the families of the Kohathites, for theirs was the first lot, 55to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it; 56but the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 57And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs; and [1]58Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs; and [2]59Ashan with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs: 60and out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and [3]Allemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities. 61And unto the rest of the sons of Kohath were given by lot, out
55. suburbs] cp. xiii. 2, note.
56. to Caleb] Josh. xxi. 12; Judg. i. 20.
57. the cities of refuge, Hebron] Read, the city of refuge, Hebron (cp. Josh. xxi. 13), Hebron being the only city of refuge here mentioned (Josh. xx. 7).
Libnah] in the S.W. of Judah, Josh. x. 29; 2 Kin. viii. 22, xix. 8.
Eshtemoa] the modern es-Semu'a, S. of Hebron. Cp. iv. 17.]
58. Hilen] In Josh. xxi. 15, Holon.
Debir] identified with modern Dāharījeh, S.W. of Hebron. It is called Kiriath-sepher (Judg. i. 11) and Kiriath-sannah (Josh. xv. 49).]
59. Ashan with her suburbs] Josh. xxi. 16 has Ain for Ashan, and adds, and Juttah with her suburbs. Cp. the Critical Note above.
Beth-shemesh] Josh. xv. 10; 1 Sam. vi. 9; 2 Kin. xiv. 11, 13 (= 2 Chr. xxv. 21, 23). A town in the N.W. of Judah, now 'Ain Shems, situated at the point at which the hill-country of Judah begins, as one goes by the railway from Jaffa to Jerusalem (Bädeker, Pal.5, p. 14).]
60. of Benjamin; Geba] In Josh. xxi. 17 Gibeon and her suburbs is inserted before Geba. Cp. the Critical Note above. Geba was situated by the pass of Michmash, some six miles from Jerusalem; cp. 1 Sam. vi. 9 ff.
Allemeth] In Josh. xxi. 18, Almon.
thirteen cities] Cp. the Critical Note above.
61—65 (cp. Josh. xxi. 26, 33, 40). Distribution of thirty-five
other cities to the rest of the Levites.
61. the rest of the sons of Kohath] i.e. the Kohathites who were not sons of Aaron (ver. 54).]
