Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 21:8
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
These cities with their suburbs; of which See Poole “Num 35:2“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs,…. Reaching two thousand cubits from the cities all around: these cities did not lie all together, and so could not be described by their coasts; but in the several tribes, and intermixed with their cities; which fulfilled Jacob’s prophecy, that they should be divided and scattered in Israel, Ge 49:7; as well as it was so ordered for the benefit of the several tribes, that they might have the assistance of the priests and Levites, to instruct them in the knowledge of the laws and commandments of God, and all divine things:
as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses; Nu 35:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Detailed Description of the Cities Given.
Jos 21:8
‘ And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as YHWH commanded by the hand of Moses.’
As mentioned above this ‘giving’ of the cities did not indicate that the Levites took full possession of them, although from this point in time they were levitical cities under the final jurisdiction of the Levites. The children of Aaron would not be numerous enough to take full possession of thirteen cities, indeed they were probably stretched to even provide a few inhabitants for each, although of course provision was being made for the future. The ‘suburbs’ were the lands directly surrounding the city, and did not include general lands and the villages round about (verse 12).
“As YHWH commanded by the hand of Moses” (see Num 35:2-8).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
as the LORD. According as Jehovah.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
by lot: Jos 21:3, Jos 18:6, Num 33:54, Num 35:3, Pro 16:33, Pro 18:18
as the Lord: Num 32:2
Reciprocal: Jos 21:4 – the children