(The Lord speaking is red text)
All the cities [were] ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
All the cities of the families of the rest of the descendants of K'hat numbered ten with their surrounding open land.
In all, ten cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.
All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbs.
All the cities{H5892} were ten{H6235} with their suburbs{H4054} for the families{H4940} of the children{H1121} of Kohath{H6955} that remained{H3498}.
Joshua 21:26 is part of a larger passage in the Bible that deals with the allocation of cities and pasturelands to the Levites, who were the priestly tribe of Israel. According to the Pentateuch, the Levites were not given a territorial inheritance like the other tribes of Israel because the Lord himself was their inheritance (Deuteronomy 18:1-2). Instead, they were to live among the other tribes and be supported by the tithes and offerings of the Israelites.
In the context of Joshua 21, the Israelites are in the process of settling the land of Canaan, which God had promised to their ancestors. The Levites, who were responsible for religious duties and the maintenance of the Tabernacle, were apportioned cities within the territories of the other tribes. These cities were to serve as places of refuge and centers for religious and educational activities.
Verse 21:26 specifically refers to the allocation given to the families of the Kohathites, who were one of the three clans of the Levites. The Kohathites were responsible for the most sacred objects of the tabernacle, such as the ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, the lampstand, and the altars. The verse mentions that the Kohathites received ten cities with their suburbs or pasturelands. These suburbs were important for their livestock and for agricultural purposes, ensuring that the priests had the necessary resources to sustain themselves and perform their duties.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the fulfillment of God's promises to the Israelites. It reflects the careful organization of Israelite society after the conquest of Canaan, with attention to the religious and social structures that would support the nation's life and worship. The distribution of these cities was a tangible expression of the Israelites' commitment to God's law and the proper functioning of the religious aspects of their community.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)