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Joshua 21:8

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 21:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by Moses.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by Moses.
Joshua 21:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
6And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
7The children of Merari according to their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by Moses.
9And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are [here] mentioned by name:
10and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.
11And they gave them Kiriath-arba, [which Arba was] the father of Anak (the same is Hebron), in the hill-country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
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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 the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, etc.] Reaching two thousand cubits from the cities all around: these cities did not lie all together, and so could not be described by their coasts; but in the several tribes, and intermixed with their cities; which fulfilled Jacob’s prophecy, that they should be divided and scattered in Israel, (<014907>Genesis 49:7); as well as it was so ordered for the benefit of the several tribes, that they might have the assistance of the priests and Levites, to instruct them in the knowledge of the laws and commandments of God, and all divine things: as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses; (<043502>Numbers…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:8 The pasturelands were grazing ground surrounding the cities. The repetition of this word throughout the list (21:8-42) gave the allotment the character of a legal record, guaranteeing the Levites access to lands immediately surrounding each of the Levitical cities (Num 35:4-5).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“by lot: Jos 21:3, Jos 18:6; Num 33:54, Num 35:3; Pro 16:33, Pro 18:18 as the Lord: Num 32:2 Joshua 21:9”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification