Bible in one year 5/15/2022 Joshua Chapter 15-21 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 5/15/2022 Joshua Chapter 15-21

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

Joshua Chapter 15 Inheritance of Juhad

Judah’s southern border extended from the S. end of the Salt Sea (Dead Sea)Westward to the Wadi of Egypt.(vv.1-12). Her northern border extended from the N. tip of the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean (these representing the E. and W.limits). Othniel (vv.13-19) made a second assault on Debir after Joshua’s lightning attach (10:38-39). The cites of Judah are listed by four geographical areas: (1) the south (vv.20-32);(2) the Shephela(western foothills, vv.33-47);(3) the hill country (vv.48-60); and (4) the desert (or wilderness) of Judea that slopes down to the Dead Sea(vv.61-62). Twenty nine town. (v.32) Since thirty –eight locations are listed, perhaps nine of these were too small to be called “towns,” or they may have been in part of Simeon’s territory.(19:9). The men of Judah did capture the lower city (Judg.1:8,21), but only later did King David capture the upper city and eliminate the Jebusites (2Sam.5:6-7).

 

Chapter 16 Inheritance of half-trible of Manasseh

            Ephraim was allotted the southern part of the central hill country, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. (vv.5-10). Moses had said that a daughter could inherit from her father (Num.27:3; 27:7-11). Manasseh controlled the northern part of the central hill country up to the valley of Jezreel. The third in the list is Naphoth(v.11). The word Naphoth(countries ) does not occur elsewhere. It may refer to three districts, towns, or mountains, or it may be explaining that Dor (third on the list) is Naphath Dor.( Josh.17:7-11). The children of Joseph did not eliminate the Canaanites in their territory but pit them under tribute; then they complained about not having enough land. Joshua suggested that they clear trees and settle in the forested hill country. Iron chariots. I.e., chariots armed with projecting iron blades.(vv.12-18).

Chapter 18 Survey of remaining land  

            From Gilgal the congregation moved to Shiloh, ten miles N.of Bethel, pitching the Tabernacle there, where it remained during the period of the judges (22:9;1Sam.1:3). Joshua appointed a commission of twenty-one men to survey the land not already allotted to Judah, Manasseh, and Ephraim. (vv.2-9). Benjamin drew an allotment of land between the territories of Judah and Ephraim, including Jerusalem(in fulfillment of Deut.33:12).

Chapter 19 Inheritance of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, Special inheritances

            Simeon was given land in the southern section of Judah’s territory in fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecy (Gen.49:5). Zebulun was allotted a landlocked area in lower Galilee that included Nazareth and was traversed by trade routes.(vv.10-16). The territory of Issachar was N. of that given to Manasseh and reached from Mt. Tabor on the W. to the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. (vv.17-23). Asher settled along the Mediterranean coast from Mt. Carmel N. to Tyre, where the Phoenicians were.(vv.24-31). To the E. of Asher was the territory of Naphtali. (vv.32-39). Dan was allotted a small section between the territory of Benjamin and the Mediterranean(vv.40-48;Judg.1:34;18:1-31).After all the land had been allocated, the people gave Joshua Timnath Serah, in the hill country of Ephraim, about twelve miles NE. of Lydda (Lod).(vv.49-50).

Chapter 20 Cities of Refuge 

            Six cities of refuge are designated (as Moses had instructed;Num.35:11), three on each side of the Jordan, for protection of the unwitting slayer. This protection was provided only in cases of unpremeditated murder. The procedure indicated in verse 6 required that a person fleeing to one of these cities later had to stand trial in the community nearest the scene of the crime. If found innocent of premeditated murder, he was returned to the city of refuge. After the death of the high priest, he was free to return with impunity to his home city. (refer to Num.35:25-34 for criteria for judging)

Chapter 21 Towns of the Levites

            The Levites were given forty eight towns with their pasturelands. This distribution provided a spiritual influence over all the people, since no one lived more than ten miles from a city in which Levites lived.(v.2). God had kept His promise to give Israel the land of Canaan as recorded in Gen.17:8. It is true that the Israelites had not yet fully conquered it, but God had told them they would do so gradually (Deut.7:22).The promise of Genesis15:18-20 involving a larger territory will be fulfilled in the Millennium).

======================

Old Testament (NIV) Joshua Chapter 15-21 Allotment for Israelites

Chapter 15 Allotment for Judah

15:1 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, clan by clan, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south.

15:2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Salt Sea,

15:3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka.

15:4 It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the sea. This is their southern boundary.

15:5 The eastern boundary is the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan. The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan,

15:6 went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.

15:7 The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north to Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel.

15:8 Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

15:9 From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim).

15:10 Then it curved westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh and crossed to Timnah.

15:11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron, turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah and reached Jabneel. The boundary ended at the sea.

15:12 The western boundary is the coastline of the Great Sea. These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.

15:13 In accordance with the LORD'S command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah--Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)

15:14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites--Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai--descendants of Anak.

15:15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher).

15:16 And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher."

15:17 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

15:18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?"

15:19 She replied, "Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

15:20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, clan by clan:

15:21 The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the boundary of Edom were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

15:22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

15:23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

15:24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

15:25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),

15:26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,

15:27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet,

15:28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

15:29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

15:30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,

15:31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

15:32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon--a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

15:33 In the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

15:34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

15:35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

15:36 Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim)--fourteen towns and their villages.

15:37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,

15:38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,

15:39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

15:40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,

15:41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah--sixteen towns and their villages.

15:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

15:43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

15:44 Keilah, Aczib and Mareshah--nine towns and their villages.

15:45 Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages;

15:46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages;

15:47 Ashdod, its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.

15:48 In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

15:49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir),

15:50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

15:51 Goshen, Holon and Giloh--eleven towns and their villages.

15:52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan,

15:53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,

15:54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior--nine towns and their villages.

15:55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

15:56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

15:57 Kain, Gibeah and Timnah--ten towns and their villages.

15:58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,

15:59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon--six towns and their villages.

15:60 Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah--two towns and their villages.

15:61 In the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,

15:62 Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi--six towns and their villages.

15:63 Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

Chapter 16 Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

16:1 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan of Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel.

16:2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth,

16:3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the sea.

16:4 So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.

16:5 This was the territory of Ephraim, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon

16:6 and continued to the sea. From Micmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east.

16:7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan.

16:8 From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, clan by clan.

16:9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.

16:10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.

 

Chapter 17 Inheritance of half-tribe of Manasseh

17:1 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph's firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh's firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because the Makirites were great soldiers.

17:2 So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh--the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

17:3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.

17:4 They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers." So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the LORD'S command.

17:5 Manasseh's share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,

17:6 because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

17:7 The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Micmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah.

17:8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.)

17:9 Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the sea.

17:10 On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

17:11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth).

17:12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region.

17:13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

17:14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people and the LORD has blessed us abundantly."

17:15 "If you are so numerous," Joshua answered, "and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites."

17:16 The people of Joseph replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel."

17:17 But Joshua said to the house of Joseph--to Ephraim and Manasseh--"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment

17:18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out."

 

Chapter 18 Division of the Rest of the Land

18:1 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control,

18:2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

18:4 Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me.

18:5 You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the house of Joseph in its territory on the north.

18:6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the LORD our God.

18:7 The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the LORD is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it to them."

18:8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, "Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD."

18:9 So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.

18:10 Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.

Allotment for Benjamin

18:11 The lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:

18:12 On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the desert of Beth Aven.

18:13 From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addar on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.

18:14 From the hill facing Beth Horon on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a town of the people of Judah. This was the western side.

18:15 The southern side began at the outskirts of Kiriath Jearim on the west, and the boundary came out at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.

18:16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim. It continued down the Hinnom Valley along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.

18:17 It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth, which faces the Pass of Adummim, and ran down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.

18:18 It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah and on down into the Arabah.

18:19 It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan in the south. This was the southern boundary.

18:20 The Jordan formed the boundary on the eastern side. These were the boundaries that marked out the inheritance of the clans of Benjamin on all sides.

18:21 The tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, had the following cities: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz,

18:22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,

18:23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,

18:24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba--twelve towns and their villages.

18:25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,

18:26 Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah,

18:27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,

18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath--fourteen towns and their villages. This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.

 

Chapter 19 Allotment for Simeon

19:1 The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon, clan by clan. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah.

19:2 It included: Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,

19:3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,

19:4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

19:5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,

19:6 Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen--thirteen towns and their villages;

19:7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan--four towns and their villages--

19:8 and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev). This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, clan by clan.

19:9 The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah's portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.

Allotment for Zebulun

19:10 The third lot came up for Zebulun, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid.

19:11 Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam.

19:12 It turned east from Sarid toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia.

19:13 Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon and turned toward Neah.

19:14 There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.

19:15 Included were Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah and Bethlehem. There were twelve towns and their villages.

19:16 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun, clan by clan.

Allotment for Issachar

19:17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, clan by clan.

19:18 Their territory included: Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem,

19:19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,

19:20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,

19:21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez.

19:22 The boundary touched Tabor, Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen towns and their villages.

19:23 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, clan by clan.

Allotment for Asher

19:24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher, clan by clan.

19:25 Their territory included: Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph,

19:26 Allammelech, Amad and Mishal. On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath.

19:27 It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.

19:28 It went to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.

19:29 The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the sea in the region of Aczib,

19:30 Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

19:31 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, clan by clan.

Allotment for Naphtali

19:32 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali, clan by clan:

19:33 Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim, passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan.

19:34 The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan on the east.

19:35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth,

19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,

19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,

19:38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen towns and their villages.

19:39 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, clan by clan.

Allotment for Dan

19:40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan, clan by clan.

19:41 The territory of their inheritance included: Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh,

19:42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,

19:43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,

19:45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,

19:46 Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.

19:47 (But the Danites had difficulty taking possession of their territory, so they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named it Dan after their forefather.)

19:48 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, clan by clan.

Allotment for Joshua

19:49 When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them,

19:50 as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for--Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

19:51 These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.

 

Chapter 20 Cities of Refuge

20:1 Then the LORD said to Joshua:

20:2 "Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

20:3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.

20:4 "When he flees to one of these cities, he is to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state his case before the elders of that city. Then they are to admit him into their city and give him a place to live with them.

20:5 If the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the one accused, because he killed his neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought.

20:6 He is to stay in that city until he has stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then he may go back to his own home in the town from which he fled."

20:7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.

20:8 On the east side of the Jordan of Jericho they designated Bezer in the desert on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh.

20:9 Any of the Israelites or any alien living among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

 

Chapter 21 Towns for the Levites

21:1 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel

21:2 at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, "The LORD commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock."

21:3 So, as the LORD had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

21:4 The first lot came out for the Kohathites, clan by clan. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin.

21:5 The rest of Kohath's descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh.

21:6 The descendants of Gershon were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

21:7 The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.

21:8 So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

21:9 From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name

21:10 (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):

21:11 They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)

21:12 But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.

21:13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah,

21:14 Jattir, Eshtemoa,

21:15 Holon, Debir,

21:16 Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands--nine towns from these two tribes.

21:17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,

21:18 Anathoth and Almon, together with their pasturelands--four towns.

21:19 All the towns for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

21:20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim:

21:21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer,

21:22 Kibzaim and Beth Horon, together with their pasturelands--four towns.

21:23 Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon,

21:24 Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands--four towns.

21:25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands--two towns.

21:26 All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.

21:27 The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshtarah, together with their pasturelands--two towns;

21:28 from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion, Daberath,

21:29 Jarmuth and En Gannim, together with their pasturelands--four towns;

21:30 from the tribe of Asher, Mishal, Abdon,

21:31 Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands--four towns;

21:32 from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands--three towns.

21:33 All the towns of the Gershonite clans were thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

21:34 The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given: from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam, Kartah,

21:35 Dimnah and Nahalal, together with their pasturelands--four towns;

21:36 from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, Jahaz,

21:37 Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands--four towns;

21:38 from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim,

21:39 Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands--four towns in all.

21:40 All the towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, were twelve.

21:41 The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands.

21:42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

21:43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there.

21:44 The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them.

21:45 Not one of all the LORD'S good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

 

 Bibliography,

 

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986