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Joshua 21:40

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 21:40 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “All [these were] the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

All [these were] the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.
Joshua 21:40 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
37Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.
38And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,
39Heshbon with its suburbs, Jazer with its suburbs; four cities in all.
40All [these were] the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.
41All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
42These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus it was with all these cities.
43So Jehovah gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
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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
“So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, etc.] Which were distributed by lot to them, according to the number of their families, and were sufficient for them: which were remaining of the families of the Levites; the last division of them, besides those of the Kohathites, Levites, and the Gershonites: were [by] their lot twelve cities; four out of the tribe of Zebulun, four out of the tribe of Reuben, and four out of the tribe of Gad, whose names are before given,”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Merarite cities. Some of these places are not found in the list of Zebulonite cities in Joshua 19:10-16. The text is considered corrupt. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Sources and verification