Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 21:4
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, [which were] of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
4 8. General Description of the Levitical Cities
4. the lot came out ] As in the case of the inheritance of the other tribes, so in the apportioning of their cities to the Levites, recourse was had to the sacred lot. “It had probably been decided beforehand what cities each tribe was to give up, and therefore it only now remained for the lot to determine to which branch of the Levites each city should be given.”
the families of the Kohathites ] The Levites were divided into three families, ( a) the Gershonites, ( b) the Kohathites, ( c) the Merarites, so named after the three sons of Levi (Gen 46:11). The family-tree stood as follows:
The Kohathites held the first rank, as being the family to which Aaron belonged, and while the priesthood was confined to the house of Aaron, the posterity of Moses were reckoned as Levites, on an equality with the rest of the descendants of Levi (Numbers 3; 1Ch 6:48-49). It had been the duty of the Kohathites, during the wanderings, on the removal of the Tabernacle, to bear all the sacred vessels, including the Ark itself, the table of shewbread, the seven-branched candlestick, the altars of incense and of burnt-offering (Num 3:31; Num 4:6; Num 4:9; Num 4:15; Deu 31:25).
and the children of Aaron the priest ] As the first lot was drawn by the Kohathites, so again the first of theirs fell to the Aaronites or priests.
out of the tribe of Judah ] To the priests of the line of Aaron thirteen cities were assigned out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thirteen cities – This number is said to be too great for the single family of Aaron. But it appears 1 Chr. 24 that the two surviving sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar, had together 24 sons, the heads of the priestly families. Since Aaron was 123 years old when he died Num 33:39, his sons grandchildren and great grandchildren were no doubt living in the elapsing years of Joshuas course, and had to he provided with dwellings. They might altogether number several thousands. The cities of Canaan were for the most part small; as is manifest from the astonishing number of them in proportion to the area of the land, more particularly in the south, where the portion of the priests was situated. The priests or Levites would not occupy the whole of the dwellings in any city, nor all its fields, nor necessarily and always all its villages (compare Jos 21:12). Non-Levites, to whom the cultivation of their land, and other secular concerns, were entrusted, no doubt resided in the Levitical cities or their precincts. It appears, further, that several of the cities here enumerated were only wrested from the Canaanites at a later date.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Out of the tribe of Judah – Simeon, and – Benjamin, thirteen cities.] These tribes furnished more habitations to the Levites in proportion than any of the other tribes, because they possessed a more extensive inheritance; and Moses had commanded, Nu 35:8, From them that have many, ye shall give many; and from them that have few, ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites, according to his inheritance. It is worthy of remark, that the principal part of this tribe, whose business was to minister at the sanctuary, which sanctuary was afterwards to be established in Jerusalem, had their appointment nearest to that city; so that they were always within reach of the sacred work which God had appointed them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Which three tribes were nearest to the temple, where their business lay.
Thirteen cities; for though the priests were now few enough for one city, yet respect was to be had to their succeeding numbers; this division being made for all future generations. And seeing the Levites might sell their houses until the jubilee, Lev 25:33, much more might they let them; and therefore it is probable their cities were not very long uninhabited, many being inclined to dwell with them by virtue of relations contracted with them, or dependence upon or expectation from them; or out of respect to the service of God, and the good of their souls.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4-8. the lot came out for thefamilies of the KohathitesThe Levites were divided intoKohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the familyof Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all therest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot wasdrawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by thepriests, to whom thirteen cities were granted, and ten to the rest ofthe Kohathites (Jos 21:5);thirteen to the Gershonites (Jos21:6), and twelve to the Merarites (Jos21:7).
Jos21:9-42. THE CITIESOF THE PRIESTS.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the lot came out for the family of the Kohathites,…. The first lot that was drawn out of the pot or urn was for the descendants of Kohath, a son of Levi:
and the children of Aaron the priest, [which were] of the Levites; who descended from Amram, the eldest son of Kohath, and these were not only Levites, but priests: these
had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon,
and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities; which are after mentioned by name; and as these were priests, whose business was to serve in the temple, and at the altar, the cities assigned them by the lot, were, by the wise disposal of divine Providence, ordered them out of those tribes which lay nearest to Jerusalem; the place God had chosen to put his name in, where the temple would be built, and the altars erected for sacrifices and incense.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Number of the cities which the different families of Levi received from each tribe. The tribe of Levi was divided into three branches, – The Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites (see Num 3 and Exo 6:16-19). The Kohathites again were divided into the four families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel (Exo 6:18); and the family of Amram into two lines, consisting of the descendants of Moses and Aaron (Exo 6:20). The priesthood was committed to the line of Aaron (Num 18:1-7); but the other descendants of Amram, i.e., the descendants of Moses, were placed on a par with the other descendants of Levi, and numbered among the simple Levites (Num. 3; 1Ch 6:1-7). The towns in which the different families of Levi were to dwell were determined by lot; but in all probability the towns which each tribe was to give up to them were selected first of all, so that the lot merely decided to which branch of the Levites each particular town was to belong.
Jos 21:4 The first lot came out for the families of Kohath, and among these again for the sons of Aaron, i.e., the priests. They received thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. “This did not happen by chance; but God, according to His wonderful counsel, placed them just in that situation which He had determined to select for His own temple” ( Calvin).
Jos 21:5 The rest of the Kohathites, i.e., the descendants of Moses, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, received ten towns from Ephraim, Dan, and half Manasseh.
Jos 21:6 The Gershonites received thirteen towns from Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and half Manasseh in Bashan.
Jos 21:7-8 The Merarites received twelve towns from Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
The number of towns thus assigned to the Levites will not appear too large, if we consider, (1) that judging from the number of towns in so small a land, the greater part of them cannot have been very large; (2) that the Levites were not the sole possessors of these towns, but simply received the number of dwelling-houses which they actually required, with meadow land for their cattle in the suburbs of the towns, whilst the rest of the space still belonged to the different tribes; and (3) that if the 23,000 males, the number of the Levites at the second census which was taken in the steppes of Moab, were distributed among the thirty-five towns, it would give 657 males, or 1300 male and female Levites for every town. On the other hand, offence has been taken at the statement, that thirteen towns were given up to the priests; and under the idea that Aaron could hardly have had descendants enough in Joshua’s time from his two sons who remained alive to fill even two towns, to say nothing of thirteen, the list has been set down as a document which was drawn up at a much later date ( Maurer, etc.). But any one who takes this ground not only attributes to the distribution commission the enormous shortsightedness of setting apart towns for the priests merely to meet their existing wants, and without any regard to the subsequent increase which would take place in their numbers, but also forms too large an estimate of the size of the towns, and too small an estimate of the number of the priests. Moreover, it was never intended that the towns should be filled with priests’ families; and the number of priests alive at that time is not mentioned anywhere. But if we bear in mind that Aaron died in the fortieth year of the journeys of the Israelites, at the age of 123 years (Num 33:38), and therefore was eighty-three years old at the time of the exodus from Egypt, his descendants might have entered upon the fourth generation seven years after his death. Now his two sons had twenty-four male descendants, who were the founders of the twenty-four classes instituted by David (1 Chron 24). And if we only reckon six males to each of the next generations, there would be 144 in the third generation, who would be between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five when the distribution of the land took place, and who might therefore have had 864 male children living at that time; so that the total number of males in the families of the priests might have amounted to more than 1000, that is to say, might have consisted of at least 200 families.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
4. And the lot came out for the families, etc Here is first described the number of cities of which we shall have to speak by and bye. Secondly, it is distinctly said that the lot fell out to the children of Aaron in the tribe of Judah. This did not happen fortuitously, because God in his admirable counsel placed them in that locality where he had determined to choose a temple for himself. Thirdly, the narrative proceeds to give the exact names of the cities, of which the first mentioned is Hebron, of which Caleb, with great equanimity, allowed himself to be deprived. Should any one object that the first city of all that ought to have been given them was Jerusalem, where they were to have their future station, it is easy to answer, that moderate sized cities were delivered to them as their condition required. Moreover, Jerusalem was not then subjugated, as it continued under the power of the Jebusites. In short, it would have been absurd to assign a royal seat to priests. And their religion and faith was the better proved by this, that they migrated of their own accord from their native soil to devote their attention to sacred things. For no priest performed the office without becoming a stranger. Their weakness, however, was so far indulged by giving them a grant of neighboring cities, that they might not have the fatigue of a long journey in going to perform their function. Moreover, the giving of thirteen cities for a habitation to one family, and that not very numerous, confirms what I have elsewhere said, that the other tribes possessed very many cities, (175) of which no mention is made; in a short time this will be more certainly confirmed.
(175) Latin, “ Plurimis urbibus.” French, “ Plusieurs villes :” “Several cities.” — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4-8) The order of the distributionviz., (1) to priests, (2) to Kohathites, (3) to Gershonites, (4) to Meraritesis in strict agreement with the order of priority observed in the exodus. In the camp of Israel there were two squares surrounding the tabernacle: an inner square of priests and Levites, an outer square of the tribes of Israel, three on each side. The inner square was arranged thus:The priests, with Moses and Aaron, on the east, by the entrance of the tabernacle; the Kohathites on the south, the Gershonites on the west, and the Merarites on the north. On the march the priests were the chief officers of this portion of the army. The Kohathites carried the sacred vessels, the Gershonites the curtains and various fabrics of the tent and tabernacle, and the Merarites the bars and boards. When they received their inheritances in Palestine, the same relative order was preserved.
INHERITANCE OF THE PRIESTS (Jos. 21:9-19).
(9) Out of the tribe of . . . Judah . . . and Simeon; and (17) out of the tribe of Benjamin.It is worthy of notice that, with the exception of a single city in the tribe of Simeon (viz., Ain, Jos. 21:16), all the priestly cities are so arranged as to fall ultimately within the kingdom of Judah, of which the capital was Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there. The Levites also left their cities and their suburbs in the reign of Jeroboam (2Ch. 11:14), and came over to Judah. But the fact that all the priests, with the trifling exception noted above, were already settled in that kingdom, must have been a great attraction.
When these facts are observed, it is hardly possible not to be struck with the undesigned agreement between the Book of Joshua and the later history, as well as with the Divine foresight which arranged the distribution of the people thus.
(13) Hebron (El Khalil).
(14) Jattir (Attir).
Eshtemoa (Es Sema).
(15) Debir.Probably identical with the town of this name in Jos. 15:49 (Edh. Dhheryeh), south-west of Hebron.
(16) Juttah (Yuttah).
Beth-shemesh (Ain Shemes).
(17) Gibeon (El Jib).
Geba (Jeba).
(18) Anathoth (Anta).
Almon (Almit).
(20) The children of Kohath . . . had the cities . . . out of the tribe of Ephraim.In this instance the most honoured among the families of the Levites (after the house of Aaron) is grouped with the tribe next in honour after Judah. The tribes of Dan and Manasseh (Jos. 21:23-25) also were highly honoured, as they received Kohathites to settle among them.
(21) Shechem . . . in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge.The metropolis of Israel for the time being is made a city of refuge; and there is an obvious convenience in this. In the same way Solomon made Jerusalem a city of refuge for Shimei, binding him not to leave the city under penalty of death (1Ki. 2:36-46).
Gezer (Tell Jezer).
(22) Kibzaim (Tell el-Kabs).
Beth-horon (Beit-Ur).
(23, 24) For these Danite cities, see Jos. 19:40-46.
(25) Tanachi.e., Taanacha city of Manasseh, in the territory of Isaachar.
(27) Unto the children of Gershon . . . out of the other half tribe of Manasseh . . . in Bashan, and (28) out of the tribe of Issachar, and (30) out of the tribe of Asher.Each of the four divisions of the house of Levi is made a bond to cement three of the twelve tribes together. Sometimes the association is obvious. In this case the two. sides of Jordan are bound together by the Gershonites.
(28) Dabarehi.e., Daberath (Debrieh).
(29) Jarmuthi.e., Remeth.
En-gannim (Jenin).
(30) Mishal.See Jos. 19:46.
Abdon.Also mentioned there.
(32) For Kedesh see Jos. 19:37. The other two are not identified with any certainty.
(34) Unto the . . . . children of Merari . . . . out of the tribe of Zebulun, and (36) out of the tribe of Reuben, and (38) out of the tribe of Gad.In the case of the Ger shonites, we saw two tribes on the west of Jordan united to one on the east. The Merarites are employed to connect two tribes on the east of Jordan with one upon the west, and the south-east of the Israelitish territory with the north. Thus the whole body by joints and bands was knit together, that it might grow with a growth of God. It is not a little interesting to observe that Joshuas work of dividing the land of Canaan was so much directed to preserve the union of the several parts. The name of Levi (joined) thus received a spiritual emphasis. He was divided in Israel that he might be a bond of union, bringing the tribes of Israel together, and joining all of them to their God.
Jokneam (Tell Keimn, near Carmel).
(35) Nahalal (Ain Mahil).
(43) And the Lord gave unto Israel.Although the conquest of Canaan was not completed in the time of Joshua, as it was afterwards under David, yet we see by this statement that the expectations of Israel were abundantly satisfied. They received all that they hoped for.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Kohathites The first of the families of the Levites among whom the family of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood. These by virtue of their office had the precedence in the assignment of the lots, and received thirteen cities in contiguous territory; the rest of the Kohathites ten cities, (Jos 21:5,) in tribes also adjoining. There was a divine prescience displayed in so locating the priests that in the future great schism of the State under Rehoboam the seceding tribes found themselves destitute of the divinely-appointed priesthood.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Cities Allocated to Kohath.
Jos 21:4
‘ And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites, and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.’
The first lot that was drawn out of the pot or urn was for the descendants of Kohath, a son of Levi (Exo 6:16). We are not told the procedures, nor whether the actual cities were chosen by lot, or whether the lot was simply to determine which of the cities was occupied by whom. The emphasis is on the fact that all was done in accordance with the will of YHWH.
The children of Aaron received thirteen cities, and these were in Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. There would certainly not be sufficient children of Aaron at this stage to fully occupy these cities, even if that had been likely. Clearly here again we are dealing with portions of cities, and dwelling rights. Their portion was given in what seemed at the time the most secure part of the land with access to the centre of the land so that they would always be relatively near the sanctuary wherever it was situated.
Judah was the obvious choice for the sons of Aaron. It had been first to establish itself and was the most surely settled of all the tribes. It is significant that they were not allocated dwelling rights in Jerusalem, which demonstrates that at the stage that this was written there was no conception that Jerusalem would finally become the central sanctuary. There were many Israelites who did dwell in their own section of Jerusalem (Jos 15:63; Jdg 1:21) and other cities were allocated which were not in Israel’s full possession.
Jos 21:5
‘ And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.’
These were Levites ‘descended’ from Kohath but not descended from the line of Aaron and were spread throughout Ephraim, Dan and Manasseh. The very lack of the presence of priests in the other areas demonstrates why, as things deteriorated covenant-wise, Levites began to be treated as something like priests, especially as they received tithes and would have to give guidance on the slaughter of animals and suchlike matters and on minor interpretations of the Law.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ver. 4. Thirteen cities Providence caused to fall to the portion of the Kohathites, (i.e. to the branch of the house of Kohath, and of the whole tribe of Levi, which alone could pretend to the priesthood,) all those cities nearest to Jerusalem, in which the divine worship was one day to be fixed. By this plan the priests were, as much as it was possible, within reach of the regular performance of the service at the house of the Lord, and enabled to repair thither conveniently, each in his turn.
REFLECTIONS.As the Levites were to have cities in all the tribes, they wait till the land is divided, and now put in their claim, founded on the divine appointment. Note; (1.) What we pray for, pleading the promise, we may be confident shall be granted. (2.) Provision for a gospel ministry is a Divine institution. They who are backward to support it, not only defraud men, but rob God. (3.) The Levites were last provided for: worldly interests must be among the least and last concerns of a godly minister.
Their plea was immediately complied with, and each tribe, according to its extent, assigned a proportionable number of their cities, to make up the complement of forty-eight, which was God’s appointment. These, with their suburbs, and a space of circumjacent land, were allotted them; and being thus dispersed through the tribes, they were a general blessing.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I include all these verses in one point of view for the sake of shortness. If the Reader be desirous to look at them more particularly, he will discover how admirably they were all arranged and disposed of, so as to scatter the Levites over the whole land. And herein he will discover how great a correspondence this dispersion of God’s servants in the old church, bore to the dispersion of God’s servants in the new, when Jesus sent his disciples forth to preach the gospel to every creature. Mar 16:15 . If the Reader be curious to remark the division of the Levites further, he may observe, that there were four divisions of the Levites, and that they were placed according to the divine appointment. The first of the house of Aaron, which were the priests; the second the Kohathites, which were Levites; the third was the sons of Gershon, the eldest son of Levi; and the fourth the Merarites his youngest. But what I conceive to be much more important for the Reader ‘ s attention, in the provision made for all the house of Aaron, was the typical representation it afforded of the gospel church in the interest it holds, in the person of our great and Almighty High Priest, to whom Aaron ministered. Doth not the peculiar reservation, made for this tribe of Levi, of whom it is expressly again and again said, Levi hath no part with his brethren, for the Lord is his portion, doth it not in effect say, that Jesus is the alone portion of his people, who are in him a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people? And is not the circumstance of their being scattered over all the tribes, a figure of the dispersion of Jesus’s priests who are made kings and priests to God and the Father? And in the Lord himself dwelling among them as their portion, is there not a beautiful similitude of the everlasting presence of Jesus, amidst his spiritual Levites? Hail! thou Lord God of the true Hebrews: thou priest of the order of Melchisedeck! Grant me, Lord, a portion in thyself, in the true Canaan of thy gospel church here below, as a pledge of being forever in thy church of Canaan which is above. And do thou consecrate and set me a part by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, and the anointings of the Holy Ghost, as thy servant to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1Pe 2:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 21:4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, [which were] of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
Ver. 4. Out of the tribe of Judah, &c. ] The priests, by a sweet providence, were placed in those three tribes that were nearest to the tabernacle and temple, that they might do their work with more ease to themselves and content to the people.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
came out. i.e. out of the bag containing the Urim and Thummim. See note on Exo 28:30. Num 28:55.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the children: Jos 21:8-19, Jos 24:33, 1Ch 6:54-60
the tribe: These tribes furnished more habitation to the Levites, in proportion, than any of the other tribes, because they possessed a more extensive inheritance, agreeably to what Moses had commanded – Num 35:8. It is worthy of remark, that the principal part of this tribe, whose business was to minister at the sanctuary, which sanctuary was afterwards established at Jerusalem, had their appointment nearest to that city; so that they were always within reach of the sacred work which God had appointed them.
Reciprocal: Jos 21:10 – General 1Ch 6:61 – left
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 21:4. Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin Which three tribes were nearest the temple, where their business lay. Thirteen cities For though the priests were now few enough for one city, yet respect was to be had to their succeeding numbers; this division being made for all future generations. And seeing the Levites might sell their houses until the jubilee, (Lev 25:33,) much more might they let them; and therefore it is probable their cities were not long uninhabited, many being inclined to dwell with them, by virtue of relations contracted with them, or out of respect to the service of God, and the good of their souls.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:4 And the lot came out for the families of the {b} Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, [which were] of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, {c} thirteen cities.
(b) He means those that were priests: for some were but Levites.
(c) Every tribe gave more or fewer cities according to the size of their inheritance, Num 35:8.