Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 21:40
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.
So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families,…. Which were distributed by lot to them, according to the number of their families, and were sufficient for them:
which were remaining of the families of the Levites; the last division of them, besides those of the Kohathites, Levites, and the Gershonites:
were [by] their lot twelve cities; four out of the tribe of Zebulun, four out of the tribe of Reuben, and four out of the tribe of Gad, whose names are before given,
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
‘ All these were the cities for the children of Merari according to their families, who were those remaining of the families of the Levites. And their lot was twelve cities.’
So forty eight cities were set apart as levitical cities, that is were put under the authority of the Levites who were given dwelling and pasturage rights. There were thirteen for the family of Aaron (who would in number be few at that time), ten for the remainder of the Kohathites, thirteen for the Gershonites and twelve for the Merarites.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Reciprocal: Jos 21:35 – Dimnah