Joshua 21:1
in Joshua 21Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then came near the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel;
KJV
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
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This verse in Joshua 21
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
A list of the Levitical cities, varying in some particulars from that given in this chapter, is also, given in 1 Chr. 6:54-81.
This site's exposition
the family heads of the Levites approached
on Joshua 21:1-3
The Levites are the one tribe that must come and ask, because Joshua 13:33 left them the LORD as their inheritance. Numbers 35:4 measures the pasturelands at a thousand cubits from the wall and 35:5 at two thousand on each side.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Who will explain the diverse sites of the encampments, how this distribution must be retained in the resurrection for each priestly or levitical order of the saints, so that, just as the apostle says, nothing is done haphazardly in the resurrection, but everyone comes "in his own order, Christ first, then those who belong to Christ who have believed in his coming, when he will hand the kingdom over to our God and Father, when he will subject to him every principality and power"?On that occasion, without doubt, there will be some such observances of encampments and priestly distributions and ranks and signals of trumpets.
It was fitting that there be a drawing of lots even regarding the suburbs and cities so that perhaps the renowned division among the Levites might not seem perhaps indiscriminate and accidental. Therefore, the distribution by lot that took place among the sons of Israel was characterized by reason, by which someone was considered worthy of the first lot, and someone else the second, as we have already previously examined to the extent we were able.
The Reformation1 voice
For no cities of refuge were appointed before they had been assigned to the Levites. To this may be added what was formerly said, that Joshua and Eleazar had made an end of dividing the land. Now, the land was not truly divided till the habitation of the Levites was fixed.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And it is probable that they had an eye to the situation of them, taking care they should be so dispersed as that no part of the country should be too far distant from a Levites' city. They gave them at the commandment of the Lord, that is, with an eye to the command and in obedience to it, which was it that sanctified the grant.
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
It was assigned in the same place and manner, and by the same commissioners as the other allotments. While the people, knowing the important duties they were to perform, are described (Jos 21:3) as readily conceding this "peculiar" to them, it had most probably been specified and reserved for their use while the distribution of the land was in progress.
The heads of the fathers of the Levites - The Levites were composed of three brand families, the Gershonites, Koathites, and Merarites, independently of the family of Aaron, who might be said to form a fourth. To none of these had God assigned any portion in the division of the land. But in this general division it must have been evidently intended that the different tribes were to furnish them with habitations; and this was according to a positive command of God, Num 35:2, etc. Finding now that each tribe had its inheritance appointed to it, the heads of the Levites came before Eleazar, Joshua, and the chiefs of the tribes who had been employed in dividing the land, and requested that cities and suburbs should be granted them according to the Divine command.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַֽיִּגְּשׁ֗וּ | vaiyigeshu | and they approached | H5066 → | 125 times |
| רָאשֵׁי֙ | rashei | [the] leaders of | H7218 → | 599 times |
| אֲב֣וֹת | ʾavot | [the] fathers of | H1 → | 1212 times |
| הַלְוִיִּ֔ם | halviyim | the Levites | H3881 → | 291 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אֶלְעָזָר֙ | ʾelazar | Eleazar | H499 → | 72 times |
| הַכֹּהֵ֔ן | hakohen | the priest | H3548 → | 750 times |
| וְאֶל־ | veel- | and to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ | yehoshua' | Joshua | H3091 → | 218 times |
| בִּן־ | bin- | [the] son of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| נ֑וּן | nun | Nun | H5126 → | 30 times |
| וְאֶל־ | veel- | and to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| רָאשֵׁ֛י | rashei | [the] leaders of | H7218 → | 599 times |
| אֲב֥וֹת | ʾavot | [the] fathers of | H1 → | 1212 times |
| הַמַּטּ֖וֹת | hamatot | the tribes | H4294 → | 252 times |
| לִבְנֵ֥י | livnei | of [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
וַֽיִּגְּשׁ֗וּand they approached
vaiyigeshuH5066 →125 times
רָאשֵׁי֙[the] leaders of
rasheiH7218 →599 times
אֲב֣וֹת[the] fathers of
ʾavotH1 →1212 times
הַלְוִיִּ֔םthe Levites
halviyimH3881 →291 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
אֶלְעָזָר֙Eleazar
ʾelazarH499 →72 times
הַכֹּהֵ֔ןthe priest
hakohenH3548 →750 times
וְאֶל־and to
veel-H413 →5510 times
יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַJoshua
yehoshua'H3091 →218 times
בִּן־[the] son of
bin-H1121 →4930 times
נ֑וּןNun
nunH5126 →30 times
וְאֶל־and to
veel-H413 →5510 times
רָאשֵׁ֛י[the] leaders of
rasheiH7218 →599 times
אֲב֥וֹת[the] fathers of
ʾavotH1 →1212 times
הַמַּטּ֖וֹתthe tribes
hamatotH4294 →252 times
לִבְנֵ֥יof [the] people of
livneiH1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Joshua 19:51These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance…
it leads to
- Joshua 14:1
Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Joshua 18:10
And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh, where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.
- Joshua 18:1
Then the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. And though the land was subdued before them,
- Joshua 14:1
Through
Joshua 14:1Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of…
it leads to
- Numbers 34:17–29
“These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Numbers 34:17–29
Through
Exodus 6:25Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans.
it leads to
- Joshua 24:33
Eleazar son of Aaron also died, and they buried him at Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.
- Joshua 24:33
Through
Exodus 6:14These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
it leads to
- Genesis 46:9
The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
- 1 Chronicles 5:3
The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
- Numbers 26:5–7
Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu,
- Genesis 46:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Joshua
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 25.4 and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 25.1.