Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 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.
5. And the rest of the children of Kohath ] i.e. those who sprang from Moses, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, and formed the non-priestly portion, shared ten cities in the land of Ephraim, Dan, and half Manasseh west of the Jordan.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The non-priestly Kohathites had been diminished by the destruction of Korah and his company Num. 16. On comparing Num 26:57 following with Num 3:27 ff, two of the families of the Kohathites seem to have disappeared altogether. Hence, it is not surprising that the rest of the Kohathites were sufficiently accommodated in ten cities.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. And the rest of the children of Kohath] That is, the remaining part of that family that were not priests, for those who were priests had their lot in the preceding tribes. Those, therefore, of the family of Kohath, who were simply Levites, and not of the priests or Aaron’s family, (see Jos 21:10), had their habitations in Ephraim, Dan, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
It has been asked in what sense did the Levites possess those cities, seeing they had no inheritance? To which it may be answered that it is not likely the Levites had the exclusive property of the cities in which they dwelt, for it is evident that the other Israelites dwelt among them. We know, says Calmet, by history, that the cities of the Levites were almost entirely filled with Israelites of other tribes. For instance, Gibeah of Benjamin, which is here given to the Levites, Jos 21:17, was always peopled by the Benjamites, as appears from the history of the Levite, whose wife was so horribly abused by them; Jdg 19:22-27. Saul and all his family dwelt in the same city; and David and his court spent the first years of his reign at Hebron, which was also a city of the Levites, Jos 21:10. It appears, therefore, that they had no other property in those cities than merely the right to certain houses, which they might sell, but always with the right of perpetual redemption, for they could finally alienate nothing; and if the possessor of such a house, having sold it, did not redeem it at the year of jubilee, it reverted to the Levites. And as to their lands for their cattle, which extended two thousand cubits without the city, these they were not permitted to sell: they were considered as the Lord’s property. See Le 25:32-34, and the notes there. It is therefore very likely that, in the first instance, the Levites had simply the right to choose, in all the cities assigned them, the houses in which they were to dwell, and that those of the tribe to which the city belonged occupied all the other dwellings. There is also reason to believe that in process of time, when the families of the Levites increased, they had more dwellings assigned to them, which were probably built at the public expense.
We may also observe that the Levites were not absolutely bound to live in these and no other cities: for when the tabernacle was at Nob, priests and Levites dwelt there, see 1Sa 21:1, c. and when the worship of God was established at Jerusalem, multitudes both of priests and Reviles dwelt there, though it was no Levitical city: as did the courses of priests afterwards at Jericho. This was a circumstance which Moses had foreseen, and for which he had provided. See De 18:6, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The children of Kohath were of Aarons family, or priests, but Levites only. These tribes are nearest to the three former, and so the Kohathites are placed next to their brethren the Aaronites.
Ten cities; fewer than they gave out for the three former tribes, because their inheritance was less than the former. See Num 35:8.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the rest of the children of Kohath,…. Which did not descend from him in the line of Amram and Aaron, but of Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, who were not priests, but Levites:
[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 other sort of Kohathites had their cities in tribes next to the other three where the Kohathites that were priests had theirs.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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.
Ver. 5. And the rest of the children of Kohath. ] Thus the Levites were dispersed throughout the land – as salt is sprinkled upon meat, to keep it from putrifying; “ye are the salt of the earth” Mat 5:13 – for instruction of the people; and herein that malediction, Gen 49:7 , was turned into a benediction. It were happy if every congregation had an able minister. To many churches here at the first Reformation, for want of preachers, readers were sent; whence one of the martyrs wished that every able minister might have ten congregations committed to his charge till further provision could be made.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 21:5
5The rest of the sons of Kohath received ten cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim and from the tribe of Dan and from the half-tribe of Manasseh.
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 21:6
6The sons of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Issachar and from the tribe of Asher and from the tribe of Naphtali and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 21:7
7 The sons of Merari according to their families received twelve cities from the tribe of Reuben and from the tribe of Gad and from the tribe of Zebulun.
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 21:8
8Now the sons of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their pasture lands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
Jos 21:8 This is an example of the repetitive style of Hebrew historical narrative.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Jos 21:20-26, Gen 46:11, Exo 6:16-25, Num 3:27, 1Ch 6:18, 1Ch 6:19, 1Ch 6:61, 1Ch 6:66-70
Reciprocal: 1Ch 6:54 – of the families
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 21:5. Children of Kohath Who were of Aarons family. Ephraim, Dan, and Manasseh Which tribes were nearest to the three former, and so the Kohathites are placed next to their brethren the Aaronites. Ten cities Fewer than they gave out of the three former tribes, because their inheritance was less than the former.