TRV
Translation
King James Version
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
Complete Jewish Bible
Out of the half-tribe of M'nasheh: Ta'nakh with its surrounding open land and Gat-Rimmon with its surrounding open land - two cities.
Berean Standard Bible
And from the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Taanach and Gath-rimmon—two cities, together with their pasturelands.
American Standard Version
And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; two cities.
World English Bible Messianic
Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Gath Rimmon with its suburbs; two cities.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbes, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbes: two cities.
Young's Literal Translation
And out of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Taanach and its suburbs, and Gath-Rimmon and its suburbs--two cities;
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In the KJVVerse 6,407 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 21:25 is a precise record of two cities, Tanach and Gathrimmon, along with their surrounding pasturelands, that were allotted to the Levites from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh. This seemingly administrative detail is part of a larger, meticulous account of the land distribution in Canaan, underscoring God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises to Israel and His divine wisdom in establishing an ordered system for the spiritual and administrative well-being of His people through the dispersed presence of the Levites.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
While Joshua 21:25 is primarily an administrative record, it employs several subtle literary devices that enhance its impact and underscore its theological significance. The most prominent is Enumeration, as the verse is part of a comprehensive list of cities. This systematic listing throughout Joshua 21 conveys a sense of divine order, thoroughness, and the complete fulfillment of God's promises. The Repetition of the phrase "with her suburbs" alongside each city name (e.g., "Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs") serves to emphasize the completeness of the provision for the Levites, highlighting that not just the urban centers but also the essential pasturelands for their livestock were included. This repetition reinforces the meticulous nature of God's planning and provision. Furthermore, the overall Precision and specificity of the geographical and tribal details (e.g., "half tribe of Manasseh," specific city names) lend an air of historical authenticity and divine exactitude to the narrative, affirming that God's promises are fulfilled with absolute accuracy.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 21:25, as a single entry in a lengthy list, profoundly illustrates God's meticulous faithfulness and the divine order He establishes for His people. It is a testament to the fact that God's promises are not vague generalities but detailed commitments, fulfilled with precision down to the allocation of specific cities and their pasturelands. This passage underscores that God is a God of order, who provides for those dedicated to His service, ensuring their sustenance and enabling them to fulfill their spiritual mandate among the tribes. The dispersion of the Levites throughout the land, facilitated by such allocations, ensured that the knowledge of God's Law and access to spiritual guidance were accessible to all, fostering national unity and spiritual health. This divine provision for the Levites foreshadows God's care for His servants in all ages, reminding us that those who faithfully serve Him will be sustained.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Joshua 21:25 might appear as a mere administrative detail, its inclusion in the inspired text carries profound implications for our faith and daily lives. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is a God of meticulous detail and unwavering faithfulness. If He meticulously oversaw the allocation of every city and its surrounding pastureland to ensure the Levites were provided for and strategically positioned, how much more does He care for the intricate details of our lives and callings? This verse encourages us to trust in God's comprehensive provision, knowing that He is attentive to our needs as we seek to serve Him. It also highlights the importance of supporting those who dedicate their lives to spiritual service, teaching, and ministry, ensuring they are adequately resourced to fulfill their divine mandate, just as the tribes provided for the Levites. Ultimately, this passage calls us to reflect on the divine order in our own lives, trusting that God's plan, though sometimes detailed and seemingly mundane, is always purposeful and perfectly executed for His glory and our good.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did the Levites receive cities instead of a tribal territory, and what was the purpose of their dispersion?
Answer: The Levites did not receive a contiguous tribal territory like the other eleven tribes because they were uniquely set apart by God for sacred service. Their inheritance was the Lord Himself, as stated in Numbers 18:20. Instead of land for agriculture, they were given 48 cities scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes, along with surrounding pasturelands (their "suburbs"). The purpose of this dispersion was multifaceted and highly strategic. Firstly, it ensured that the spiritual leaders, teachers of the Law, and those responsible for the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple) were accessible to all Israelites, regardless of their tribal affiliation or geographical location. This facilitated the uniform teaching of God's Law, the administration of justice, and the maintenance of spiritual purity across the entire nation. Secondly, their presence among all tribes fostered national unity, reminding everyone of God's covenant and their shared identity as His people. Finally, it underscored the principle that God's servants are to be sustained by the community they serve, emphasizing the reciprocal relationship between those who minister spiritually and those who support them materially, as seen in Deuteronomy 14:27-29.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous provision for the Levites in Joshua 21:25, ensuring their sustenance and strategic placement throughout Israel, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deeper meaning in Jesus Christ. The Levites, as mediators, teachers, and guardians of the Mosaic Law, foreshadowed the perfect and ultimate High Priest, Jesus, who did not inherit an earthly territory but whose "inheritance" is the salvation of His people and the establishment of His eternal kingdom (Hebrews 7:23-28). Just as the Levites were dispersed to bring God's presence and instruction to all tribes, Christ's ministry extends to all nations, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility and uniting all believers in one body (Ephesians 2:14). Furthermore, God's detailed provision for the Levites in their cities and suburbs points to Christ as the one who provides all things for His New Covenant people, the Church. We, as believers, are a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), called to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness. Christ not only provides for our spiritual sustenance through His Word and Spirit but also ensures our eternal inheritance, a "city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). Thus, the ancient allocation of cities to the Levites ultimately points to the comprehensive and eternal provision found in Jesus, our High Priest and the Giver of all good things.