TRV
Translation
King James Version
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
Complete Jewish Bible
Out of the tribe of Dan: Elt'ke with its surrounding open land, Gib'ton with its surrounding open land,
American Standard Version
And out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs,
World English Bible Messianic
Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs,
Geneva Bible (1599)
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbes, Gibethon with her suburbes,
Young's Literal Translation
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and its suburbs, Gibbethon and its suburbs,
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In the KJVVerse 6,405 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 21:23 precisely details the allocation of two strategically important cities, Eltekeh and Gibbethon, along with their essential pasturelands, from the tribal territory of Dan to the Levites. This verse is an integral part of Joshua 21, a meticulous record demonstrating God's faithful and comprehensive fulfillment of His covenant promise to provide for the Levites, who, uniquely among the tribes, received no consolidated land inheritance but were instead distributed throughout Israel to serve as spiritual guides, upholders of the Law, and administrators of justice.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Joshua 21:23, consistent with the entire chapter, employs Enumeration and Cataloging, which are characteristic features of administrative and legal texts in the ancient Near East. This precise listing of cities and their associated tribes serves a crucial documentary purpose, validating the faithful fulfillment of God's commands regarding the Levitical inheritance. The repetitive phrase "with her suburbs" functions as a form of Anaphora or simple Repetition, effectively emphasizing the critical importance of the pasturelands for the Levites' sustenance and their ability to perform their duties. The entire chapter, including this verse, also serves as a powerful example of Fulfillment Literature, demonstrating how God's promises, initially made through Moses, are meticulously brought to pass under Joshua's leadership. The prevailing administrative tone throughout the chapter lends an air of Verisimilitude and Authority to the narrative, underscoring the divine order and precision inherent in the land's distribution.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 21:23, though appearing as a mere administrative detail, carries profound theological weight. It stands as a powerful testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and His meticulous provision for His people and His appointed servants. The systematic allocation of cities to the Levites across all tribal territories vividly illustrates God's commitment to ensuring that spiritual instruction, oversight, and access to worship were readily available to every corner of Israel. This divine arrangement also highlights the crucial principle of corporate responsibility within the covenant community, where each tribe willingly contributed to the well-being of those dedicated to God's service. It underscores the timeless truth that spiritual leadership requires material support, enabling those called to ministry to focus wholeheartedly on their divine mandate without undue worldly distractions, a principle that resonates throughout the biblical narrative and remains pertinent for the church today.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 21:23 invites contemporary believers to reflect deeply on God's character and our ongoing role within His kingdom. Just as God meticulously provided for the Levites, ensuring their sustenance and strategic placement for the spiritual health of the entire nation, so too does He remain utterly faithful to supply the needs of His people and His church in every generation. We are called to cultivate an unwavering trust in His sovereign provision, recognizing that His plans are always perfect, comprehensive, and ultimately for our good and His glory. Furthermore, this passage profoundly challenges us to consider our own stewardship and generosity. The tribes of Israel, including Dan, willingly shared their inheritance for the greater spiritual good of the nation. This serves as a powerful and enduring model for believers today, urging us to contribute our resources—our time, unique talents, and financial means—to support those who faithfully minister God's Word and serve His church. By doing so, we enable them to fulfill their divine calling effectively, ensuring the continued spread of the gospel and the spiritual nourishment of communities worldwide.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why were the Levites given cities instead of a consolidated tribal territory like the other tribes?
Answer: The Levites were uniquely set apart by God for special service related to the Tabernacle and, later, the Temple. Their inheritance was not a specific land territory but the Lord Himself and the offerings of Israel, as explicitly stated in Numbers 18:20. Instead of a single, contiguous territory, God commanded that they be given 48 cities, along with their surrounding pasturelands (the "suburbs"), scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes. This strategic distribution served several crucial purposes: it ensured that the Levites were accessible to all Israelites for teaching the Law, administering justice, and leading worship, thereby preventing spiritual ignorance and promoting national unity and obedience to the covenant. It also underscored that their primary identity and sustenance came from their devoted service to God, rather than from agricultural pursuits.
What was the significance of the "suburbs" mentioned alongside the cities like Eltekeh and Gibbethon?
Answer: The "suburbs" (Hebrew: migrâsh) were not residential areas or modern suburban developments but specifically designated common pasturelands surrounding the Levitical cities. These lands were absolutely vital for the Levites' livelihood, as they were not allotted agricultural land for farming. The "suburbs" provided essential grazing for their livestock, which served as a primary source of their sustenance. The precise dimensions of these pasturelands were even specified by God in Numbers 35:4-5, demonstrating God's meticulous care and comprehensive provision for His servants. Without these designated lands, the Levites would have faced significant economic hardship, severely hindering their ability to focus on and fulfill their sacred duties.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 21:23, with its meticulous detail of cities given to the Levites, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Covenant. The entire Levitical system, with its priests and strategically scattered cities, served as a powerful foreshadowing of the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ. Unlike the Levites who received no earthly inheritance, Jesus Himself became the eternal inheritance for all believers, and through Him, we receive an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading (1 Peter 1:4). Just as the Levites were strategically distributed throughout Israel to bring the knowledge of God and His Law to all corners of the nation, so too is the church, the body of Christ, now scattered throughout the world, serving as a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9) to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Christ Himself is our ultimate provision, our "bread of life" who satisfies every spiritual hunger (John 6:35), and the one who sustains us in every way. The Old Testament pattern of the tribes supporting the Levites points to the New Testament principle of the church supporting those called to full-time ministry, ensuring the gospel can be freely proclaimed and the body of Christ nourished, all made possible by the once-for-all sacrifice and eternal priesthood of Jesus, who has entered into the true heavenly sanctuary, securing eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12).