Joshua-Chapter-21
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Remember the following truth from
our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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Part One.…….
With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Joshua chapter 21 completes the long process
of land distribution among the tribes of
The chapter also closes with a sweeping
summary: the land was settled, the promises made to the ancestors were
fulfilled, and
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Part One of Joshua Chapter 21, verses 1 to 20: Whilst below the verses are the Explanation’s. (The Chapter is from JPS-1917 version of the Torah).
1. 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
Explanation Verse 1: The Levite leaders approach the central leadership at
2. and
they spoke unto them at Shiloh in the
Explanation Verse 2: They remind Joshua and the heads of the tribes that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim had
commanded Moses to assign cities to the Levites. Their appeal is procedural and
grounded in law.
3. And the children of
Explanation Verse 3: The Israelite tribes respond cooperatively, granting cities from
their own territories. This shows national unity and respect for the Levites’
role.
4. 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
Explanation Verse 4: The first lot falls to the Kohathite
families descended from Aaron. Because the priests come from this line, they
receive cities within the
5. 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.
Explanation Verse 5: The remaining Kohathites (non‑priestly)
receive cities from Ephraim, Dan, and half‑Manasseh. Their distribution
reflects a spread across central
6. 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.
Explanation Verse 6: The Gershonites receive cities from
Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the eastern half of Manasseh. Their placement
spans northern and northeastern regions.
7. 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.
Explanation Verse 7: The Merarites receive cities from Reuben,
Gad, and Zebulun. This places them in southern
8. And the children of
Explanation Verse 8: The narrator emphasizes that the distribution follows אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s command
through Moses. This reinforces the legitimacy of the process.
9. And they gave out of the
tribe of the children of
Explanation Verse 9: The tribes of Judah and Simeon provide cities for the priestly Kohathites. These tribes border each other, forming a
contiguous region.
10. 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.
Explanation Verse 10: The text reiterates that these cities go to the descendants of
Aaron, highlighting their elevated status among the Levites.
11. And they gave them Kiriath-arba, which Arba was the
father of Anak--the same is
Explanation Verse 11:
12. But the fields of the city,
and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son
of Jephunneh for his possession.
Explanation Verse 12: The agricultural land around
13. And unto the children of
Aaron the priest they gave
Explanation Verse 13:
14. and Jattir
with the open land about it, and Eshtemoa with the
open land about it;
Explanation Verse 14: Additional cities are listed for the priestly families, forming a
cluster in Judah and Benjamin.
15. and
Explanation Verse 15: The list continues, showing the priests’ cities concentrated in the
southern highlands.
16. 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.
Explanation Verse 16: More cities are enumerated, completing the priestly allotment.
17. And out of the tribe of
Benjamin,
Explanation Verse 17: Benjamin’s contribution begins, placing priestly cities near the
future political centre.
18. Anathoth
with the open land about it, and Almon with the open
land about it; four cities.
Explanation Verse 18: The list of Benjaminite cities continues,
reinforcing the priests’ presence in central
19. All the cities of the
children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with the open land about
them.
Explanation Verse 19: The total number of priestly cities is summarized, confirming the
completeness of the allocation.
20. 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.
Explanation Verse 20: Attention shifts to the non‑priestly Kohathites,
who receive cities in Ephraim.
This is Part One of this study; it is Continued in Part Two.
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