Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
The tribe of Levi was divided into three branches-The Gershonites, the Kohathites,
and the Merarites (see Num 3 and Ex 6:16-19). The Kohathites again were divided
into the four families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel (Ex 6:18); and the family
of Amram into two lines, consisting of the descendants of Moses and Aaron (Ex
6:20). The priesthood was committed to the line of Aaron (Num 18:1-7); but the other
descendants of Amram, i.e., the descendants of Moses, were placed on a par with the
other descendants of Levi, and numbered among the simple Levites (Num. 3; 1 Chr.
5:27-6:34 ). The towns in which the different families of Levi were to dwell were
determined by lot; but in all probability the towns which each tribe was to give up to
them were selected first of all, so that the lot merely decided to which branch of the
Levites each particular town was to belong.
Verse 4. The first lot came out for the families of Kohath, and among these again for
the sons of Aaron, i.e., the priests. They received thirteen towns from the tribes of
Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. "This did not happen by chance; but God, according to
His wonderful counsel, placed them just in that situation which He had determined to
select for His own temple"' ( Calvin ).
Verse 5. The rest of the Kohathites, i.e., the descendants of Moses, Izhar, Hebron, and
Uzziel, received ten towns from Ephraim, Dan, and half Manasseh.
Verse 6. The Gershonites received thirteen towns from Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and
half Manasseh in Bashan.
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