Chapter 21:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
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| Wesley
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Deuteronomy Judges
Joshua 21
The motion of the Levites, to have their cities appointed,
which is done, ver. 1-8. A catalogue of those cities, ver. 9-42. A
testimony, that God had fulfilled his word, ver. 43-45.
Verse 1. Then - When the whole land was distributed to the several
tribes, but not actually possessed by them; which was the proper
season for them to put in their claim. Fathers of the Levites-The
fathers of the Levites were Kohath, Gershom, and Merari, and the
heads of these were the chief persons now alive of these several
families.
Verse 2. 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 gospel should live of the
gospel.
Verse 3. 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 Levites being
dispersed among the several tribes, according to Jacob's
prediction, Gen. xlix, 7, might more easily, and effectually teach
the Israelites God's law and judgments, which they were engaged
to do, Deut. xxxiii, 10, and that the people might upon all
occasions resort to them, and inquire the meaning of the law at
their mouths. And suburbs - Not only the use, but the absolute
dominion of them, as is manifest both from ver. 11, 12, where a
distinction is made between the city and suburbs of Hebron, and
the fields and villages thereof; (the former given to the Levites,
the latter to Caleb;) and from the return of these cities in the
Jubilee, unto the Levites as to their proper owners, Lev. xxv, 33, 34.
Verse 4. 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 Levites might sell their
houses until the Jubilee, Lev. xxv, 33, much more might they let
them; and therefore it is probable their cities were not long
uninhabited, many being inclined to dwell with them by virtue of
relations contracted with them; or out of respect to the service of
God, and the good of their souls.
Verse 5. Children of Kohath - Who were of Aaron's family. Ephraim,
Daniel, and Manesseh - Which tribes are 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 than the former.
Verse 9. Judah and Simeon - These are mentioned together, because the
cities of Simeon lay within Judah's portion.
Verse 10. Families - That is, of the family, the plural number for the
singular, which is not unusual.
Verse 12. The fields and villages - That is, all beyond the two thousand
cubits expressed, Num. xxxv, 5. This is here mentioned, not as his
peculiar case, but as one eminent instance, to shew, that it was so
in all the rest of the cities here named; that the fields and villages
thereof still belonged to the several tribes from whom the cities
and their suburbs were taken; and to make the rest of the Israelites
more chearfully resign part of their possessions to the Levites,
because even Caleb did so, though his possession had been long
before promised, and now actually given to him by God's special
command, as a mark of honour and compensation for his long and
faithful service.
Verse 16. And Ain - Ain and Gibeon, and some others here named are
not named, 1 Chron. vi, 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.
Verse 20. Which remained - Over and above those who were priests.
Verse 25. Half the tribe - Namely, that half which dwelt in Canaan.
Verse 41. Forty eight cities - Why hath this tribe, which was the least of
all, more cities than any of them? First, it doth not appear that
they had more: for though all the cities of the Levites be
expressed, it is not so with the other tribes, but divers of their
cities are omitted. Secondly, the Levites were confined to their
cities and suburbs; the rest had large territories belonging to their
cities, which also so they were in a capacity of improving, which
the Levites were not; so that one of their cities might be more
considerable than divers of the Levites. Thirdly, God, was pleased
to deal liberally with his ministers, to put honour on those whom
he foresaw many would be prone to despise; and, that being free
from outward distractions, they might more entirely and fervently
devote themselves to the service of God.
Verse 43. All the land - He gave them the right to all, and the actual
possession of the greatest part of it, and power to possess the rest,
as soon as it was needful for them, which was when their numbers
were increased, and the absolute dominion of all the people
remaining in it.
Verse 44. Gave them rest - Namely, all the days of Joshua; for
afterwards it was otherwise with them.
Verse 45. All came to pass - Such an acknowledgment as this, here
subscribed by Joshua, in the name of all Israel, we afterward find
made by Solomon; and all Israel did in effect say amen to it, 1
Kings viii, 56. The inviolable truth of God's promise, and the
performance of it to the uttermost, is what all believers in Christ
have been always ready to bear their testimony to. And if in any
thing it has seemed to come short, they have been as ready to take
all the blame to themselves.
Chapter 21:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Deuteronomy Judges
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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