Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 21:34
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,
34 42. The Cities of the Merarites
34. And unto the families of the children of Merari ] were assigned twelve cities, viz.,
( a) Four in Zebulun,
( b) Four in Reuben,
( c) Four in Gad.
Jokneam ] See Jos 19:11; Kartah and Dimnah unknown.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Merarite cities. Some of these places are not found in the list of Zebulonite cities in Jos 19:10-16. The text is considered corrupt.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites,…. The descendants of the youngest son of Levi, who were all that remained of the Levites unprovided of cities:
out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs; which lay near Carmel, and was a royal city; [See comments on Jos 12:22];
and Kartah with her suburbs; perhaps the same with Kattath,
Jos 19:15.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Merarite Cities, vs. 34-40
The Merarite family of the Levites had in their borders two of the cities of refuge also. Ramoth-gilead is specifically identified as such. This city was very prominent in the later history of the Israelites, perhaps the most famous of all those east of Jordan.
During the Israelitish wars with Syria it was often the center of conflict. Here King Ahab was slain (1Ki 22:34 ff), and here Jehu was anointed king of Israel (2Ki 9:1 ff). The city of Bezer, in the tribe of Reuben, was also one of those cities designated as a city of refuge, (see Jos 20:8). But it is not so designated here, though all the other five are so named. The reason for this omission is unaccountable.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Cities Given to the Family of Merari Jos. 21:34-40
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, Jezer 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.
11.
What important cities were given to the families of Merari? Jos. 21:30-40
Jokneam, a city located on a high hill, overlooking the valley of Jezreel, belonged to these people. Definitive archaeological excavations are yet to be undertaken at this site. They also had two cities of refugeBezer and Ramoth-Gilead. The families of the Merarites also lived in Heshbon, which had been the capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who was defeated by Moses.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
‘ And to the families of the children of Merari, the remainder of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs, Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs. Four cities.’
For Jokneam see Jos 19:11; Jos 12:22. Kartah (possibly Kattath – Jos 19:15) and Nahalal (see Jos 19:15) were probably on the north western edge of the plain of Jezreel. Dimnah was not mentioned in the list of cities but is possibly the same as Rimmon in 1Ch 6:77 (compare Jos 19:13).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 21:34-40
34To the families of the sons of Merari, the rest of the Levites, they gave from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands and Kartah with its pasture lands. 35Dimnah with its pasture lands, Nahalal with its pasture lands; four cities. 36From the tribe of Reuben, they gave Bezer with its pasture lands and Jahaz with its pasture lands, 37Kedemoth with its pasture lands and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities. 38From the tribe of Gad, they gave Ramoth in Gilead, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands and Mahanaim with its pasture lands, 39Heshbon with its pasture lands, Jazer with its pasture lands; four cities in all. 40All these were the cities of the sons of Merari according to their families, the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.
Jos 21:34 Merari They numbered 6, 200 at Sinai (cf. Num 3:34). When the tabernacle was moved they were in charge of the boards, the bars, the pillars, the sockets and the pins (cf. Num 3:27).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Kartah. Some codices, with five early printed editions, Aramaean, and Vulgate, read “and Kartah
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
And unto: Jos 21:7, 1Ch 6:77
Jokneam: Jos 12:22, Jos 19:11, Jos 19:15
Reciprocal: 1Ch 6:47 – Merari 1Ch 6:63 – Merari
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
21:34 And unto the families of the children of Merari, the {l} rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,
(l) They are here called the rest, because they are last numbered, and Merari was the younger brother, Gen 46:11.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Merarites’ towns 21:34-42
There were 12 towns in which the Merarites resided: four in Zebulun (Jos 21:34-35), four in Reuben (Jos 21:36-37), and four in Gad (Jos 21:38-39).
In all, the Levites received 48 cities with their surrounding pasturelands, including the six cities of refuge (Jos 21:41-42). God provided so that the Levites, whose responsibilities included the teaching and counseling of the other Israelites in the Law, were not far from anyone in Israel. They were to provide a positive spiritual influence on the whole nation. [Note: See Jacob Milgrom, "The Levitical Town: An Exercise in Realistic Planning," Journal of Jewish Studies 33:1-2 (Spring-Autumn 1982):185-88; and B. S. J. Isserlin, "Israelite Architectural Planning and the Question of the Level of Secular Learning in Ancient Israel," Vetus Testamentum 34:2 (April 1984):169-78.]
"For Christians, the allotment of Levitical towns from each tribe illustrates the principle of returning to God a portion of what has been given to them. These gifts are then used to support others in need and to encourage the proclamation of the faith (cf. Act 2:44-47; Rom 15:26-27; Php 4:10-18)." [Note: Hess, p. 281.]
"Take special care of the poor clergy! This is the theme of the complex formed by Numbers 35 and Joshua 21, along with the relevant Deuteronomic laws." [Note: Butler, p. 232.]