Joshua 13:14

“Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance, etc.] Neither the Lord, nor Moses by his order, nor did he appoint any inheritance for them, either beyond Jordan, or on this side it, for the Lord was to be their inheritance, (<041820>Numbers 18:20); the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire [are] their inheritance, as he said unto them; (<051801>Deuteronomy 18:1); and which are put for the whole of what was granted to them for their subsistence, as tithes, firstfruits, etc.”

“The writer appends to the command of God Joshua 13:1-7 a statement that the other two tribes and a half had already had their inheritance marked out for them by Moses in the land east of Jordan. The boundaries of this territory as a whole are first set forth Joshua 13:8-14, and afterward the portions assigned within it to the two tribes and a half are severally described Joshua 13:15-33. Joshua 13:14 See Deuteronomy 18:1-5 and notes. Joshua 13:15-24 Inheritance of the tribe of Reuben. This territory was the most southerly of the trans-Jordanic possessions of Israel, and adjoined Moab, which lay only on the other side of the Arnon. Hence, the Reubenites became in after times much intermixed…”

“He gave - That is, Moses. None inheritance - Namely, in the land beyond Jordan, where yet a considerable part of the Levites were to have their settled abode. This is mentioned as the reason both why Moses gave all that land to the Reubenites and Gadites and Manassites; and why Joshua should divide the land only into nine parts and an half, as was said, Jos 13:7, because Levi was otherwise provided for. Made by fire - Which are here put for all the sacrifices and oblations, including first - fruits and tithes, that were assigned to the Levites; and this passage is repeated, to prevent those calumnies and injuries which God foresaw the Levites were likely to meet with, from the malice, envy…”

“13:14 The tribe of Levi inherited no tribal land of its own (see Deut 18:1-8). Levitical cities were located in the territories of the other tribes (Josh 21).”

“See note on Jos 13:33. Jos 14:3, Jos 14:4; Num 18:20-24; Deu 10:9, Deu 12:12, Deu 12:19, Deu 18:2 Joshua 13:16”