John Gill's Exposition on Joshua 21:27

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

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 house or temple of Astarte, but now become a city of the Levites: two cities; two more having been before given out of the other half tribe.

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