SEV Biblia, Chapter 21:4
Y salió la suerte por las familias de los coatitas; y fueron dadas por suerte a los hijos de Aarón sacerdote, que eran de los levitas, por la tribu de Judá, por la de Simeón y por la de Benjamín, trece villas.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 21:4
Verse 4. Out of the tribe of Judah-Simeon, and-Benjamin, thirteen cities.] These tribes furnished more habitations to the Levites in proportion than any of the other tribes, because they possessed a more extensive inheritance; and Moses had commanded, Numbers xxxv. 8, From them that have many, ye shall give many; and from them that have few, ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites, according to his inheritance. It is worthy of remark, that the principal part of this tribe, whose business was to minister at the sanctuary, which sanctuary was afterwards to be established in Jerusalem, had their appointment nearest to that city; so that they were always within reach of the sacred work which God had appointed them.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. And the lot came out for the family of the Kohathites , etc.] The first lot that was drawn out of the pot or urn was for the descendants of Kohath, a son of Levi: and the children of Aaron the priest, [which were] of the Levites ; who descended from Amram, the eldest son of Kohath, and these were not only Levites, but priests: these 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 ; which are after mentioned by name; and as these were priests, whose business was to serve in the temple, and at the altar, the cities assigned them by the lot, were, by the wise disposal of divine Providence, ordered them out of those tribes which lay nearest to Jerusalem; the place God had chosen to put his name in, where the temple would be built, and the altars erected for sacrifices and incense.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided for, before the preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a very good foundation; not their own merits or services, but the Divin precept. The maintenance of ministers is not a thing left merely to the will of the people, that they may let them starve if they please; the which preach the gospel should live by the gospel, and should liv comfortably. (Jos 21:9-42)
Original Hebrew
ויצא 3318 הגורל 1486 למשׁפחת 4940 הקהתי 6956 ויהי 1961 לבני 1121 אהרן 175 הכהן 3548 מן 4480 הלוים 3881 ממטה 4294 יהודה 3063 וממטה 4294 השׁמעני 8099 וממטה 4294 בנימן 1144 בגורל 1486 ערים 5892 שׁלשׁ 7969 עשׂרה׃ 6240
