_A.M. 2560. B.C. 1444._ The motion of the Levites, to have their cities appointed, which is done, Joshua 21:1. A catalogue of those cities, Joshua 21:9. A testimony that God had fulfilled his word, Joshua 21:43.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The heads of the fathers of the Levites The fathers of the Levites were Kohath, Gershon_, and _Merari;_ and the heads of these were the chief persons now alive of these several families. Thus, the princes of the several tribes, who divided the land in conjunction with Joshua, are called, at the con... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord commanded_ Observe: the maintenance of ministers is not an arbitrary thing, left purely to the good-will of the people. No: as the God of Israel commanded that the Levites should be provided for, so hath the Lord Jesus ordained (and a perpetual ordinance it is) “that they who preach the go... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Israel gave_ Probably they gave the Levites promiscuously such cities as God commanded, and the lot appropriated them to their several houses or families. _Out of their inheritance_ That is, out of their several possessions, that the burden might be equally divided; and that the Lev... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin_ Which three tribes were nearest the temple, where their business lay. _Thirteen cities_ For though the priests were now few enough for one city, yet respect was to be had to their succeeding numbers; this division being made for all future generations. And seeing the Le... [ Continue Reading ]
_Children of Kohath_ Who were of Aaron's family. _Ephraim, Dan, and Manasseh_ Which tribes were nearest to the three former, and so the Kohathites are placed next to their brethren the Aaronites. _Ten cities _ Fewer than they gave out of the three former tribes, because their inheritance was less th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judah and Simeon_ These are mentioned together, because the cities of Simeon lay within Judah's portion. _Families_ That is, of the family, the plural number being put for the singular which is not unusual.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fields and villages_ That is, all beyond the two thousand cubits expressed Numbers 35:5. This is here mentioned, not as his peculiar case, but as one eminent instance, to show that it was so in all the rest of the cities here named; that the fields and villages thereof still belonged to the sev... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Ain_ Ain and Gibeon, and some others here named, are not named 1 Chronicles 6:59. Either they were destroyed in some of those invasions wherewith their land was grievously wasted before that time, or they appear there under other names.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which remained_ Over and above those who were priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Half the tribe_ Namely, that half which dwelt in Canaan.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forty and eight cities_ So God ordered by Moses, Numbers 35:7; and it is a demonstration that Moses was divinely inspired to make such an appointment, before it could be known whether, without straitening the other tribes, they could part with so many cities to the Levites. For when Joshua and Cale... [ Continue Reading ]
_These cities were every one with their suburbs_ Namely, two thousand cubits on every side round each city, as was ordered, Numbers 35:5; and it certainly was a large proportion for this tribe. But God intended that an ample provision should be made for his ministers, to put honour on those whom he... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord gave unto Israel all the land_ He gave them a right to the whole country, and the actual possession of the greatest part of it. He likewise authorized them to subdue and possess the rest, as soon as it should be needful for them, which was when their numbers were increased; and to exercise... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord gave them rest round about_ Namely, all the remaining days of Joshua; for afterward it was otherwise with them. _The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands_ This is not to be understood as if all the people of Canaan were absolutely in subjection to them, but that as long as Jos... [ Continue Reading ]
_There failed not aught_ Which they themselves, as Joshua afterward tells them, (Joshua 23:14,) knew very well, and could not but confess. But it must be understood according to the explication given verse 43. For the time of fulfilling some part of the divine promises was not yet come, and the enti... [ Continue Reading ]