Joshua 21
[Joshua 21:1] THEN CAME NEAR THE HEADS OF THE FATHERS OF THE LEVITES UNTO
ELEAZAR THE PRIEST, AND UNTO JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, AND UNTO THE HEADS OF
THE FATHERS OF THE TRIBES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL;
The different tribes received an inheritance apportioned to them but often
even after the apportionment it needed their own initiative to put the
allocation into effect.
Note the hierarchy of leadership in this case: We have a High Priest
(Eleazar) of the House of Aaron, a Kingly-Leader (Joshua from the Tribe of
Ephraim), and a kind of council comprised of the Heads of each of the
Tribes each one of whom was considered a Prince in his own right.
The present chapter deals with the inheritance of the Tribe of Levi. The
Levites included the Priests (Cohens) of the House of Aaron and the
Levites. The Cohens performed most of the major tasks in the temple
Service and the Levites assisted them.
The Tribe of Levites were divided into three clans:
<<AND THE SONS OF LEVI; GERSHON, KOHATH, AND MERARI>> [Genesis 46:11].
Moses and Aaron came from the clan of Kohath. The House of Aaron gave rise
to the Cohens who formed a sub-division of their own.
Descendants of Moses also eventually formed their own grouping. In Jewish
lore the Sons of Moses are frequently linked with the Lost Ten Tribes. In
Ephraim chapter two we showed how Arab traditions that had been taken from
Jewish sources located the Sons of Moses and the Lost Tribes in France and Britain.
[Joshua 21:2] AND THEY SPAKE UNTO THEM AT SHILOH IN THE LAND OF CANAAN,
SAYING, THE LORD COMMANDED BY THE HAND OF MOSES TO GIVE US CITIES TO DWELL
IN, WITH THE SUBURBS THEREOF FOR OUR CATTLE.
The tabernacle was in Shiloh and Shiloh in effect was the capital at that
time. Shiloh was in the territory of Ephraim. An extremely beautiful area,
cold, windy, and mountainous interspersed with rich fertile valleys, a lot
of ancient remains that still have not been properly examined. It was once
very intensively settled as can be seen by the remains of terraces on every
hillside. If any of you ever visit Israel I would suggest that you try and
visit the area. In order to visit the region you would be better off doing
it through a responsible tour guide or in coordination with someone who
lives in the area. It is in the West Bankand if one strays off the beaten
path the Palestinianscan be more than nasty.
[Joshua 21:3] AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL GAVE UNTO THE LEVITES OUT OF THEIR
INHERITANCE, AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD, THESE CITIES AND THEIR SUBURBS.
[Joshua 21:4] AND THE LOT CAME OUT FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE KOHATHITES: AND
THE CHILDREN OF AARON THE PRIEST, WHICH WERE OF THE LEVITES, HAD BY LOT
OUT OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF SIMEON, AND OUT OF THE
TRIBE OF BENJAMIN, THIRTEEN CITIES.
Each of the three main clans of the Levites was sub-divided into smaller
family groupings. Nowadays it is considered genetically unhealthy to marry
close relatives but in the past it was the general practice throughout most
of the world.
The sub-divisions of Levi are found in the Book of Exodus:
[Exodus 6:16] AND THESE ARE THE NAMES OF THE SONS OF LEVI ACCORDING TO
THEIR GENERATIONS; GERSHON, AND KOHATH, AND MERARI: AND THE YEARS OF THE
LIFE OF LEVI WERE AN HUNDRED THIRTY AND SEVEN YEARS.
[Exodus 6:17] THE SONS OF GERSHON; LIBNI, AND SHIMI, ACCORDING TO THEIR FAMILIES.
[Exodus 6:18] AND THE SONS OF KOHATH; AMRAM, AND IZHAR, AND HEBRON, AND
UZZIEL: AND THE YEARS OF THE LIFE OF KOHATH WERE AN HUNDRED THIRTY AND THREE YEARS.
[Exodus 6:19] AND THE SONS OF MERARI; MAHALI AND MUSHI: THESE ARE THE
FAMILIES OF LEVI ACCORDING TO THEIR GENERATIONS.
[Exodus 6:20] AND AMRAM TOOK HIM JOCHEBED HIS FATHER'S SISTER TO WIFE; AND
SHE BARE HIM AARON AND MOSES: AND THE YEARS OF THE LIFE OF AMRAM WERE AN
HUNDRED AND THIRTY AND SEVEN YEARS.
From the above verse of Joshua 21:4 we see that the Aaronite division of
Kohath received its cities amongst the Tribes of Judah, Simeon, and
Benjamin. These were the Tribes that comprised the future southern kingdom
of Judahfrom which descends the present day Jews. From the very beginning
most of the Cohens were apportioned amongst what became the Jewish people.
This may be one of the reasons why today amongst the Jewish people there
are probably more Cohens than Levites
Even though the Bible says that all the other Levites moved to Judah when
Jeroboam set up the golden calves and appointed priests who were not Levites:
[2-Chronicles 11:5] AND REHOBOAM DWELT IN JERUSALEM, AND BUILT CITIES FOR
DEFENCE IN JUDAH.
[2-Chronicles 11:13] AND THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES THAT WERE IN ALL
ISRAEL RESORTED TO HIM OUT OF ALL THEIR COASTS.
[2-Chronicles 11:14] FOR THE LEVITES LEFT THEIR SUBURBS AND THEIR
POSSESSION, AND CAME TO JUDAH AND JERUSALEM: FOR JEROBOAM AND HIS SONS HAD
CAST THEM OFF FROM EXECUTING THE PRIEST'S OFFICE UNTO THE LORD:
In The Tribes we traced Levitical groups to Lombardy in Northern Italy.
This is apart from the Sons of Moses who were somewhere alongside the Lost Ten Tribes.
Other possibilities for Levitical origin include groups amongst the Welsh
and the Wends who were once in Germany.
Jack Hertzog (in an article to be published in a coming issue of Brit-Am
Truth) finds the name Levi amongst British descended peoples:
<<Lewis, Laver, Lawson, Levit, Lowell, Love
Many of the Levites (The Irish Name Donlevy), meaning Levite of Dan, is just one
example, have gotten into the law fields, and are very adept at law, including the
Jews of Levitical descent, names like Lawson, Lewis, Love, Levensen, Levi itself,
Lovell, Lowell, all go to prove that Israel is Alive and well on this earth today,
as (Gen. 49:1) did show would be the case.>>
[Joshua 21:5] AND 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 21:6] AND 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.
[Joshua 21:7] THE CHILDREN OF MERARI BY 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.
[Joshua 21:8] AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL GAVE BY LOT UNTO THE LEVITES THESE
CITIES WITH THEIR SUBURBS, AS THE LORD COMMANDED BY THE HAND OF MOSES.
[Joshua 21:9] AND 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.
[Joshua 21:10] WHICH THE CHILDREN OF AARON, BEING OF THE FAMILIES OF THE
KOHATHITES, WHO WERE OF THE CHILDREN OF LEVI, HAD: FOR THEIRS WAS THE FIRST LOT.
[Joshua 21:11] AND THEY GAVE THEM THE CITY OF ARBA THE FATHER OF ANAK,
WHICH CITY IS HEBRON, IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF JUDAH, WITH THE SUBURBS
THEREOF ROUND ABOUT IT.
[Joshua 21:12] BUT THE FIELDS OF THE CITY, AND THE VILLAGES THEREOF, GAVE
THEY TO CALEB THE SON OF JEPHUNNEH FOR HIS POSSESSION.
[Joshua 21:13] THUS THEY GAVE TO THE CHILDREN OF AARON THE PRIEST HEBRON
WITH HER SUBURBS, TO BE A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; AND LIBNAH WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:14] AND JATTIR WITH HER SUBURBS, AND ESHTEMOA WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:15] AND HOLON WITH HER SUBURBS, AND DEBIR WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:16] AND AIN WITH HER SUBURBS, AND JUTTAH WITH HER SUBURBS, AND
BETH-SHEMESH WITH HER SUBURBS; NINE CITIES OUT OF THOSE TWO TRIBES.
Judah and Simeon between them gave nine cities. Only one of these cities
was actually within the territory of Simeon the rest were in Judah. The
Commentator Malbimexplains out of the eight cities remaining in Judah that
were given to Levi three of them actually belonged to Simeon. The
inheritance of Simeon was divided into two parts: one part in the south was
more or less distinct from Judah and the other section consisted of cities
scattered through southern Judah.
When the northern Tribes split away the southern section of Simeon appears
to have given its allegiance to the Northern Kingdom. Simeon is counted
amongst the Lost Ten Tribes. Archaeological evidence has revealed
inscriptions in the southern Simeon area dedicated to Yahweh of Samariawho
is depicted like an Egyptian god proving the Bibles account of the Ten
tribes having followed pagan customs and attributed to the God of Israel
pagan concepts.
[Joshua 21:17] AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN, GIBEON WITH HER SUBURBS,
GEBA WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:18] ANATHOTH WITH HER SUBURBS, AND ALMON WITH HER SUBURBS; FOUR CITIES.
[Joshua 21:19] ALL THE CITIES OF THE CHILDREN OF AARON, THE PRIESTS, WERE
THIRTEEN CITIES WITH THEIR SUBURBS.
[Joshua 21:20] AND THE FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN OF KOHATH, THE LEVITES
WHICH REMAINED OF THE CHILDREN OF KOHATH, EVEN THEY HAD THE CITIES OF THEIR
LOT OUT OF THE TRIBE OF EPHRAIM.
[Joshua 21:21] FOR THEY GAVE THEM SHECHEM WITH HER SUBURBS IN MOUNT
EPHRAIM, TO BE A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; AND GEZER WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:22] AND KIBZAIM WITH HER SUBURBS, AND BETHHORON WITH HER
SUBURBS; FOUR CITIES.
[Joshua 21:23] AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF DAN, ELTEKEH WITH HER SUBURBS,
GIBBETHON WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:24] AIJALON WITH HER SUBURBS, GATHRIMMON WITH HER SUBURBS; FOUR CITIES.
[Joshua 21:25] AND OUT OF THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH, TANACH WITH HER
SUBURBS, AND GATHRIMMON WITH HER SUBURBS; TWO CITIES.
[Joshua 21:26] ALL THE CITIES WERE TEN WITH THEIR SUBURBS FOR THE FAMILIES
OF THE CHILDREN OF KOHATH THAT REMAINED.
[Joshua 21:27] AND UNTO THE CHILDREN OF GERSHON, OF THE FAMILIES OF THE
LEVITES, OUT OF THE OTHER HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH THEY GAVE GOLAN IN BASHAN
WITH HER SUBURBS, TO BE A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; AND BEESHTERAH
WITH HER SUBURBS; TWO CITIES.
[Joshua 21:28] AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF ISSACHAR, KISHON WITH HER SUBURBS,
DABAREH WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:29] JARMUTH WITH HER SUBURBS, ENGANNIM WITH HER SUBURBS; FOUR CITIES.
[Joshua 21:30] AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF ASHER, MISHAL WITH HER SUBURBS,
ABDON WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:31] HELKATH WITH HER SUBURBS, AND REHOB WITH HER SUBURBS; FOUR CITIES.
[Joshua 21:32] AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF NAPHTALI, KEDESH IN GALILEE WITH HER
SUBURBS, TO BE A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; AND HAMMOTHDOR WITH HER
SUBURBS, AND KARTAN WITH HER SUBURBS; THREE CITIES.
[Joshua 21:33] ALL THE CITIES OF THE GERSHONITES ACCORDING TO THEIR
FAMILIES WERE THIRTEEN CITIES WITH THEIR SUBURBS.
[Joshua 21:34] AND UNTO THE FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN OF MERARI, THE REST OF
THE LEVITES, OUT OF THE TRIBE OF ZEBULUN, JOKNEAM WITH HER SUBURBS, AND
KARTAH WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:35] DIMNAH WITH HER SUBURBS, NAHALAL WITH HER SUBURBS; FOUR CITIES.
[Joshua 21:36] AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF REUBEN, BEZER WITH HER SUBURBS, AND
JAHAZAH WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:37] KEDEMOTH WITH HER SUBURBS, AND MEPHAATH WITH HER SUBURBS;
FOUR CITIES.
[Joshua 21:38] AND OUT OF THE TRIBE OF GAD, RAMOTH IN GILEAD WITH HER
SUBURBS, TO BE A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE SLAYER; AND MAHANAIM WITH HER SUBURBS,
[Joshua 21:39] HESHBON WITH HER SUBURBS, JAZER WITH HER SUBURBS; FOUR
CITIES IN ALL.
[Joshua 21:40] SO ALL THE CITIES FOR THE CHILDREN OF MERARI BY THEIR
FAMILIES, WHICH WERE REMAINING OF THE FAMILIES OF THE LEVITES, WERE BY
THEIR LOT TWELVE CITIES.
[Joshua 21:41] ALL THE CITIES OF THE LEVITES WITHIN THE POSSESSION OF THE
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE FORTY AND EIGHT CITIES WITH THEIR SUBURBS.
[Joshua 21:42] THESE CITIES WERE EVERY ONE WITH THEIR SUBURBS ROUND ABOUT
THEM: THUS WERE ALL THESE CITIES.
[Joshua 21:43] AND THE LORD GAVE UNTO ISRAEL ALL THE LAND WHICH HE SWARE TO
GIVE UNTO THEIR FATHERS; AND THEY POSSESSED IT, AND DWELT THEREIN.
[Joshua 21:44] AND THE LORD GAVE THEM REST ROUND ABOUT, ACCORDING TO ALL
THAT HE SWARE UNTO THEIR FATHERS: AND THERE STOOD NOT A MAN OF ALL THEIR
ENEMIES BEFORE THEM; THE LORD DELIVERED ALL THEIR ENEMIES INTO THEIR
HAND.
[Joshua 21:45] THERE FAILED NOT OUGHT OF ANY GOOD THING WHICH THE LORD HAD
SPOKEN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; ALL CAME TO PASS.
They conquered all the land and they divided it amongst the Tribes.
The above verse entails an important principle in Prophecy: Anything good
that has been prophesied must somehow or other come to pass almost no
matter what. Anything bad is conditional and can be prevented or greatly
alleviated by repentance and good deeds instead of bad ones.
If we do good, good will come unto us.
If we do badly so too will bad events befall us.
It is all easy enough if one has not fallen into bad habits and a routine
of self-destruction. Nevertheless God is always there and He will help
those who seek Him.
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