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Joshua 21:1-42

Then the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel. They spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “Yahweh commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their pasture lands for our livestock.”

The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their pasture lands. The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin. The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh. The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun. The children of Israel gave these cities with their pasture lands by lot to the Levites, as Yahweh commanded by Moses. They gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are mentioned by name: and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot. They gave them Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (also called Hebron), in the hill country of Judah, with its pasture lands around it. But they gave the fields of the city and its villages to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. To the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Libnah with its pasture lands, Jattir with its pasture lands, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands, Holon with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, Ain with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasture lands: nine cities out of those two tribes. Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba with its pasture lands, Anathoth with its pasture lands, and Almon with its pasture lands: four cities. All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

The families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim. They gave them Shechem with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Gezer with its pasture lands, Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth Horon with its pasture lands: four cities. Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: four cities. Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its pasture lands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: two cities. All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their pasture lands.

They gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Be Eshterah with its pasture lands: two cities. Out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En Gannim with its pasture lands: four cities. Out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands: four cities. Out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Hammothdor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands: three cities. All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands, Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands: four cities. Out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands, Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands: four cities. Out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Mahanaim with its pasture lands, Heshbon with its pasture lands, Jazer with its pasture lands: four cities in all. All these were the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites. Their lot was twelve cities.

All the cities of the Levites among the possessions of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasture lands. Each of these cities included their pasture lands around them. It was this way with all these cities.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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WEB World English Bible

Then the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel.

They spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “Yahweh commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their pasture lands for our livestock.”

The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their pasture lands.

The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin.

The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh.

The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun.

The children of Israel gave these cities with their pasture lands by lot to the Levites, as Yahweh commanded by Moses.

They gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are mentioned by name:

and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.

They gave them Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (also called Hebron), in the hill country of Judah, with its pasture lands around it.

But they gave the fields of the city and its villages to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

To the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Libnah with its pasture lands,

Jattir with its pasture lands, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,

Holon with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands,

Ain with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasture lands: nine cities out of those two tribes.

Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba with its pasture lands,

Anathoth with its pasture lands, and Almon with its pasture lands: four cities.

All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

The families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.

They gave them Shechem with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Gezer with its pasture lands,

Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth Horon with its pasture lands: four cities.

Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands,

Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: four cities.

Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its pasture lands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: two cities.

All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their pasture lands.

They gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Be Eshterah with its pasture lands: two cities.

Out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands,

Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En Gannim with its pasture lands: four cities.

Out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands,

Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands: four cities.

Out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Hammothdor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands: three cities.

All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands,

Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands: four cities.

Out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands,

Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands: four cities.

Out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Mahanaim with its pasture lands,

Heshbon with its pasture lands, Jazer with its pasture lands: four cities in all.

All these were the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites. Their lot was twelve cities.

All the cities of the Levites among the possessions of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasture lands.

Each of these cities included their pasture lands around them. It was this way with all these cities.
KJV King James Version

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;

And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.

And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.

And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

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 half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

And 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 Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,

Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.

And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.

But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,

And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,

And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,

And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.

And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,

Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.

All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.

For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,

And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Beth-horon with her suburbs; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,

Aijalon with her suburbs, Gath-rimmon with her suburbs; four cities.

And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs; two cities.

All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.

And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beesh-terah with her suburbs; two cities.

And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,

Jarmuth with her suburbs, En-gannim with her suburbs; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,

Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammoth-dor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.

All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,

Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,

Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.

So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.

All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.

These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.

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JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

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;

and they spoke unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying: 'The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the open land thereabout for our cattle.'

And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of the LORD, these cities with the open land about them.

And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites; and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

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 half-tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

And 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 Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

The children of Merari according to their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with the open land about them, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name.

And they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.

And they gave them Kiriath-arba, which Arba was the father of Anak — the same is Hebron — in the hill-country of Judah, with the open land round about it.

But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

And unto the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with the open land about it;

and Jattir with the open land about it, and Eshtemoa with the open land about it;

and Holon with the open land about it, and Debir with the open land about it;

and Ain with the open land about it, and Juttah with the open land about it, and Beth-shemesh with the open land about it; nine cities out of those two tribes.

And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with the open land about it, Geba with the open land about it;

Anathoth with the open land about it, and Almon with the open land about it; four cities.

All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with the open land about them.

And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.

And they gave them Shechem with the open land about it in the hill-country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Gezer with the open land about it;

and Kibzaim with the open land about it, and Beth-horon with the open land about it; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with the open land about it, Gibbethon with the open land about it;

Aijalon with the open land about it, Gath-rimmon with the open land about it; four cities.

And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with the open land about it, and Gath-rimmon with the open land about it; two cities.

All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with the open land about them.

And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer; and Beeshterah with the open land about it; two cities.

And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with the open land about it, Dobrath with the open land about it;

Jarmuth with the open land about it, En-gannim with the open land about it; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with the open land about it, Abdon with the open land about it;

Helkath with the open land about it, and Rehob with the open land about it; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Hammoth-dor with the open land about it, and Kartan with the open land about it; three cities.

All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with the open land about them.

And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with the open land about it, and Kartah with the open land about it;

Dimnah with the open land about it, Nahalal with the open land about it; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with the open land about it, and Jahaz with the open land about it;

Kedemoth with the open land about it, and Mephaath with the open land about it; four cities.

And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Mahanaim with the open land about it;

Heshbon with the open land about it, Jazer with the open land about it; four cities in all.

All these were the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.

All the cities of the Levites — forty and eight cities with the open land about them — shall be in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel,

even these cities, every one with the open land round about it; thus it shall be with all these cities.

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Contradictions (2)

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Cross-references (159)

Joshua 20:7 (vv13, 21, 32) They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (also called…
Joshua 20:8 (vv27, 36, 38) Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead out…
1 Chronicles 6:55 (v11) to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and its pasture lands around it;
1 Chronicles 6:77 (v34) To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its pasture lands, Tabor with its…
Joshua 15:42 (vv13, 16) Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

Show all 100 cross-references

Genesis 32:2 (v38) When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Joshua 14:1 (v1) These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and…
Joshua 15:10 (v16) and the border turned about from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim (also called Chesalon) on the…
Joshua 15:48 (v14) In the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
Joshua 15:50 (v14) Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
Joshua 15:55 (v16) Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Jutah,
Joshua 18:1 (v2) The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The land…
1 Chronicles 6:59 (v16) Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasture lands;
1 Chronicles 6:66 (v20) Some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.
1 Chronicles 6:71 (v27) To the sons of Gershom were given, out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, and Ashtaroth…
1 Chronicles 6:76 (v32) and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands, and Kiriathaim with its pasture…
Deuteronomy 4:43 (vv27, 36, 38) Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the…
Genesis 49:7 (vv3, 41) Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
Joshua 15:54 (vv11, 13) Humtah, Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.
Numbers 35:2-8 (v2) “Command the children of Israel to give to the Levites cities to dwell in out of their inheritance. You shall give pasture lands for the…
Joshua 9:3 (v17) But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
Joshua 10:29 (v13) Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.
Joshua 15:49 (v15) Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (which is Debir),
Joshua 15:51 (v15) Goshen, Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.
Joshua 17:4 (v1) They came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the princes, saying, “Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an…
Joshua 18:24-25 (v17) Chephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages. Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Joshua 19:51 (v1) These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the…
Joshua 21:3 (v8) The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their…
Joshua 21:4 (v10) The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot…
Joshua 21:20-26 (v5) The families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, had the cities of their lot out of the tribe…
Joshua 21:27-33 (v6) They gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with its pasture…
Joshua 21:34-40 (v7) To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah…
Luke 1:39 (v11) Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
Numbers 3:27 (vv5, 10) Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites.…
1 Chronicles 6:60 (vv17–18) and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasture lands, Allemeth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pasture lands. All…
Genesis 23:2 (v11) Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
Genesis 33:19 (v21) He bought the parcel of ground where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces…
Genesis 35:27 (v11) Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.
Genesis 46:11 (v5) The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Exodus 6:14 (v1) These are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are…
Exodus 6:16-17 (v6) These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi…
Exodus 6:16-25 (v5) These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi…
Exodus 6:18 (v10) The sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred thirty-three years.
Exodus 6:19 (v7) The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.
Exodus 6:20-26 (v10) Amram took Jochebed his father’s sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. The years of the life of Amram were one…
Exodus 6:25 (v1) Eleazar Aaron’s son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses…
Numbers 3:2-4 (v10) These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron,…
Numbers 3:19 (v10) The sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
Numbers 3:20 (v7) The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.
Numbers 3:21-22 (v6) Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites. Those who were…
Numbers 4:2 (v10) “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ houses,
Numbers 21:23 (v36) Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the…
Numbers 21:26-30 (v39) For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of…
Numbers 32:1 (v39) Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock. They saw the land of Jazer, and the land of…
Numbers 32:2 (v8) Then the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the princes of the…
Numbers 32:3 (v39) “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
Numbers 32:35 (v39) Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
Numbers 32:37 (v39) The children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
Numbers 33:54 (v8) You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall…
Numbers 34:17-29 (v1) “These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun. You shall…
Numbers 35:1-8 (v41) Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, “Command the children of Israel to give to the Levites cities…
Numbers 35:3 (v8) They shall have the cities to dwell in. Their pasture lands shall be for their livestock, and for their possessions, and for all their…
Numbers 35:6 (v13) “The cities which you shall give to the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the man slayer to flee…
Deuteronomy 1:4 (v27) after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth, at Edrei.
Deuteronomy 33:8-10 (v3) About Levi he said, “Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters…
Deuteronomy 33:10 (v41) They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar.
Joshua 10:3 (v29) Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of…
Joshua 10:12 (v24) Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel. He said in the sight of Israel,…
Joshua 10:23 (v29) They did so, and brought those five kings out of the cave to him: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king…
Joshua 12:11 (v29) the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
Joshua 12:13 (v15) the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
Joshua 12:22 (v34) the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;
Joshua 13:17 (v39) Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,
Joshua 13:18 (v36) Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
Joshua 13:21 (v39) all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs…
Joshua 14:13-15 (v12) Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb…
Joshua 14:15 (v11) Now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba, after the greatest man among the Anakim. Then the land had rest from war.
Joshua 15:13-14 (v11) He gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of Yahweh to Joshua, even Kiriath…
Joshua 16:3 (v22) and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, to the border of Beth Horon the lower, and on to Gezer; and ended at the sea.
Joshua 16:5 (v22) This was the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families. The border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth Addar, to…
Joshua 16:10 (v21) They didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this day, and have become…
Joshua 17:11 (v25) Manasseh had three heights in Issachar, in Asher Beth Shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its…
Joshua 18:6 (v8) You shall survey the land into seven parts, and bring the description here to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God.
Joshua 18:13-14 (v22) The border passed along from there to Luz, to the side of Luz (also called Bethel), southward. The border went down to Ataroth Addar, by…
Joshua 19:11 (v34) Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam.
Joshua 19:12 (v28) It turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrise to the border of Chisloth Tabor. It went out to Daberath, and went up to Japhia.
Joshua 19:15 (v34) Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:25-28 (v30) Their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, Allammelech, Amad, Mishal. It reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath. It turned…
Joshua 19:35 (v32) The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,
Joshua 19:37 (v32) Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,
Joshua 19:42 (v24) Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,
Joshua 19:44-45 (v23) Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,
Joshua 20:7-9 (v11) They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (also called…
Joshua 21:5 (v20) The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe of Dan, and out of…
Joshua 21:7 (v34) The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the…
Joshua 21:8-19 (v4) The children of Israel gave these cities with their pasture lands by lot to the Levites, as Yahweh commanded by Moses. They gave out of the…
Joshua 21:13-18 (v9) To the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Libnah with its pasture…
Joshua 24:33 (v4) Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
Judges 1:10 (v11) Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron. (The name of Hebron before that was Kiriath Arba.) They struck Sheshai, Ahiman, and…
Judges 1:31 (v31) Asher didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor…

100 distinct cross-references across this passage (159 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (25 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv1, 4, 20, 41 1. Then came near the heads, etc Here we…

1. Then came near the heads, etc Here we have at a later period a narrative of what ought to have preceded. 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. We must understand, therefore, that when the lot was cast in the name of the ten tribes, a reservation was made of cities in the land of Canaan for the habitation of the Levites. Beyond the Jordan their portion had already been assigned to them. But as the Levites come forward and request a ratification of the divine grant, it is probable that they were neglected till they pleaded their own cause. For so it is apt to happen, every one being so attentive in looking after his own affairs that even brethren are forgotten. It was certainly disgraceful to the people that they required to be pulled by the ear, and put in mind of what the Lord had clearly ordered respecting the Levites. But had they not demanded a domicile for themselves, there was a risk of their being left to lie in the open air; although, at the same time, we are permitted to infer that the people erred more from carelessness and forgetfulness than from any intention to deceive, as they make no delay as soon as they are admonished; nay, they are praised for their obedience in that they did what was just and right according to the word of the Lord.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 4, 10, 13, 17, 20, 21, 25, 27, 32, 34, 36, 41 Or, the chief of the fathers.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12 Jos 21:1 Then came near the heads of the…

Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 20, 25, 36, 41 Then, i.e. when the whole land was distributed unto…

Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On vv1, 9 Here is, I. The Levites' petition presented to this…

John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv1–42 Then came near the heads of the fathers of…

John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25, 41 The motion of the Levites, to have their cities…

Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv1, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 22, 24, 27, 35, 36, 41 The Levites apply to Eleazar, Joshua, and the elders,…

Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 16, 20, 25, 41, 42 Jos 21:1. The heads of the fathers of the…

Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv1, 4, 5, 9, 20, 27, 34, 42 A list of the Levitical cities, varying in some…

Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv1, 3, 4, 9, 12, 16, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 35, 36, 40 The priest, who seems to have presided, as he…

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures 1864 · Public Domain On v1 5. Appointment of the Cities for the Priests and…

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv4, 9, 41 the lot came out for the families of the…

Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 18, 21, 27, 28, 42 DESIGNATION OF THE LEVITICAL CITIES, Jos_21:1-42.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41 Ch. Jos_21:1-3. The Demand of the Levites

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v4 (4-8) The order of the distribution—viz., (1) to priests,…

The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, 21, 25, 27, 30, 32, 36, 38, 41, 42 Then came near the heads of the fathers of…

The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v1 Unto the Levites . . . these cities.

The Expositor's Bible 1887 · Public Domain On v1 CHAPTER XXVIII. THE INHERITANCE OF THE LEVITES. Jos_21:1-42.

The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v1 Jos_21:1. The heads of the fathers] On this phrase,…

J. R. Dummelow 1909 · Public Domain On v1 The Assignment of Forty-eight Cities to the Levites

Arno C. Gaebelein 1922 · Public Domain On v1 8. The Portion of the Levites

Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv1, 9, 20 The Allotment in General

unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 17, 20, 23, 25, 27, 28, 32, 34, 36, 39, 41 Eleazar ... Nun

Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 21:1-8 The towns given to the tribe of Levi…