commentary

This climactic verse provides theological summary of Joshua's entire book, testifying to God's absolute faithfulness. The phrase 'There failed not ought' (<em>lo-nafal davar</em>, לֹא־נָפַל דָּבָר) literally means 'not one word fell'—every promise stood firm and was fulfilled. The Hebrew <em>davar</em> (דָּבָר) means word, matter, or thing—God's spoken promises all achieved realization. The phrase...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**14. drove thence the three sons of Anak--**rather three chiefs of the Anakim race. This exploit is recorded to the honor of Caleb, as the success of it was the reward of his trust in God.

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