Joshua 21 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

  • Joshua 21:1-45 open_in_new

    The Assignment of Forty-eight Cities to the Levites

    2. The injunction to Moses was given in the plains of Moab, and is recorded in Numbers 35:2-5.

    3-8. Number and localities of the cities distributed to each of the families of Levi.

    9-42. Detailed specification of the cities:—Cities of the Aaronites (Priests) in Judah and Benjamin (9-19); of the Kohathites in Ephraim, Dan, and W. Manasseh (20-26); of the Gershonites in E. Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali (27-33); of the Merarites in Zebulun, Reuben and Gad (34-42).

    43-45. Conclusion of the 'Domesday Book'; fulfilment of God's promises of possession and rest. This section is somewhat difficult to reconcile with the situation revealed at the beginning of the book of Judges; but it must be remembered that this passage is from the later Priestly source, while the previous section is from an earlier document.