Joshua 21:41

39 Heshbon with its common-land, and Jazer with its common-land: four cities in all.

40 So all the cities for the children of Merari according to their families, the rest of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.

41 ^aAll the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their common-lands.

42 Every one of these cities had its common-land surrounding it; thus were all these cities.

The Promise Fulfilled

43 So the Lord gave to Israel ^aall the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they ^btook possession of it and dwelt in it.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Joshua 21:41

Forty and eight cities - At the last census of the Hebrew people, related Numbers 26, we find from Numbers 26:62 that the tribe of Levi amounted only to 23,000; and it is supposed that forty-eight cities were too great a proportion for this tribe, the other tribes having so very few. But,

1.All the cities of the other tribes are not enumerated.

2.They had the circumjacent country as well as the cities.

3.The Levites had no other cities than those enumerated.

4.They had no country annexed to their cities, the 2,000 cubits for their cattle, etc., excepted.

5.Cities in those ancient times were very small, as most villages went under this appellation.

6.The Levites had now the appointment that was suited to their consequent increase. The other tribes might enlarge their borders and make conquests, but this was not suitable to the mere servants of God; besides, had they made conquests, they would have become proprietors of the conquered land; and God determined that they should have no inheritance in Israel, He himself being their portion.

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