Joshua 21:38

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,

And out of the tribe {H4294} of Gad {H1410}, Ramoth {H7433} in Gilead {H1568} with her suburbs {H4054}, to be a city {H5892} of refuge {H4733} for the slayer {H7523}; and Mahanaim {H4266} with her suburbs {H4054},

Out of the tribe of Gad: Ramot in Gil'ad with its surrounding open land, the city of refuge for the killer; Machanayim with its surrounding open land;

And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim,

And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,

Commentary

Joshua 21:38 details two specific cities allocated from the tribe of Gad to the Levites: Ramoth in Gilead and Mahanaim. Ramoth is specifically designated as one of the cities of refuge, providing asylum for those who accidentally caused another's death.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in the book of Joshua (chapters 20-21) that describes the meticulous distribution of the Promised Land. After the conquest, the land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. However, the tribe of Levi did not receive a territorial inheritance like the others, as the Lord Himself was their inheritance (Numbers 18:20). Instead, they were given 48 cities scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes, along with their surrounding pasturelands. This strategic placement allowed the Levites, who were responsible for teaching God's law and temple service, to be accessible to all Israelites. Within these 48 cities, six were designated as cities of refuge, a crucial provision for justice and mercy in ancient Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Order and Provision: The precise listing of these cities underscores God's meticulous planning and faithful provision for His people, ensuring that every tribe, including the Levites, was cared for according to His divine design.
  • Justice and Mercy: The designation of Ramoth as a city of refuge highlights God's balanced character, which upholds justice for unintentional killing while also providing a pathway for mercy and protection from immediate retribution by a blood avenger.
  • Accessibility of Spiritual Guidance: By scattering the Levite cities throughout Israel, God ensured that spiritual instruction and oversight were readily available to all tribes, reinforcing the importance of His law and worship in daily life.

Linguistic Insights

  • Ramoth in Gilead: The name Ramoth (ืจึธืžึนืช) means "heights" or "high places," indicating its geographical location. Gilead refers to the fertile region east of the Jordan River.
  • Mahanaim: The name Mahanaim (ืžึทื—ึฒื ึทื™ึดื) translates to "two camps" or "two companies." This name is famously associated with Jacob's encounter with angels after parting ways with Laban (Genesis 32:2), a significant historical and spiritual site.
  • City of Refuge: The Hebrew term for "city of refuge" (ืขึธืจึตื™ ืžึดืงึฐืœึธื˜, arei miklat) signifies a place of asylum or shelter, reflecting its function as a safe haven.

Practical Application

Joshua 21:38, though detailing an ancient land distribution, offers timeless insights into God's character. It reminds us of God's perfect order and His commitment to providing for His servants. The concept of the city of refuge beautifully illustrates the balance of divine justice and mercyโ€”a principle central to the Christian faith, where Christ Himself serves as our ultimate refuge and intercessor for those who flee to Him for salvation (Psalm 46:1).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 32:2

    And when Jacob saw them, he said, This [is] God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

  • 1 Kings 22:3

    And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead [is] ours, and we [be] still, [and] take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?

  • Deuteronomy 4:43

    [Namely], Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.

  • Joshua 20:8

    And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

  • 2 Samuel 17:24

    Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

  • 1 Chronicles 6:80

    And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

  • 2 Samuel 19:32

    Now Barzillai was a very aged man, [even] fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he [was] a very great man.
โ† Back