Joshua 21:36 kjv
And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
Joshua 21:36 nkjv
and from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its common-land, Jahaz with its common-land,
Joshua 21:36 niv
from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, Jahaz,
Joshua 21:36 esv
and out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasturelands, Jahaz with its pasturelands,
Joshua 21:36 nlt
From the tribe of Reuben they received the following towns with their pasturelands: Bezer, Jahaz,
Joshua 21 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||------------|-------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|| Num 35:6 | “You shall give six cities of refuge..." | Mandate for cities of refuge || Num 35:7 | “...all the cities that you give the Levites shall be forty-eight cities..." | Total count of Levitical cities prescribed || Num 35:2-3 | “Command the Israelites to give... pasturelands...” | God's instruction for Levites' cities from tribal lands || Josh 20:8 | "And across the Jordan east of Jericho... Bezer..." | Bezer designated as a city of refuge || Deut 4:43 | "namely, Bezer in the wilderness..." | Bezer as a city of refuge for the Transjordan tribes || Josh 13:15-16| "...the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Reuben... Bezer... Jahaz..." | Reuben's initial territory, including Bezer and Jahaz || Num 18:20 | "...You shall have no inheritance in their land... I am your share and your inheritance..." | The Levites' special inheritance: the Lord Himself || Deut 10:9 | "Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers..." | Reiteration of the Levites' lack of land inheritance || Josh 21:41 | "All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the people of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasturelands." | Confirmation of the fulfillment of 48 Levitical cities || Josh 21:43-45| "Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore..." | God's faithfulness in fulfilling promises regarding the land || Lev 25:32 | "The Levites may redeem their houses at any time in the cities of their possession." | Laws regarding property within Levitical cities || Lev 25:34 | "But the pasturelands of their cities may not be sold..." | Sanctity of Levitical city pasturelands || Josh 14:1 | "These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan..." | Distribution of land to other tribes || Deut 19:2-3 | "...you shall set apart three cities... for the manslayer to flee to." | Further instructions for cities of refuge || Matt 5:18 | "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law..." | Emphasis on the enduring truth and precision of God's Word, including legal details || Ps 119:160 | "The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever." | The veracity and enduring nature of Scripture || Prov 30:5-6| "Every word of God proves true... do not add to his words..." | Principle of not altering God's Word (applies to textual integrity) || 1 Cor 14:33| "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." | God's character as orderly and precise || Titus 1:2 | "...God, who never lies, promised before the ages began..." | God's truthful nature ensures His word's reliability || John 17:17 | "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." | The Bible as truth, providing stability for belief || Isa 40:8 | "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." | Endurance of God's word across generations || 2 Tim 3:16 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God..." | The divine origin and authority of the biblical text |
Joshua 21 verses
Joshua 21 36 Meaning
Joshua 21:36, while absent from most standard English Bible translations based on the Masoretic Text (MT), appears in ancient manuscripts like the Septuagint (LXX) and Vulgate. If present, it would describe cities from the territory of the tribe of Reuben – specifically Bezer with its pasturelands, and Jahaz with its pasturelands – being designated as Levitical cities. These cities, like the others listed in the chapter, were provided for the priests and Levites who had no tribal land inheritance, fulfilling God's command to sustain His ministers across Israel. Bezer also held significance as one of the cities of refuge.
Joshua 21 36 Context
Joshua chapter 21 details the allocation of specific cities to the Levites, fulfilling the Lord's instructions given to Moses (Num 35:1-8). Having no tribal inheritance of land, the Levites, who were dedicated to the service of the Tabernacle and later the Temple, received these cities and their surrounding pasturelands from the inheritances of the other Israelite tribes. This strategic distribution placed priestly and Levitical families throughout Israel, ensuring the teaching of the Law and proper worship in every region. Joshua 21:36 itself addresses two cities from the tribe of Reuben. However, this verse (and frequently verse 37) is conspicuously absent from the Hebrew Masoretic Text (MT), which forms the basis for most modern English Bible translations. These verses are found in some ancient Greek (Septuagint/LXX) and Latin (Vulgate) manuscripts. Scholars suggest their absence in the MT might be due to a scribal omission, or their presence in the LXX might be an attempt to harmonize this list with parallel passages or provide a complete list of 48 cities, as stipulated in Numbers. Regardless of its textual variant status, the verse, where present, functions to complete the count of Levitical cities assigned according to tribal allocation.
Joshua 21 36 Word analysis
- And: A simple conjunction (
wawin Hebrew), connecting this mention of cities from Reuben to the preceding enumeration of cities given to the Levites from other tribes. - out of the tribe: Identifies the source tribe from which the designated Levitical cities are being drawn. This emphasizes the divine command that all tribes contribute to the Levites' sustenance, demonstrating a national unity in upholding God's appointed ministers.
- of Reuben: (
re'ûvên, רְאוּבֵן) - The firstborn son of Jacob, whose tribe inherited territory east of the Jordan River. Their contribution of cities underscores the broad reach of the divine directive. - Bezer: (
bets̱er, בֶּצֶר) - Meaning "gold ore" or "fortress," a significant city in the territory of Reuben, located in the Transjordan. Bezer was one of the six cities of refuge (Deut 4:43, Josh 20:8), offering protection for those who committed unintentional manslaughter. Its inclusion as a Levitical city meant Levites were custodians of this legal institution, underscoring their role in justice and law. - with its suburbs: (
migrâšehâfrommigrāš, מִגְרָשֶׁהָ) - Refers to the pasturelands or common lands surrounding the walled city. These lands were crucial for the Levites' livestock and subsistence, as they did not engage in farming large tracts of land. They were legally inalienable (Lev 25:34), emphasizing their dedicated purpose for the Levitical household and sustenance. - and Jahaz: (
yāhaṭs, יַהַץ) - Another city in Reuben's territory, possibly known for its open, treading ground. It was a site of significant battles (Num 21:23, Deut 2:32, Isa 15:4, Jer 48:34), suggesting its strategic importance. Its inclusion among Levitical cities meant Levites were positioned even in strategically sensitive areas. - with its suburbs: Identical to the explanation for Bezer, confirming that the land for livestock was an integral part of the Levites' assigned dwellings.
Joshua 21 36 Bonus section
The discussion around Joshua 21:36 and 37 offers a valuable insight into the process of textual criticism, a field dedicated to reconstructing the original biblical text by examining thousands of manuscripts. The absence of these verses in the MT, compared to their presence in the LXX, demonstrates the complex nature of manuscript transmission. Scholars propose various theories: the MT tradition might have accidentally skipped these verses due to similar endings in lists, or the LXX tradition might have included them as an editorial expansion or harmonization to ensure the total number of 48 Levitical cities (Num 35:7) was fully accounted for in Joshua's listing. This specific textual difference, however, is considered a minor variant, as it does not affect any major doctrine, ethical teaching, or the overall historical narrative. It primarily concerns the exact enumeration of cities, which is fulfilled by other verses in the chapter or understood through the overall scope of the Levitical city mandate. Such textual differences confirm the human element in the transmission of sacred texts, yet concurrently highlight the remarkable consistency and preservation of core biblical truths across diverse manuscript traditions.
Joshua 21 36 Commentary
Joshua 21 meticulously lists the cities designated for the Levites, highlighting God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel and His provision for His chosen ministers. While Joshua 21:36 (and 37) presents a textual variant, being absent in the standard Hebrew Masoretic Text but present in the Septuagint and Vulgate, its content aligns perfectly with the chapter's purpose: completing the tally of cities given to the sons of Merari, particularly those from the tribe of Reuben. This verse, if part of the original composition, underlines God's precise and orderly administration, ensuring the Levites were strategically distributed across Israel, teaching God's Law, maintaining the Tabernacle/Temple service, and even overseeing cities of refuge. The presence of such a textual variant showcases the work of biblical textual criticism but does not diminish the overall theological truth or reliability of God's Word. The meticulous distribution of cities across all tribes, even down to the pasturelands, illustrates the detailed nature of God's covenant blessings and His foresight in supporting those set apart for His service.