TRV
Translation
Complete Jewish Bible
'Anatot with its surrounding open land and 'Almon with its surrounding open land - four cities.
World English Bible Messianic
Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities.
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In the KJVVerse 6,400 of 31,102
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Commentary on Joshua 21 verses 9–42
9 ¶ 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,
10 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.
11 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.
12 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13 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,
14 And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
15 And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
16 And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
18 Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.
19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
20 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.
21 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,
22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.
23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
24 Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.
25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
27 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.
28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
29 Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.
30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,
31 Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
32 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.
33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
34 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,
35 Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
37 Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.
38 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,
39 Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
40 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.
41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
We have here a particular account of the cities which were given to the children of Levi out of the several tribes, not only to be occupied and inhabited by them, as tenants to the several tribes in which they lay - no, their interest in them was not dependent and precarious, but to be owned and possessed by them as lords and proprietors, and as having the same title to them that the rest of the tribes had to their cities or lands, as appears by the law which preserved the house in the Levites' cities from being alienated any longer than till the year of jubilee, Lev 25:32, Lev 25:33. Yet it is probable that the Levites having only the cities and suburbs, while the land about pertained to the tribes in which they lay, those of that tribe, for the convenience of occupying that land, might commonly rent houses of the Levites, as they could spare them in their cities, and so live among them as their tenants. Several things may be observed in this account, besides what was observed in the law concerning it, Num. 35.
I. That the Levites were dispersed into all the tribes, and not suffered to live all together in any one part of the country. This would find them all with work, and employ them all for the good of others; for ministers, of all people, must neither be idle nor live to themselves or to one another only. Christ left his twelve disciples together in a body, but left orders that they should in due time disperse themselves, that they might preach the gospel to every creature. The mixing of the Levites thus with the other tribes would be an obligation upon them to walk circumspectly, and as became their sacred function, and to avoid every thing that might disgrace it. Had they lived all together, they would have been tempted to wink at one another's faults, and to excuse one another when they did amiss; but by this means they were made to see the eyes of all Israel upon them, and therefore saw it their concern to walk so as that their ministry might in nothing be blamed nor their high character suffer by their ill carriage.
II. That every tribe of Israel was adorned and enriched with its share of Levites' cities in proportion to its compass, even those that lay most remote. They were all God's people, and therefore they all had Levites among them. 1. To show kindness to, as God appointed them, Deu 12:19; Deu 14:29. They were God's receivers, to whom the people might give their grateful acknowledgments of God's goodness, as the occasion and disposition were. 2. To receive advice and instruction from; when they could not go up to the tabernacle, to consult those who attended there, they might go to a Levites' city, and be taught the good knowledge of the Lord. Thus God set up a candle in every room of his house, to give light to all his family; as those that attended the altar kept the charge of the Lord, to see that no divine appointment was neglected there, so those that were scattered in the country had their charge too, which was to see that no idolatrous superstitious usages were introduced at a distance and to watch for the souls of God's Israel. Thus did God graciously provide for the keeping up of religion among them, and that they might have the word nigh them; yet, blessed be God, we, under the gospel, have it yet nigher, not only Levites in every county, but Levites in every parish, whose office it is still to teach the people knowledge, and to go before them in the things of God.
III. That there were thirteen cities, and those some of the best, appointed for the priests, the sons of Aaron, Jos 21:19. Aaron left but two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, yet his family was now so much increased, and it was foreseen that it would in process of time grow so numerous, as to replenish all these cities, though a considerable number must of necessity be resident wherever the ark and the altar were. We read in both Testaments of such numbers of priests that we may suppose none of all the families of Israel that came out of Egypt increased afterwards so much as that of Aaron did; and the promise afterwards to the house of Aaron is, God shall increase you more and more, you and your children, Psa 115:12, Psa 115:14. He will raise up a seed to serve him.
IV. That some of the Levites' cities were afterwards famous upon other accounts. Hebron was the city in which David began his reign, and in Manhanaim, another Levites' city (Jos 21:38), he lay, and had his headquarters when he fled from Absalom. The first Israelite that ever wore the title of king (namely, Abimelech, the son of Gideon) reigned in Shechem, another Levites' city, Jos 21:21.
V. That the number of them in all was more than of most of the tribes, except Judah, though the tribe of Levi was one of the least of the tribes, to show how liberal God is, and his people should be, to his ministers; yet the disproportion will not appear so great as at first it seems, if we consider that the Levites had cities only with their suburbs to dwell in, but the rest of the tribes, besides their cities (and those perhaps were many more than are named in the account of their lot), had many unwalled towns and villages which they inhabited, besides country houses.
Upon the whole, it appears that effectual care was taken that the Levites should live both comfortably and usefully: and those, whether ministers or others, for whom Providence has done well, must look upon themselves as obliged thereby to do good, and, according as their capacity and opportunity are, to serve their generation.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 9–42. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Joshua 21:18 meticulously records the allocation of Anathoth and Almon, along with their surrounding pasturelands, as two of the four cities designated for the priestly family of Aaron from the tribe of Benjamin. This specific detail within the larger account of Israel's land distribution underscores God's unwavering faithfulness in providing for the Levites, ensuring their sustenance and strategic placement throughout the land to fulfill their vital spiritual and judicial roles among the tribes of Israel, thereby reinforcing His covenant promises and the orderly establishment of His people.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Joshua 21 serves as the culmination of the land distribution narrative, detailing the fulfillment of God's promise to provide dwelling places for the Levites. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites did not receive a contiguous territorial inheritance but were instead allotted 48 cities scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes, along with their common lands for pasture, as mandated in Numbers 35:1-8. The chapter meticulously lists these cities by clan. Specifically, Joshua 21:4-19 focuses on the cities given to the Kohathite families, particularly the descendants of Aaron (the priests), who received 13 cities. Verses 17 and 18 list the four cities allotted to them from the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon, Geba (from Joshua 21:17), Anathoth, and Almon. This precise enumeration highlights the meticulous fulfillment of divine promises and the orderly establishment of Israelite society.
Historical & Cultural Context: The allocation of cities to the Levites was a unique arrangement rooted in their special role within Israel. As the tribe set apart for priestly and temple service, they were not to be tied to agricultural land ownership like the other tribes. Instead, God provided for them through tithes and offerings, and by giving them specific cities with "suburbs" (Hebrew: migrâsh), which were designated common lands for their livestock and communal use. This ensured their economic sustenance without requiring them to engage in farming, allowing them to dedicate themselves fully to their sacred duties. Their dispersion across the land also served a crucial purpose: it made spiritual instruction, the administration of justice, and sacrificial service accessible to all tribes, reinforcing the Levites' role as teachers of the Law and judges, as outlined in Deuteronomy 33:10. This strategic placement facilitated national unity and spiritual health.
Key Themes: Joshua 21:18, as part of the broader chapter, powerfully illustrates several key themes. First, it underscores Divine Faithfulness and Provision, demonstrating God's meticulous care and unwavering commitment to His covenant people, fulfilling His promises to provide for His servants, the Levites, as He had sworn in passages like Numbers 35. Second, the detailed account of land distribution, including these Levite cities, speaks to Order and Structure within God's plan for Israelite society. Every aspect, from tribal boundaries to priestly provision, was carefully planned and executed, reflecting divine wisdom and foresight. Finally, the strategic scattering of these cities across the land highlights the Accessibility of Spiritual Leadership, ensuring that the Levites, as spiritual guides and administrators of justice, were within reach of all tribes, thereby fostering national unity under God's Law and facilitating the spiritual well-being of the entire nation, a design evident throughout the Pentateuch, particularly in Numbers 35.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs Enumeration and Catalogue as primary literary devices, meticulously listing the cities allocated to the Levites. This precise listing is not merely a dry record but serves to emphasize the divine Faithfulness and Order in fulfilling God's promises. The repetition of "with her suburbs" across the listed cities uses Parallelism to underscore the consistent and comprehensive nature of the provision for each Levite settlement, highlighting the uniformity of God's care. Furthermore, the mention of Anathoth carries significant Allusion for a knowledgeable reader, foreshadowing its later prominence as the hometown of the prophet Jeremiah, thereby connecting this historical allocation to future prophetic events and highlighting the enduring significance of these specific locations in Israel's spiritual history. The conciseness of the final phrase "four cities" provides a sense of Clarity and Finality to the enumeration.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 21:18, as part of the detailed account of Levite city allocation, powerfully illustrates God's meticulous faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises. It demonstrates that divine provision is not merely general but extends to specific, practical details, ensuring the well-being and functional capacity of those called to serve Him. The strategic dispersion of these priestly cities throughout Israel underscores the theological principle of accessibility to spiritual leadership and instruction, ensuring that the Law and divine counsel were within reach of all tribes. This arrangement reflects God's desire for His people to be continually nourished by His truth and guided by His appointed servants, fostering a nation grounded in righteousness and justice, and preparing them for their role as a "kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19:6).
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 21:18, though a seemingly minor geographical detail, invites profound reflection on God's character and our own responsibilities. It reminds us that God is a God of order, precision, and unwavering faithfulness, fulfilling His promises down to the smallest detail. Just as He meticulously provided for the Levites, ensuring their sustenance and strategic placement for ministry, so too does He provide for us today, equipping us for the callings He places on our lives. This verse challenges us to consider how we are stewarding the resources and positions God has given us, whether they are material provisions, spiritual gifts, or relational spheres of influence. Are we allowing ourselves to be strategically placed for His purposes, serving as "salt and light" within our communities, much like the Levites were scattered to bring spiritual truth and justice to all Israel? Our lives, like these ancient cities, are meant to be centers from which God's truth and grace can radiate, nourishing those around us and drawing them closer to the divine order and provision.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why were the Levites given cities instead of a tribal territory like the other tribes?
Answer: The Levites were uniquely set apart by God for sacred service to Him, primarily in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Unlike the other tribes who received land for agricultural and residential purposes, the Levites were to be supported by the tithes and offerings of the other tribes, as detailed in Numbers 18:21-24. Giving them cities scattered throughout Israel, along with common lands for their livestock (their "suburbs" or migrâsh), ensured their sustenance without tying them to agricultural labor. This arrangement allowed them to dedicate themselves fully to their priestly, teaching, and judicial duties, making spiritual instruction and the administration of justice accessible to all the tribes of Israel, fulfilling their crucial role as spiritual guides and guardians of the Law, as outlined in Deuteronomy 33:10. This dispersion also prevented any one tribe from becoming too powerful or isolated from God's central commands.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous provision for the Levites in Joshua 21:18, ensuring their sustenance and strategic placement, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The Old Testament Levitical priesthood, though divinely instituted, was a shadow pointing to the perfect, eternal priesthood of Jesus, who is our great High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:11-28). Unlike the Levites who required cities and physical provision, Christ, through His once-for-all sacrifice, established a new covenant where believers are made a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), called to offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Just as the Levites were scattered throughout Israel to bring God's truth and justice, so too are believers in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, strategically placed in every corner of the world to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). Our provision is not in physical cities and pasturelands, but in the boundless grace and power of Christ, who promises to meet all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19), enabling us to fulfill our priestly calling in a world desperately in need of the ultimate High Priest and the salvation He offers.