Joshua 21
Overview
21:1 Eight and forty cities given by lot, out of the other tribes, unto the Levites;
21:43 God gives the land, and rest unto the Israelites, according to his promise. Verse 1the headsJoshua 19:51; Exodus 6:14, 6:25 EleazarJoshua 14:1, 17:4; Numbers 34:17-29ReciprocalGenesis 47:22 - for the priests; 49:7 - I will divide; Leviticus 25:32 - the cities; Numbers 3:17 - General; Nehemiah 11:36 - And of; Ezekiel 48:10 - for the priests Verse 2ShilohJoshua 18:1 The LordNumbers 35:2-8; Ezekiel 48:9-18; Matthew 10:10; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17, 5:18ReciprocalJoshua 14:4 - save cities Verse 3unto the LevitesGenesis 49:7; Deuteronomy 33:8-10; 1 Chronicles 6:54-81ReciprocalNumbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge; 35:7 - General; 35:8 - possession; Joshua 21:8 - by lot Verse 4the childrenJoshua 21:8-19, 24:33; 1 Chronicles 6:54-60 the tribeThese tribes furnished more habitation to the Levites, in proportion, than any of the other tribes, because they possessed a more extensive inheritance, agreeably to what Moses had commanded - Numbers 35:8. It is worthy of remark, that the principal part of this tribe, whose business was to minister at the sanctuary, which sanctuary was afterwards established at Jerusalem, had their appointment nearest to that city; so that they were always within reach of the sacred work which God had appointed them.ReciprocalJoshua 21:10 - General; 1 Chronicles 6:61 - left Verse 5Joshua 21:20-26; Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16-25; Numbers 3:27; 1 Chronicles 6:18, 6:19, 6:61, 6:66-70Reciprocal6:54 - of the families Verse 6Joshua 21:27-33; Exodus 6:16, 6:17; Numbers 3:21, 3:22; 1 Chronicles 6:62, 6:71-76

Verse 7Joshua 21:34-40; Exodus 6:19; Numbers 3:20; 1 Chronicles 6:63, 6:77-81Reciprocal6:47 - Merari Verse 8by lotJoshua 21:3, 18:6; Numbers 33:54, 35:3; Proverbs 16:33, 18:18 as the LordNumbers 32:2ReciprocalJoshua 21:4 - the children Verse 9these citiesJoshua 21:13-18; 1 Chronicles 6:65 mentionedHeb. calledReciprocal2 Chronicles 31:15 - the cities; Luke 1:39 - into Verse 10Joshua 21:4; Exodus 6:18, 6:20-26; Numbers 3:2-4, 3:19, 3:27, 4:2

Verse 11And they1 Chronicles 6:55 the city of Arbaor, Kirjath-arba, Joshua 15:13, 15:14, 15:54; Genesis 23:2, 35:27; Judges 1:10 is Hebron2 Samuel 2:1-3, 5:1-5, 15:7 in the hillJoshua 20:7-9; Luke 1:39ReciprocalNumbers 35:3 - General; Joshua 10:6 - mountains; 14:13 - gave unto; Judges 1:20 - they gave; 2 Samuel 2:3 - the cities Verse 12Joshua 14:13-15; 1 Chronicles 6:55-57ReciprocalJudges 1:20 - they gave; 2 Samuel 2:3 - the cities Verse 13they gave1 Chronicles 6:56 HebronJoshua 15:54 a city20:7; Numbers 35:6 LibnahJoshua 10:29, 15:42; 1 Chronicles 6:57; Isaiah 37:8ReciprocalNumbers 13:22 - Hebron; Joshua 10:36 - Hebron; 21:9 - these cities; 2 Kings 8:22 - Libnah; 2 Chronicles 21:10 - Libnah; Luke 1:39 - city Verse 14JattirJattir or Jether, according to Eusebius, was situated in the district of Daroma, or the southern part of Judah, 20 miles (south) from Eleutheropolis, towards the city of Malatha. Joshua 15:48; 1 Samuel 30:27, 30:28 EshtemoaEusebius says Eshtemoa, or Esthema, was a great city in the south of Judah, and in the district of Eleutheropolis, north of that city. Joshua 15:50, EshtemohReciprocal1 Chronicles 6:57 - Libnah Verse 15HolonJoshua 15:51; 1 Chronicles 6:58, HilenDebirJoshua 12:13, 15:49Reciprocal10:38 - Debir Verse 16AinJoshua 15:42; 1 Chronicles 6:59, AshanJuttahEusebius says Juttah was a great town 18 miles south from Eleutheropolis. Joshua 15:55 Bethshemesh15:10; 1 Samuel 6:9, 6:12; 1 Chronicles 6:59ReciprocalJoshua 19:22 - Bethshemesh; 19:41 - Irshemesh; 2 Kings 14:11 - Bethshemesh; 1 Chronicles 6:60 - thirteen cities; 2 Chronicles 25:21 - Bethshemesh Verse 17GibeonJoshua 9:3, 18:25; 1 Chronicles 6:60 GebaJoshua 18:24, GabaReciprocal1 Samuel 13:3 - Geba; 1 Kings 15:22 - Geba; 2 Kings 23:8 - Geba; Nehemiah 12:29 - Geba; Isaiah 10:29 - Geba; Jeremiah 1:1 - in Anathoth; 37:12 - the land; Zechariah 14:10 - from Geba Verse 18AnathothAnathoth was situated about three miles northward from Jerusalem according to Eusebius and Jerome - in Jeremiah 1:19
or twenty furlongs, according to Josephus. Ant. I. x. c. 7 sec. 3. 1 Kings 2:26; Isaiah 10:30; Jeremiah 1:1 Almon1 Chronicles 6:60, AlemethReciprocal2 Samuel 16:5 - Bahurim; Ezra 2:23 - Anathoth; Nehemiah 11:32 - Anathoth; Jeremiah 32:7 - Anathoth; 37:12 - the land
Verse 19ReciprocalJeremiah 32:7 - Anathoth Verse 20Joshua 21:5; 1 Chronicles 6:66Reciprocal6:61 - left; 2 Chronicles 11:14 - suburbs Verse 21ShechemJoshua 20:7; Genesis 33:19; Judges 9:1; 1 Kings 12:1 GezerJoshua 16:10; 1 Kings 9:15-17; 1 Chronicles 6:67ReciprocalNumbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge; Joshua 10:33 - Gezer; 17:7 - Shechem Verse 22BethhoronJoshua 16:3, 16:5, 18:13, 18:14; 1 Chronicles 6:68ReciprocalJoshua 10:10 - Bethhoron; 1 Kings 9:17 - Bethhoron Verse 23EltekehJoshua 19:44, 19:45 GibbethonProbably the Gabatha mentioned by Eusebius and Jerome, as situated in the south of Judah, 12 miles from Eleutheropolis, where the prophet Habakkuk's sepulchre was shown.Reciprocal1 Kings 15:27 - Gibbethon; 16:15 - And the people were encamped Verse 24AijalonJoshua 10:12, 19:42, Ajalon, 1 Chronicles 6:69 GathrimmonGathrimmon is said by Jerome to be a great town 10 miles from Diospolis, or Lydda, towards Eleutheropolis.ReciprocalJoshua 19:45 - Gathrimmon Verse 25 Aner1 Chronicles 6:70. Either the cities had at this time different names, or afterwards their names were changed; or the Levites, being by some means dispossessed of the cities first assigned them, received others from their brethren. A careful examination of the marginal references will discover other variations of this kind, which may be accounted for in the same manner.TanachJoshua 17:11; Judges 5:19Reciprocal1:27 - Taanach; 1 Chronicles 6:69 - Gathrimmon Verse 26Reciprocal1 Chronicles 6:61 - ten cities Verse 27And untoJoshua 21:6 Golan20:8; Deuteronomy 1:4, 4:43; 1 Chronicles 6:71 BeeshterahIt is very probable that Beesh-terah is a contraction of baith ashtaroth, "the house of Ashtaroth," and the same as Ashtaroth, which is the reading in 6:71.ReciprocalNumbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge; 1 Chronicles 6:62 - Gershom Verse 28DabarehJoshua 19:12; 1 Chronicles 6:72, 6:73

Verse 29JarmuthThis seems to be the same city with Remeth, Joshua 10:19, 10:21, and Ramoth, 1 Chronicles 6:73, mentioned with Engannim. Joshua 10:3, 10:23, 12:11Reciprocal19:21 - Engannim; 1 Chronicles 6:72 - Daberath Verse 30MishalJoshua 19:25-28, Misheal, 1 Chronicles 6:74, 6:75, MashalReciprocalJoshua 19:26 - Misheal Verse 31RehobSee note on Numbers 13:21. Judges 1:31, 18:21; 1 Chronicles 6:75ReciprocalJoshua 2:1 - harlot's house; 19:30 - Rehob Verse 32KedeshJoshua 19:37, 20:7; 1 Chronicles 6:76 HammothdorSupposed by many to be the same as Tiberias; so called from the hot-baths, as the word Chammoth may denote, in its vicinity. Joshua 19:35, HammathKartanSupposed to be the same as Kirjathaim. 1 Chronicles 6:76ReciprocalNumbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge; Joshua 12:22 - Kedesh; Judges 4:6 - Kedeshnaphtali; 1 Chronicles 6:72 - Kedesh; Matthew 4:15 - Galilee; Mark 3:7 - Galilee Verse 34And untoJoshua 21:7; 1 Chronicles 6:77 JokneamJoshua 12:22, 19:11, 19:15Reciprocal1 Chronicles 6:47 - Merari; 6:63 - Merari Verse 35DimnahThis and the following verse are wholly omitted by the Masora, and many Hebrew Bibles which are esteemed very highly; though, without them, neither the twelve cities of the Merarites in particular - Joshua 21:40
nor the forty-eight Levitical cities in general - 21:41
nor the six cities of refuge, can be made up. But these two verses, are thus absolutely necessary for the truth and consistency of this chapter, are happily preserved in no less than 149 manuscripts collated by Dr. Kennicott, and upwards of 40 collated by De Rossi. 21:35Reciprocal19:15 - Kattath; 1 Chronicles 6:77 - Rimmon
Verse 36BezerJoshua 20:8; Deuteronomy 4:43; 1 Chronicles 6:78, 6:79 JahazahJoshua 13:18; Numbers 21:23; 1 Chronicles 6:78, JahzahReciprocalNumbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge; Jeremiah 48:21 - Jahazah; 48:24 - Bozrah Verse 37ReciprocalDeuteronomy 2:26 - Kedemoth; Joshua 13:18 - Jahaza; 1 Chronicles 6:78 - Jahzah; Jeremiah 48:21 - Jahazah Verse 38RamothJoshua 20:8; 1 Kings 22:3; 1 Chronicles 6:80 MahanaimGenesis 32:2; 2 Samuel 17:24, 19:32ReciprocalNumbers 35:6 - six cities for refuge; Deuteronomy 4:43 - Ramoth; Joshua 13:26 - Mahanaim; 1 Kings 4:13 - Ramothgilead; 2 Kings 8:28 - Ramothgilead; Hosea 6:8 - Gilead Verse 39HeshbonJoshua 13:17, 13:21; Numbers 21:26-30, 32:37; 1 Chronicles 6:81 JazerNumbers 32:1, 32:3, 32:35, Jaazer, Isaiah 16:8, 16:9; Jeremiah 48:32Reciprocal1 Chronicles 6:80 - Ramoth; 26:31 - Jazer Verse 40ReciprocalJoshua 21:35 - Dimnah Verse 41withinGenesis 49:7; Numbers 35:1-8; Deuteronomy 33:10 fortyAt the last census, the tribe of Levi amounted only to 23,000 - Numbers 26:62
and it is thought by some that forty-eight cities was too great a proportion for this tribe. But it should be considered, that cities in ancient times were little more than villages.ReciprocalJoshua 21:35 - Dimnah; 1 Chronicles 6:64 - the children
Verse 42Reciprocal1 Chronicles 6:64 - the children Verse 43Genesis 12:7, 13:15, 15:13-21, 26:3, 26:4, 28:4, 28:13, 28:14; Exodus 3:8, 23:27-31; Psalm 44:3, 106:42-45ReciprocalJoshua 22:4 - given rest; 23:9 - For the Lord; 23:14 - not one thing; 1 Kings 8:34 - which thou gavest; 1 Chronicles 17:21 - by driving; 2 Chronicles 6:25 - which thou; Nehemiah 9:8 - hast performed; 9:24 - So the; Psalm 44:2 - drive out; 105:44 - gave; Jeremiah 32:22 - which Verse 44Joshua 1:15, 11:23, 22:4, 22:9; Deuteronomy 7:22-24, 31:3-5; Habakkuk 3:1ReciprocalExodus 23:31 - deliver the; 33:14 - rest; Deuteronomy 2:33 - the Lord; Joshua 2:24 - Truly the Lord; 11:8 - the Lord; 23:1 - the Lord; 23:9 - For the Lord; 1 Samuel 26:8 - God; 2 Samuel 7:1 - the Lord; 1 Kings 8:56 - hath given rest; 2 Chronicles 13:16 - God delivered; Psalm 47:3 - subdue; Acts 9:31 - the churches Verse 45Joshua 23:14, 23:15; Numbers 23:19; 1 Kings 8:56; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Titus 1:2; Habakkuk 3:1ReciprocalGenesis 10:19 - And the; 35:12 - the land; 35:22 - Now the sons; Joshua 2:24 - Truly the Lord; 3:10 - drive out from; 11:23 - And the land; 24:13 - And I; 1 Kings 8:15 - hath; Nehemiah 9:24 - So the; Psalm 78:55 - cast; 136:21 - General; Isaiah 42:9 - the former; 48:3 - and I; Ezekiel 48:29 - General