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Joshua 21:16

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 21:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, [and] Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, [and] Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
Joshua 21:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13And unto the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with its suburbs,
14and Jattir with its suburbs, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
15and Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs,
16and Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, [and] Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs,
18Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities.
19All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
← Joshua 21:15Joshua 21:17 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Ain with her suburbs, etc.] (See Gill on “<061532>Joshua 15:32”); and Juttah with her suburbs; (see Gill on “<061555>Joshua 15:55”); [and] Bethshemesh with her suburbs; which is not mentioned among the cities of Judah, (<061521>Joshua 15:21-63); only as in the borders of it, (<062110>Joshua 21:10); and perhaps is the same Bethshemesh to which the ark was directed by the Philistines from Ashdod, (<090609>1 Samuel 6:9,12); in it formerly was a temple dedicated to the sun, from whence it had its name: nine cities out of those two tribes; and they seem all but one, which is Ain, to be of the tribe of Judah, and that originally belonged to it; and as that tribe had the largest number of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The thirteen priestly cities (see the marginal references) were all in the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. Thus, as Calvin remarks, God so overruled it that the priestly families were placed upon the spot which He had determined before hand to choose as the site of His temple. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Ain - Ain and Gibeon, and some others here named are not named, Ch1 6:59. 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. Joshua 21:20”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Ain: Jos 15:42; Ch1 6:59, Ashan Juttah: Eusebius says Juttah was a great town 18 miles south from Eleutheropolis. Jos 15:55 Bethshemesh: Jos 15:10; Sa1 6:9, Sa1 6:12; Ch1 6:59 Joshua 21:17”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification