Commentary on Joshua, Commentary · Chapter 21
Chap. 21.
THen came the principall fathers of the Leuites vntounto Eleazar, the Priest, and vntounto Ioshue the sonne of Nun, and vntounto the chiefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel,
2 And spake vntounto them at Shiloh, in the land of Chanaan, saying, The Lorde commaunded, by the hand of Moses, to giuegive vsus cities to dwell in with the suburbes thereof for our cattell.
3 So the children of Israel gaue vntounto the Leuites, out of their inheritance, at the commaundement of the Lord, these cities with their suburbes.
4 And the lotte came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the Priest, which were of the Leuites had by lot out of the tribe of Iudah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Beniamin, thirteene cities.
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 halfe tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
6 Also the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Nepthalie, and out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteene cities.
7 The children of Merarie according to their families had out of the tribe of Ruben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelue cities.
8 So the children of Israel gaue by lot vntounto the Leuites these cities with their suburbes, as the Lorde had commaunded by the hand of Moses.
9 And they gaue out of the tribe of the children of Iudah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities whiche are here named.
10 And they were the childrens of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, and of the sonnes of Leui, (for theirs was the first lotte)
11 So they gaue them Kiriath-arba of the father of Anok, (which is Hebron) in the mountaine of Iudah, with the suburbes of the same rounde about it.
12 (But the lande of the citie, and the villages thereof, gaue they to Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh to be his possession.)
13 Thus they gaue to the children of Aaron the Priest, a citie of refuge for the slayer, euen Hebron with her suburbes, and Libnah with her suburbes,
14 And Iattir with her suburbes, and Eshtemoa and her suburbes,
15 And Holon with her suburbes, and Debir with her suburbes,
16 And Ain with her suburbes, and Iuttah with her suburbes, Beth shemesh with her suburbes: nine cities out of those two tribes.
17 And out of the tribe of Beniamin they gaue Gibeon with her suburbes, Geba with her suburbes,
18 Anathoth with her suburbes, and Almon with her suburbes: foure cities.
19 All the cities of the children of Aaron Priests, were thirteene cities with their suburbes.
1 Then came, &c.) Here is declared afterward, that which should hauehave gone before. For the cities of refuge were not geuen, before they were assigned to the Leuites. As also we must remember, that which was saied before, that Iosue and Eleazer made an ende of diuiding the lande: for the lande was not iustly diuided, vntill the Leuites had their dwelling place appointed them. Therefore we must consider, that when the lottes were cast in the name of the ten tribes, certeine cities in the land of Chanaan were drawen out of eueryevery portion, in which the Leuites shoulde dwell. For they had their portion alredie appointed them beyond Iordan. But whereas the Leuites come and require, that the gifte of God may be confirmed, that they might possesse their cities with their suburbes, it is like they were neglected, vntill they pleaded their owne cause. For so it falleth out commonly, while eueryevery man is busie to prouide for him selfe, they forgette their brethren. Surely it was a shame for the people to be pulled by the eare, and to be brought in remembraunce of that which God had so plainly commaunded, concerning the Leuites. And yet, if they had not spoken earnestly for a house, they were in daunger to hauehave lien abroade in the fieldes. Although we may easily gather, that the people offended, rather of negligence and forgetfulnesse, than of purpose to defraud them: for they make no delay, as soone as they are admonished: yea, their obedience is praised, that according to the worde of the Lorde they performed that which was equall and right.
4 And the lotte, &c.) Here is set foorth the number of the cities, whereof must be spoken soone after. Secondly, here is plainely expressed, that the lot of the sonnes of Aaron, fell in the tribe of Iuda, which happened not by chance: for God by his meruellous counsell placed them in that seate, where he had appointed his Temple to be builded. Thirdly, the names of the cities are rehearsed, whereof Hebron is the first, which Caleb suffered to be taken from him with a good will. If any man obiect, that Hierusalem should hauehave bene especially geuen them, where they should hauehave their lawefull abiding place: the answere is easie, that small and meane cities were deliuered to them, such as their state required. Moreouer, Hierusalem was not yet recouered: for the Iebusites had it in possession. Finally, it had bene against reason, that the seate of the kingdome, should hauehave bene appointed to the Priestes. And in this, their faith and religion was better approued, that they went willingly out of their natiue countrie, to doe their duetie about the holy affaires. For no Priest did his office there, but he was aforeigner, & dwelt in some other place. But yet their infirmitie was borne withall, when they were rewarded with cities that were neere about, least it should be troublesome to them: to take along iourney to doe their office. But whereas one onelyonly familie, and that not verie populous, had thirteene cities graunted for their habitation, hereof is confirmed that I hauehave noted elsewhere, that the other tribes had manie cities vnderunder their dominion, whereof here is no mention: and that shalbe confirmed more certeinly soone after.
20 But to the families of the children of Kohath of the Leuits, which were the rest of the children of Kohath (for the cities of their lot were out of the tribe of Ephraim,)
21 They gaue them the citie of refuge for the slaier, Shechem with her suburbes in mount Ephraim, and Gezer with her suburbes,
22 And Kibzaim with her suburbes, and Beth-horon with her suburbes: foure cities.
23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltkeh with her suburbes, Gibethon with her suburbes,
24 Aiialon with her suburbes, Gath-rimmon with her suburbes: foure cities.
25 And out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbes, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbes: two cities.
26 All the cities for the other families of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbes.
27 Also vntounto the children of Gershon of the families of the Leuites, they gaue out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh, the citie of refuge for the slaier, Golan in Bashan with her suburbes, and Beeshterah with her suburbes: two cities.
28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kis-hon with her suburbs, Dabereh with her suburbes,
29 Iarmuth with her suburbes, En-gannim with her suburbes: foure cities.
30 And out of the tribe of Asser, Mishal with her suburbes, Abdon with her suburbes,
31 Helkoh with her suburbes, and Rehob with her suburbes: foure cities.
32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, the citie of refuge for the slaier, Kedesh in Galil with her suburbes, and Hammoth-dor with her suburbes, and Kartan with her suburbes: three cities.
33 All the cities of the Gershonites, according to their families, were thirteene cities with there suburbes.
34 Also vntounto the families of the children of Merari the rest of the Leuites, they gaue out of the tribe of Zebulun, Iokneam with her suburbes, and Cartah with her suburbes,
35 Dimnah with her suburbes, Nahalal with her suburbes: foure cities.
36 And out of the tribe of Ruben, Bezer with her suburbes, and Iahazah with her suburbes,
37 Kedemoth with her suburbes, and Mephaath with her suburbes: foure cities.
38 And out of the tribe of Gad they gaue for a citie of refuge for the slaier, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbes, and Mahanaim with her suburbes,
39 Heshbon with her suburbes, and Iazer with her suburbes: foure cities in all.
40 So all the cities of the children of Merari, according to their families (which were the rest of the families of the Leuites) were by their lot twelue cities.
41 And all the cities of the Leuites, within the possession of the children of Israel, were eight and fourtie with their suburbes.
42 These cities lay euerie one seuerally with their suburbes round about them: so were all these cities.
43 So the Lorde gaue vntounto Israel all the land, which he had sworne to giuegive vntounto their fathers: and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
44 Also the Lorde gaue them rest round about, according to all that he had sworne vntounto their fathers: and there stoode not a man of all their enimies before them: for the Lord deliuered all their enimies into their hand.
45 There failed nothing of all the good thinges, which the Lorde had said vntounto the house of Israel, but all came to passe.
20 But to the families of the sonnes of Kahath, &c.) For what cause it behoued the Leuites to be dispersed into euerie tribe, let the reader seeke in Moses. Indeed this punishment was laied vppon their father for the vnfaithfulnesse and crueltie, which he practised against the Sichemites. But in steede of reproch, this dispersion was turned into their exceeding great honour, that they being placed as watchmen in euerie region, might keepe the people in the pure worship of God. They were indeede but as tenantes in euerie place: but with so great dignitie, as ouerseers appointed by God, to take heed, that the people should not fall away from true godlinesse. This is the reason why it is reported so diligently, how many cities fell vntounto them in euerie tribe, that they might be alwayes as watchmen, to preserue the purenesse of religion amongst them.
41 All the cities of the Leuites, &c.) This place especially doeth teach that, which I hauehave touched once or twise before, that the boundes of other tribes were not so streight, but they conteined a greater number of cities, than was set foorth before. It is well knowen, that the tribe of Leuie was the least of them all. Therefore, what equitie had it bene, that it should hauehave bene enlarged fourefolde more than the tribe of Zabulon, which we see had but twelue cities, although it was much more populous? In the tribe of Isachar are numbered onelyonly sixeteene cities. The tribe of Nepthalie, nineteene. The tribe of Aser, twentie two. Surely, the diuision had bene vnequall, if more cities had bene geuen to them that were fewer to dwell in. Whereof it is gathered, that not only the townes which are rehearsed, as the appurtenances of the cities, were apte for habitation: but that other cities also were comprehended, of which there was no mention made. Finally, by the lot of the tribe of Leui it appeareth plainly, how large and how ample the dominion of the other tribes was.
43 The Lord gaue, &c.) If any man moue question of the rest, the answere is easie, that the nations of Chanaan were so terrified and amased with feare, that they thought nothing more profitable for them, than by slauish flatterie to redeeme peace of the children of Israel. Therefore the contrie was throughly subdued, and their habitation peaceable, seeing that no man did either trouble them, or durst enterprise any thing against them, seeing there was no threatening, no treason, no violence, or conspiracies. But of the second point it is doubted, how the children of Israel were placed in the possession of the promised land, & enioyed it, so that not one syllable wanted in the promises of God of the fruition thereof. Whereas before we sawe, that manie enimies were dispersed amongest them. The sentence of God was, that not one should remaine aliue: yet many they expelled not, but admitted them for their neighboures, as though they had bene partakers of the inheritaunce with them: yea, they make couenantes also with them. How doe these thinges agree together, that God gaue the people the possession of the land, as he promised it, which yet was excluded from some parte thereof by the force or stubbornesse of their enimies? That this shew of cōtrarietie may be taken away, we must discerne betweene the certeine, cleere, and stedfast faithfulnesse of God, in keeping his promises: and the …ouch and negligence of the people, whereby it came to passe, that the benefite of God did fall away, as it were out of their hands. What warres so euer the people tooke in hand, into what parte so euer they moued their standard, the victorie was readie, neither was there any other let or stay, but that they might roote out all their enimies, sauing their owne voluntarie slouthfulnesse. Wherefore, although they chaced them not away, that the possession might be voyded of them: yet the manifest trueth of God did appeare, and set forth it selfe: because it had bene no trouble for them to hauehave obteined the rest, if the had listed to embrace the victories that were offered. The summe of all this is, that it was through their owne cowardise, that they enioyed not the full and perfect benefite of God, which we shall see in the next Chapter more plainly.