THE CITIES OF THE GERSHONITES.
(Camp. Joshua 21:27-33.) 1 Chronicles 6:71-76.
(71) Unto the sons of Gershom. — Supply they gave, from 1 Chronicles 6:67.
Golan in Bashan (comp. the classical Gaulanitis, a district east of the sea of Galilee) was a city of refuge, like Hebron and Shechem.
Ashtaroth. — Images of Ashtoreth (Astarte, queen of heaven); a name like Anathoth (1 Chronicles 6:60), which means “images of Anath,” or Anatum, the consort of Anurn (the sky). The two cities must have been ancient seats of the worship of Ashtoreth and Anath. The names still survive in Tell-Ashtereh and Anâta. Joshua (50100) reads Be’eshterah — perhaps a popular pronunciation of Beth-Ashterah (house of Ashtoreth).
(72) Kedesh means “sanctuary.” Joshua 19:20; Joshua 21:28 has Kishion, which may have borne the other name, as being the seat of a famous sanctuary.
(73) Ramoth. — In Joshua 21 Jarmuth, but in Joshua 19:21 Remeth. Jarmuth occurs in Joshua 12:11, and is probably right.
Anem. — Joshua 21:29; Joshua 19:21 has En-gannim. Joshua 15:34 mentions a Judæan city called ha-Enam (the two fountains), and that not far from En-gannim (fount of gardens). Anem is very much like Enam.
(74) Mashal is perhaps a popular pronunciation of Mish’al (Joshua 21:30; Joshua 19:26). (Comp. Shçlâh = She’çlâh.)
(75) Hukok. — Helkath (Joshua 19:25). Hukkôk was a city of Naphtali (Joshua 19:34).
(76) Kedesh in Galilee. — A city of refuge (Joshua 21:32); the modern Kedes.
Hammon =Haminoth-dor, “hot springs of Dor” (Joshua 21:32); also called Hammath (Joshua 19:35).
Kirjathaim. — In Joshua 21:32 Kartan; a contracted form of the dual of Kereth (=Kirjah), like Dothan for Dothaim. (Dothain, Genesis 37:17.)