BibleWord.ai› Bible› Joshua› Chapter 21› Verse 27

Joshua 21:27

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 21:27 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh [they gave] Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Be-eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh [they gave] Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Be-eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.
Joshua 21:27 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
24Aijalon with its suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; four cities.
25And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; two cities.
26All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbs.
27And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh [they gave] Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Be-eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.
28And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,
29Jarmuth with its suburbs, En-gannim with its suburbs; four cities.
30And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs,
← Joshua 21:26Joshua 21:28 →
← Full Chapter 21 Joshua Overview

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 unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, etc.] The descendants of the second son of Levi: out of the [other] half tribe of Manasseh; that which was settled beyond Jordan: [they gave] Golan in Bashan, with her suburbs, [to be] a city of refuge for the slayer; (see <062008>Joshua 20:8); this is the third city of refuge mentioned: and Beeshterah with her suburbs; called Ashtaroth, (<130671>1 Chronicles 6:71); which had been the royal city of Og, king of Bashan, where he had his palace, (<050104>Deuteronomy 1:4). Here seems to have been formerly a temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte; for Beeshterah is a compound of “Beth” and “Ashterah”, or Astarte; that is, the…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare Joshua 19:18, etc. Of the cities of the Gershonites, for Beesh-terah read (Beeshterah.) The name is a contraction of Beth-Ashterah (“house of Ashterah”) and the city is undoubtedly the Ashtaroth or Astaroth of Og Joshua 12:4; Deu 1:4; 1 Chronicles 6:71. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“And unto: Jos 21:6 Golan: Jos 20:8; Deu 1:4, Deu 4:43; Ch1 6:71 Beeshterah: It is very probable that Beesh-terah is a contraction of baith ashtaroth, "the house of Ashtaroth," and the same as Ashtaroth, which is the reading in Ch1 6:71. Joshua 21:28”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Joshua 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification