Joshua 21:16 kjv
And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
Joshua 21:16 nkjv
Ain with its common-land, Juttah with its common-land, and Beth Shemesh with its common-land: nine cities from those two tribes;
Joshua 21:16 niv
Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands?nine towns from these two tribes.
Joshua 21:16 esv
Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands ? nine cities out of these two tribes;
Joshua 21:16 nlt
Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh ? nine towns from these two tribes.
Joshua 21 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 35:2 | "Command the Israelites to give to the Levites from the inheritance..." | God's command to provide cities to Levites. |
| Num 35:3 | "...They are to have cities to live in, and pasturelands..." | Defines cities and suburbs (migrasheyha). |
| Lev 25:32-34 | "The cities of the Levites, and the houses... may the Levites redeem..." | Clarifies Levites' property rights. |
| Josh 21:41 | "The total number of cities for the Levites was forty-eight cities..." | Summarizes the complete fulfillment of the land distribution to all Levites. |
| Josh 21:43-45 | "So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn..." | Divine faithfulness in fulfilling all promises to Israel. |
| Num 18:20 | "Then the LORD said to Aaron, 'You shall have no inheritance in their land...'" | Explains why Levites received no tribal land, their inheritance is the Lord. |
| Deut 10:9 | "Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers..." | Reinforces Levi's separation for service and divine provision. |
| Deut 12:12 | "...the Levite who is in your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you." | Emphasizes the scattered nature of Levites for broader influence. |
| 1 Chron 6:57-60 | "To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge... Hebron, Libnah..." | Parallel passage listing many of these same priestly cities. |
| Josh 15:32 | "...Ain, and Rimmon; all the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages." | Shows Ain listed as part of Judah's initial inheritance. |
| Josh 15:55 | "Maon, Carmel, Ziph, and Juttah..." | Confirms Juttah's location within Judah's territory. |
| 1 Sam 6:12 | "The cows went straight to the way of Beth-shemesh..." | Beth-shemesh later became significant as a site for the Ark of the Covenant. |
| 1 Sam 6:19 | "He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked..." | Illustrates the sanctity required at a city connected with divine things. |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will also make you a light of the nations, so that My salvation may reach..." | Echoes the idea of God's people (or chosen servants, like Levites) being spread out as lights/teachers. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction..." | Highlights the teaching role of the priests/Levites, for which their dispersed cities were crucial. |
| Neh 8:7-8 | "...and the Levites, explained the law to the people..." | Demonstrates the Levites fulfilling their teaching role in later Israelite history. |
| Ezr 7:25 | "You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God... appoint magistrates and judges..." | Suggests the Levites' broader judicial and administrative roles in their assigned cities. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added..." | Principle of divine provision for those who prioritize God's work. |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food...?" | New Testament principle of supporting those who serve in spiritual capacities. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory..." | Universal promise of God's provision for His faithful servants. |
| Heb 4:8 | "For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day..." | A spiritual 'rest' (fulfillment) is still promised beyond the physical land, as prefigured by Joshua's work. |
| 1 Kgs 8:56 | "Blessed be the LORD... not one word has failed of all His good promise..." | A general testimony to God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises, reinforced by this land distribution. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets... for the equipping..." | God gives ministers for His people, drawing a parallel to Levites' teaching and equipping role. |
| Col 2:5 | "For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit... and the stability..." | Speaks to the good order and stability, similar to the organized allocation of the land. |
| Acts 8:4 | "Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word." | The scattering of believers for spiritual purposes echoes the scattered Levites' role. |
| Rev 21:24 | "The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring..." | Vision of a perfected order and provision, mirroring the established order in the promised land. |
Joshua 21 verses
Joshua 21 16 Meaning
Joshua 21:16 details the specific allocation of three more cities—Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh, each with its associated pasturelands—to the Aaronic priests (sons of Aaron). These three cities contribute to the nine cities designated from the tribes of Judah and Simeon for the priestly lineage. This verse serves as a meticulous record of the fulfillment of God's command regarding the provision for the Levites, who received no direct tribal land inheritance, ensuring their practical needs were met for their service to the Lord and the people.
Joshua 21 16 Context
Joshua chapter 21 details the fulfillment of a crucial part of God's covenant with Israel: the allotment of specific cities with pasturelands to the tribe of Levi. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites did not receive an exclusive territorial inheritance for cultivation, as their inheritance was the Lord Himself, and they were supported by the tithes and offerings of the other tribes. The precise enumeration of 48 cities, six of which were also designated as cities of refuge, underscored God's meticulous order and faithfulness in establishing Israel in the promised land. Verse 16, specifically, concludes the listing of cities designated for the Kohathite priests, the descendants of Aaron, within the territories of Judah and Simeon, emphasizing the divine provision for those set apart for sacred service. This detailed accounting reaffirms the completion of the land division and the successful establishment of Israel according to God's plan after years of wandering and conquest.
Joshua 21 16 Word analysis
- And Ain: Hebrew: עַיִן (
Ayin). Means "eye" or "spring." This dual meaning is significant as cities with water sources were vital for sustaining life and often held strategic importance. Its assignment to the priests suggests spiritual 'springs' of instruction flowing from their presence. - with her suburbs: Hebrew: מִגְרָשֶׁיהָ (
migrasheyha). This term refers to the "pasture lands" or "common lands" immediately surrounding the city. These areas, typically 1,000 cubits (about 1,500 feet) outwards, were exclusively for the Levites' cattle and livestock (Nu 35:4-5), demonstrating God's precise provision for their economic livelihood since they weren't engaged in agriculture. It differentiates from productive fields, highlighting the practical care for their subsistence. - and Juttah: Hebrew: יֻטָּה (
Yuttah). A specific city name, located in the hill country of Judah. Its inclusion further demonstrates the geographic spread of the priestly presence throughout the allotted territories, allowing for accessibility to all tribes for spiritual guidance. - and Beth-shemesh: Hebrew: בֵּית־שֶׁמֶשׁ (
Beth-Shemesh). Means "house of the sun." This name strongly suggests a past connection to pagan sun worship (Shemesh being a Canaanite solar deity). Its designation as a Levitical city represents a direct theological polemic and act of spiritual reclamation: a former pagan center is purified and consecrated for the service of YHWH, demonstrating His ultimate sovereignty over all prior idolatry in the land. This transformation marks a victory over spiritual darkness. - nine cities: This number is a summary. Looking at Josh 21:13-16, the preceding verses list: Hebron, Libnah (v.13); Jattir, Eshtemoa (v.14); Holon, Debir (v.15). These six, plus Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh (v.16), total nine cities specifically granted to the sons of Aaron from the tribal territories of Judah and Simeon (whose inheritance was within Judah's). This precise accounting underscores the faithfulness and meticulousness of the land distribution as mandated by God.
- out of those two tribes: Refers to the tribes of Judah and Simeon. Although Simeon received an inheritance, it was located within the vast territory of Judah (Josh 19:1, 9). Therefore, when listing the Levitical cities, they are sometimes grouped as "out of those two tribes," recognizing their intertwined allotments. This specific detail highlights the careful record-keeping of the divine allocation process.
Joshua 21 16 Bonus section
The allocation of cities to the Levites was not merely a matter of practical provision but also served as a critical component for maintaining national spiritual health. By being distributed among all the tribes, the Levites acted as a constant reminder of God's presence, provided ongoing instruction in the Torah, and offered immediate recourse for judicial and religious matters within local communities. This ensured decentralized access to spiritual guidance and kept the unified religious life of Israel intact despite its tribal distinctions. This precise fulfillment highlights God's organizational prowess and His concern for the spiritual well-being of His people from the very foundations of their national life in the Promised Land.
Joshua 21 16 Commentary
Joshua 21:16 is a concise yet profoundly significant verse, encapsulating God's faithfulness, meticulous provision, and the establishment of spiritual order in the newly acquired land. The enumeration of Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh, complete with their essential suburbs for pasturage, underscores the divine care for the Levites. These cities, particularly Beth-shemesh with its potentially pagan-derived name, were reclaimed and consecrated for sacred use, signifying a triumph of YHWH over false gods and an active purification of the land. The scattering of these Levitical cities throughout the tribes was strategic, ensuring the Levites—who were vital educators, judges, and spiritual guides—were accessible to all Israel, thereby cementing their crucial role in maintaining the nation's covenant relationship with God. This verse, therefore, is not just a geographical record but a testimony to the intricate fulfillment of God's covenant promises and His practical, faithful provision for His chosen servants.