TRV
Translation
Complete Jewish Bible
Ayalon with its surrounding open land and Gat-Rimmon with its surrounding open land - four cities.
World English Bible Messianic
Aijalon with its suburbs, Gath Rimmon with its suburbs; four cities.
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In the KJVVerse 6,406 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 21:24 meticulously records the allocation of Aijalon and Gathrimmon, along with their surrounding pasture lands, to the Kohathite clan of the Levites from the territory of the tribe of Dan. This concise verse is part of a larger, comprehensive account detailing the fulfillment of God's promise to provide for the priestly tribe of Levi by distributing 48 cities, including six cities of refuge, throughout the tribal lands of Israel, ensuring their sustenance and strategic placement for spiritual instruction and national unity.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Joshua 21:24, and indeed throughout much of Joshua 21, is Enumeration. The systematic listing of cities and their associated "suburbs" serves to meticulously document the fulfillment of God's commands regarding the Levites' inheritance. This detailed accounting reinforces the theme of Fulfillment Motif, demonstrating that every promise God made to Israel, including the provision for the Levites, "failed not ought of any good thing... all came to pass" (Joshua 21:45). The repetition of "with her suburbs" across the various city allocations also functions as a form of Anaphora or Parallelism, emphasizing the consistent and comprehensive nature of the divine provision for their livelihood. This precise, almost legalistic, cataloging underscores the divine order and the reliability of God's word.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 21:24, though a seemingly mundane list of names, is a profound testament to God's faithfulness and meticulous care for His people, particularly those set apart for His service. It illustrates the principle that God provides for those who serve Him, not just spiritually but also practically, ensuring their sustenance as they carry out their unique calling. The dispersion of the Levites throughout the land, facilitated by these cities, underscores a divine strategy for spiritual decentralization, ensuring that knowledge of God's law and access to spiritual guidance were widespread, preventing any single region from becoming spiritually isolated. This arrangement prefigures the New Testament concept of the church as a dispersed body, strategically placed to be salt and light in the world.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 21:24 invites us to marvel at the divine precision and faithfulness evident in God's dealings with Israel. It reminds us that God's promises are not vague aspirations but concrete commitments, fulfilled down to the smallest detail, such as providing pasture lands for the Levites' livestock. This level of divine care should inspire profound trust in God's provision for our own lives, assuring us that He is attentive to our needs as we seek to serve Him. Furthermore, the strategic placement of the Levites throughout Israel serves as a powerful model for the church today: believers are not meant to be isolated but are strategically placed within their communities, workplaces, and families to be agents of spiritual influence, teaching, and witness. Our "suburbs" are the spheres of influence God has given us, where we are called to live out our faith and share the truth of His Word, fostering spiritual health and unity in our contemporary contexts.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why were the Levites given cities and not a continuous tribal territory like the other tribes?
Answer: The Levites did not receive a continuous tribal territory because "the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance," as stated in Joshua 13:33. Their primary role was spiritual service—caring for the Tabernacle/Temple, teaching God's law, and administering justice—rather than agricultural or territorial defense. By distributing them in 48 cities, including six cities of refuge, throughout all the other tribal lands, God ensured that spiritual instruction, guidance, and access to justice were available to all Israelites, fostering national unity and preventing spiritual decline. This strategic placement allowed them to fulfill their unique priestly and teaching functions across the entire nation.
What is the significance of the term "suburbs" (migrash) in relation to the Levitical cities?
Answer: The term "suburbs" (Hebrew: migrash) refers specifically to the common pasture lands surrounding the walled Levitical cities, not residential areas. These lands were crucial for the Levites' livelihood, as they did not own agricultural land. Numbers 35:4-5 specifies that these pasture lands extended 1,000 cubits (approximately 1,500 feet) from the city wall in every direction. This detail highlights God's comprehensive and practical provision for the Levites, ensuring they had the necessary resources (for their livestock) to sustain themselves while dedicating their lives to spiritual service. It underscores God's attention to every detail of His covenant promises.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous provision for the Levites in Joshua 21:24, ensuring their sustenance and strategic placement throughout Israel, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ and His church. Just as the Levites were dispersed to bring the knowledge of God and His law to all tribes, so too is the church, the body of Christ, strategically scattered throughout the world to proclaim the gospel and embody the kingdom of God. Christ Himself is our true inheritance, far surpassing any earthly land or provision, as He is "all in all" (Colossians 3:11). The Levites' service, though vital, was a shadow of the perfect and complete High Priesthood of Jesus, who offered Himself once for all as the ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27). Moreover, through Christ, all believers are now a royal priesthood, called to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness. The dispersion of the Levitical cities foreshadows the Great Commission, where believers are sent out into all the world, carrying the spiritual truth and life of Christ to every "suburb" and corner of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20). Our ultimate provision, like the Levites', comes not from land but from our relationship with the Lord, who sustains us for His purposes.