Josué 21
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Josué 21
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS The timing and method of the composition of Joshua is unclear. Many of the accounts go back to Joshua's time. However, some of the events could not have occurred until later. This is especially true of some of the forty-eight Levitical cities. Merrill F. Unger, Archaeology and the Old Testament, p. 210, lists several cities not under Israelite control until the United Monarchy. Gezer Ibleam Taanach, Jos. 21:25 Rehob in Asher, Jos. 21:31 Jokneam, Jos. 21:34 Nahalal, Jos. 21:35 Elteke, Jos. 21:23 Gibbethon, Jos. 21:23 Anathoth Allemeth (pp. 201-211) It is also possible that the six cities of refuge were not fully functional until David's day (p. 210).
Josué 21:1-4
21:1 "the heads of households of the Levites" There are going to be forty-eight Levitical cities (cf. Jos. 21:41 and Num. 35:1-8). There are three major households (sons) of the tribe of Levi (cf. Gen. 46:11; Exod. 6:16). the Kohathites, found in Jos. 21:10-19 and 20-26 the Gershonites, found in Jos. 21:27-33 the Merarites, found in Jos. 21:34-40 When discussing "Levites" in the historical literature of early Israel, there is no distinction made between "Levites" and "priests"; both are allowed to serve YHWH and eat from His offerings (cf. Deuteronomy 18). As the years passed, there developed a specialized recognition of the family of Aaron as denoting priests (which was for life and passed on through families). SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVITICAL PRIESTS ▣ "Joshua the son of Nun" The Hebrew word for "son" is fluid. The Hebrew ben (BDB 119-122) can mean son begotten by a father children (even cousins, e.g., Num. 36:11) grandson (e.g., Gen. 31:28,55) member of a professional guild ancestor/descendant (genealogies) member of a tribe/nation (e.g., "sons of Israel") common people (sons of the land) member of a religion (son of [name of a god]). The Hebrew king, Psalm 2; 2 Sam. 7:14 angels (cf. Gen. 6:2,4; Job 2:1) an idiom of characterization (e.g., "sons of Belial," "sons of the wise," "sons of valor") In this chapter the term is used several times: of an individual ‒ Joshua, the son of Num, Jos. 21:1 of a tribal/national group ‒ sons of Israel, Jos. 21:1,3,8,41 of a professional guild (i.e., priests/Levites) sons of Aaron, Jos. 21:4,10,13,19 sons of Levi, Jos. 21:10 (cf. Jos. 21:27) of members of individual tribes sons of Judah, Jos. 21:9 sons of Simeon, Jos. 21:9 of members of family groups sons of Kohath, Jos. 21:5,20.26 sons of Gershon, Jos. 21:6,27 sons of Merari, Jos. 21:34 This kind of fluidity makes it impossible to add up the dates of ancestors and come up with a date for creation (i.e., Usshur's 4004 B.C.). Often, only the significant dates (either of evil or good or some remembered action) are listed. Several generations are often omitted (e.g., the genealogies of Jesus). 21:2 "Shiloh" We learn from Jos. 18:1 that Joshua had moved the camp and the tabernacle to Shiloh. 21:3 "these cities with their pasture lands" NKJV, REB "these cities and their common-land" "the following cities and pasture lands" "certain cities and pasture lands" NJB, JPSOA "towns and their pasture lands" "the cities and their surrounding lands round about" "these cities with their suburbs" "these cities and their grazing areas" We learn from Num. 35:4 that around the walls of the Levitical cities each Levitical family was given land extending a thousand cubits. This was apparently to be used for growing crops or to keep a few animals in order to supplement their food supply which was provided by one of the three tithes of the people. It is not certain how to translate "pasture lands" (BDB 177). It could simply denote common land or open space (i.e. NKJV). Context seems to denote a special usage for priests/Levites, possibly a place to bury the dead a place to grow a garden a place to raise animals for domestic use a place of separation symbolizing a holy place (i.e., Levitical city/city of refuge) See note by James Barr in NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 1140 SPECIAL TOPIC: CUBIT 21:4 "the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites" The "lot" is not understood exactly. Some believe that it refers to the Urim and Thummim (see note at Jos. 19:51) in the breastplate of the High Priest, while others believe it refers to black or white stones which were cast like dice or drawn from a pouch.
Josué 21:8
21:8 This is an example of the repetitive style of Hebrew historical narrative.
Josué 21:9-12
21:10 "the sons of Aaron" This is the special family from the tribe of Levi from which the High Priest and Priests would come (cf. Exod. 28:1).
Josué 21:20-26
21:20 "the sons of Kohath" This is a group which numbered 8,600 at Sinai (cf. Num. 3:28). During the movement of the tabernacle they were to move the ark and its furniture with the altars and the vessels of the tabernacle. We learn from Num. 16 that some of this group, along with part of the tribe of Reuben, rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were destroyed. 21:23 "the tribe of Dan" This refers to the southern allotment of Dan in the coastal southwest part of Canaan. It is obvious from looking at a map that Dan had a difficult time possessing its land because of the Philistines, therefore, part of the tribe had moved north (cf. Jos. 19:47; Judges 18).
Josué 21:27-33
21:27 "Gershon" They numbered 7,500 at Sinai (cf. Num. 3:22). When the tabernacle was moved, they were in charge of the covering, the curtains, and the boards (cf. Num. 3:25-26).
Josué 21:34-40
21:34 "Merari" They numbered 6, 200 at Sinai (cf. Num. 3:34). When the tabernacle was moved they were in charge of the boards, the bars, the pillars, the sockets and the pins (cf. Num. 3:36).
Josué 21:43-45
21:43-45 This is another summary paragraph about the conquest of Canaan. In a sense, the following chapters (Joshua 22-24) are an appendix. 21:43 "which He had sworn to give to their fathers" This again is an allusion to the Abrahamic covenant of Gen. 12 which was later reaffirmed to Isaac, Jacob, and the people of Israel through Moses. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS 21:44 Not only did YHWH give the land to the Patriarchs and their descendants (cf. Jos. 21:43; Gen. 12:7; 15:18-19; 17:7-8; 26:1-5; 28:10-15; 35:12), but He also gave them the military victories to conquer it (e.g., Deut. 7:24; 11:25; Jos. 1:5; 10:8; 23:9; Jdg. 3:28; 11:21). The conquest was an act of YHWH, using natural, supernatural, and military means. 21:45 "Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass" This is our great hope: when God speaks, we can depend upon His word (cf. Jos. 23:14; 1 Kgs. 8:56; and note Isa. 55:11). Yet covenant disobedience can negate the blessings of the promises of God! There is an inseparable bond between a faithful God and a faithful people. Covenant has privileges and responsibilities. Israel's inability to perform the covenant will require a "new covenant" (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-38; Galatians 3; and the book of Hebrews).