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Joshua 21:2

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 21:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
Joshua 21:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Then 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;
2and they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
3And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Jehovah, these cities with their suburbs.
4And 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.
5And 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.
← Joshua 21:1Joshua 21:3 →
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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 they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, etc.] Where the tabernacle was fixed, at or near which the above persons met to cast lots for the division of the land to the seven tribes that had not received their inheritance: saying, the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle; this command is extant in (<043502>Numbers 35:2-8).”
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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
“The Lord commanded - Observe: the maintenance of ministers is not an arbitrary thing, left purely to the good will of the people. No: as the God of Israel commanded, that the Levites should be provided for, so hath the Lord Jesus ordained, (and a perpetual ordinance it is) that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel. Joshua 21:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:2-3 The Lord commanded Moses: See Num 35:1-7. One of the priestly duties was to teach God’s torah (see study note on 1:8) to Israel. The Levites could accomplish this better by living throughout the tribal territories.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Shiloh: Jos 18:1 The Lord: Num 35:2-8; Eze 48:9-18; Mat 10:10; Gal 6:6; Ti1 5:17, Ti1 5:18 Joshua 21:3”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification