TRV
Translation
Complete Jewish Bible
K'demot with its surrounding open land and Mefa'at with its surrounding open land - four cities.}
American Standard Version
Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.
World English Bible Messianic
Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.
Young's Literal Translation
Kedemoth and its suburbs, and Mephaath and its suburbs--four cities.
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In the KJVVerse 6,419 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 21:37 serves as a precise entry within the meticulous record of land distribution to the Levites, specifically detailing the allocation of Kedemoth and Mephaath, along with their surrounding pasturelands, to the Merarite clan from the territory of Reuben. This verse underscores God's faithful and detailed provision for His priestly tribe, ensuring their widespread presence throughout the land of Israel, thereby facilitating spiritual instruction and the administration of justice among all the tribes. It stands as a testament to the fulfillment of divine promises and the meticulous order of God's covenant relationship with His people.
CONTEXT
Literary Context:
Joshua 21:37 is situated within a highly detailed and climactic chapter that records the fulfillment of God's promise to provide dwelling places for the Levites. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites did not receive a territorial inheritance, as "the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance" as stated in Joshua 13:33. This chapter meticulously lists the 48 cities, along with their surrounding pasturelands, that were designated from the territories of the other Israelite tribes. The preceding verses in Joshua 21 detail the cities given to the Kohathites and Gershonites, leading up to the Merarites, of whom Kedemoth and Mephaath are a part. The chapter culminates in a powerful declaration of God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling all His promises to Israel, as affirmed in Joshua 21:43-45.
Historical & Cultural Context:
The allocation of cities to the Levites was a crucial aspect of Israel's post-conquest settlement and the establishment of its theocratic governance. Historically, the Levites were set apart for sacred service, responsible for the Tabernacle/Temple, teaching the Law, and administering justice. Their distribution throughout the land, rather than being concentrated in one tribal area, ensured that spiritual instruction and access to God's ordinances were available to all Israelites. Culturally, these "suburbs" (Hebrew: migrashim) were essential pasturelands for the Levites' livestock, providing for their sustenance as they did not engage in agriculture like the other tribes. Furthermore, Kedemoth is significant as one of the cities of refuge east of the Jordan, providing asylum for those who accidentally committed manslaughter, underscoring the legal and judicial functions of the Levites within these allocated cities.
Key Themes:
This specific enumeration of cities, including Kedemoth and Mephaath, powerfully reinforces several overarching themes in the book of Joshua and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights Divine Order and Provision, showcasing God's meticulous planning and unwavering commitment to fulfilling every detail of His covenant promises, even down to the specific dwelling places for His priestly tribe. This meticulousness underscores the reliability of God's word and His comprehensive care for His people's practical needs, as seen in the directives for a chosen place of worship in Deuteronomy 12:11-12. Secondly, it emphasizes the Levitical Role and Presence as central to Israel's spiritual health. By distributing the Levites among all tribes, God ensured a consistent spiritual and judicial presence, facilitating the teaching of the Law and the maintenance of justice throughout the land, thereby preventing spiritual decay and promoting national unity under God's statutes, as commanded in Numbers 35:1-8. The very act of land distribution, including these Levitical cities, serves as a testament to God's Covenant Faithfulness in bringing Israel into the promised land and establishing them according to His divine design, a truth powerfully declared in Joshua 21:43-45.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Joshua 21:37, while seemingly a simple listing, employs several literary techniques that contribute to its overall message. The most prominent is Enumeration or Cataloging, as the verse is part of a larger, meticulous list of cities allocated to the Levites. This detailed listing emphasizes the completeness and precision of God's fulfillment of His promises, leaving no doubt about the exactitude of the divine plan. The Repetition of the phrase "with her suburbs" for both Kedemoth and Mephaath serves to underscore the consistency and comprehensive nature of God's provision, ensuring that each city came with the necessary surrounding lands for livelihood. Furthermore, the verse, as part of the broader chapter, functions as a powerful Testimony to God's faithfulness and the establishment of divine order in the promised land, demonstrating that "not one word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass," as triumphantly declared in Joshua 21:45.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 21:37, though a specific detail in a long list, profoundly illustrates God's meticulous care, unwavering faithfulness, and the establishment of divine order. It reveals a God who is not vague in His promises but precise in their fulfillment, providing for every need of His people, especially those dedicated to His service. The distribution of the Levites across the land through these cities ensured the accessibility of spiritual instruction, justice, and the presence of God's law among all tribes, highlighting the importance of spiritual leadership and the dissemination of divine truth. This systematic provision reflects God's desire for His people to live in covenant faithfulness, with His presence and teachings permeating every aspect of their national life, fostering both spiritual vitality and social justice.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Joshua 21:37 might seem like a dry historical record of land allocation, it carries profound spiritual truths for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's incredible attention to detail and His unwavering commitment to fulfilling every promise He makes. Just as He meticulously provided for the Levites' specific needs—not just a city, but also the surrounding pasturelands—He cares for the intricate details of our lives. This verse encourages us to trust in God's faithful provision, knowing that if He was so precise in the ancient covenant, He is equally, if not more, attentive to the needs of His children today. It also highlights the enduring principle of accessible spiritual leadership and instruction within communities. The Levites were strategically placed to teach and guide; similarly, God calls and equips individuals today to serve and nourish His church, emphasizing the importance of spiritual formation and guidance being readily available within our faith communities. We are called to be salt and light, dispersed throughout the world to bear witness to God's truth and love, making His presence known in every sphere of life.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why were the Levites given cities with "suburbs" instead of tribal land like the other Israelites?
Answer: The Levites were set apart for the Lord's service, primarily ministering in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple) and teaching God's Law throughout Israel. Unlike the other tribes who received a territorial inheritance for agriculture and settlement, the Lord Himself was the Levites' inheritance, as stated in Numbers 18:20. However, they still needed places to live and means of sustenance. Therefore, God commanded that 48 cities, along with their "suburbs" (Hebrew: migrashim), which were common pasturelands, be allocated to them from the territories of the other tribes, as detailed in Numbers 35:1-8. These pasturelands were crucial for their livestock, providing a practical means of livelihood since they did not engage in farming. This arrangement ensured their economic stability while allowing them to fulfill their unique spiritual and judicial roles by being dispersed among all the tribes, making spiritual instruction and justice accessible to everyone across Israel.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 21:37, with its meticulous detail of God's provision for the Levites, finds profound fulfillment in Christ. The Old Testament system, including the Levitical priesthood and their scattered presence throughout Israel, foreshadowed the ultimate and perfect provision found in Jesus. Just as the Levites were God's chosen mediators and teachers of the Law, Christ is our Great High Priest, who mediates a superior covenant, as explained in Hebrews 8:6. The meticulous allocation of cities and their suburbs for the Levites demonstrates God's comprehensive care for His people, a care fully realized in Christ, who provides not only spiritual sustenance but also eternal dwelling places for His followers, assuring them, "In My Father's house are many mansions," in John 14:2-3. Furthermore, the Levites' dispersion throughout Israel ensured access to God's law and spiritual guidance; similarly, through Christ, the Holy Spirit is poured out on all believers, making God's presence and truth universally accessible, fulfilling the promise of a new covenant where God's law is written on hearts, as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:33 and affirmed in Hebrews 10:16. The order and provision seen in Joshua 21:37 ultimately point to Christ as the one who establishes perfect order, provides perfectly for His church, and is Himself the true inheritance of all who believe, far surpassing any earthly allocation of land or resources, for in Him "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily," as declared in Colossians 2:9-10.