Joshua 21:17
And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,
And from the tribe of Benjamin

Benjamin’s territory lay between Judah and Ephraim and included important approaches to Jerusalem. From this strategically placed tribe, cities were assigned to the priestly descendants of Aaron.

1Ch 6:60 And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given…
Jos 18:25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Jos 18:24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities…

they gave them

Israel provided for those appointed to serve before the Lord, obeying God’s command that the Levites be sustained throughout the land. Their presence among the tribes helped preserve the teaching of God’s Law and the worship centered on His covenant.

1Ch 6:55 They were given Hebron in the land of Judah…
Num 35:2 Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance…
Deu 18:1 The Levitical priests shall have no portion…

Gibeon,

Gibeon was a prominent Benjaminite city associated with the covenant Joshua made with the Gibeonites and with the Lord’s great victory over the Amorite coalition, when He extended the daylight for Israel’s battle. As a priestly city, Gibeon became a place where those set apart for sacred service lived among the people.

1Ch 21:29 For the tabernacle of the LORD that Moses had made…
1Ki 3:4 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there…
Jos 9:3 But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done…

Geba,

Geba stood near the northern frontier of Benjamin and held military importance in Israel’s conflicts with the Philistines. Jonathan struck a Philistine garrison at Geba, demonstrating that Israel’s security depended not upon position or strength, but upon the Lord who gave victory to His people.

1Sa 13:3 Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba,…
1Ki 15:22 Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah…
Isa 10:29 They have crossed at the ford: “We will spend the night…”…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Tribe of Benjamin
One of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob. Known for its warriors and strategic location in Israel.

2. Gibeon
A significant city in the territory of Benjamin, known for its inhabitants' cunning treaty with Israel during Joshua's conquest (Joshua 9).

3. Geba
A Levitical city in the territory of Benjamin, often mentioned in the context of Israel's military campaigns and as a boundary marker.

4. Levites
The priestly tribe of Israel, who were given cities and pasturelands instead of a contiguous territory, to serve God and the community.

5. Allocation of Cities
The event of distributing cities to the Levites, as commanded by God, to ensure they had places to live and serve among the other tribes.
Teaching Points
God's Provision for His Servants
The allocation of cities to the Levites demonstrates God's care and provision for those who serve Him. It reminds us that God provides for our needs when we dedicate our lives to His service.

The Importance of Spiritual Leadership
The Levites were distributed among the tribes to provide spiritual guidance and maintain the worship of God. This underscores the need for spiritual leaders in our communities today.

Integration of Faith in Daily Life
By placing the Levites among all the tribes, God ensured that faith was integrated into the daily life of Israel. We are called to integrate our faith into every aspect of our lives, influencing our communities positively.

The Role of Community in Faith
The distribution of Levitical cities highlights the importance of community in nurturing faith. We are encouraged to build strong faith communities that support and uplift one another.

Obedience to God's Commands
The Israelites' obedience in allocating cities to the Levites serves as a model for us to follow God's commands, trusting in His wisdom and provision.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the allocation of cities to the Levites reflect God's care for those who serve Him, and how can we apply this principle in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we ensure that spiritual leadership is present and active in our communities today, similar to the role of the Levites in ancient Israel?

3. How can we integrate our faith into our daily lives, following the example of the Levites living among the tribes?

4. What steps can we take to build and strengthen our faith communities, drawing from the model of the Levitical cities?

5. How does the obedience of the Israelites in allocating cities to the Levites inspire us to follow God's commands in our own lives, and what challenges might we face in doing so?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joshua 9
The account of the Gibeonites making a treaty with Israel, which later influenced the allocation of Gibeon as a Levitical city.

1 Chronicles 6
Provides a list of Levitical cities, including Gibeon and Geba, emphasizing their role in Israel's religious life.

Numbers 35
God's command to allocate cities to the Levites, highlighting the importance of their presence among the tribes.
Divine FaithfulnessR. Hall, M. A.Joshua 21:1-45
Ministers Liberally TreatedC. Ness.Joshua 21:1-45
Ministers Wisely LocatedW. Seaton.Joshua 21:1-45
The Divine Fidelity AcknowledgedA. Maclaren, D. D.Joshua 21:1-45
The Supreme WorkerA. Maclaren, D. D.Joshua 21:1-45
The Triumphant Record of God's FaithfulnessA. Maclaren, D. D.Joshua 21:1-45
People
Aaron, Abdon, Anak, Anathoth, Arba, Asher, Benjamin, Bezer, Caleb, Dan, Debir, Eleazar, Eshtemoa, Gad, Gershon, Gershonites, Gersonites, Gibeon, Israelites, Issachar, Jephunneh, Joshua, Kohath, Kohathites, Levi, Levites, Manasseh, Merari, Naphtali, Nun, Rehob, Reuben, Simeon, Simeonites, Zebulun
Places
Abdon, Aijalon, Ain, Almon, Anathoth, Bashan, Beeshterah, Beth-horon, Beth-shemesh, Bezer, Canaan, Daberath, Debir, Elteke, En-gannim, Eshtemoa, Galilee, Gath-rimmon, Geba, Gezer, Gibbethon, Gibeon, Gilead, Golan, Hammoth-dor, Hebron, Helkath, Heshbon, Holon, Jahaz, Jarmuth, Jattir, Jazer, Jokneam, Juttah, Kartah, Kartan, Kedemoth, Kedesh, Kibzaim, Kiriath-arba, Kishion, Libnah, Mahanaim, Mephaath, Mishal, Nahalal, Ramoth, Rehob, Shechem, Shiloh, Taanach
Topics
Benjamin, Geba, Gibeon, Grass-lands, Lands, Open, Pasture, Suburbs, Tribe
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Joshua 21:1-42

     7266   tribes of Israel

Library
October 8. "There Failed not Aught of any Good Thing which the Lord had Spoken" (Josh. xxi. 45).
"There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken" (Josh. xxi. 45). Some day, even you, trembling, faltering one, shall stand upon those heights and look back upon all you have passed through, all you have narrowly escaped, all the perils through which He guided you, the stumblings through which He guarded you, and the sins from which He saved you; and you shall shout, with a meaning you cannot understand now, "Salvation unto Him who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The End of the War
'And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which He sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. 44. And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45. There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. 'Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Mountainous Country of Judea.
"What is the mountainous country of Judea? It is the king's mountain." However Judea, here and there, doth swell out much with mountains, yet its chief swelling appears in that broad back of mountains, that runs from the utmost southern cost as far as Hebron, and almost as Jerusalem itself. Which the Holy Scripture called "The hill-country of Judah," Joshua 21:11; Luke 1:39. Unless I am very much mistaken,--the maps of Adricomus, Tirinius, and others, ought to be corrected, which have feigned to
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Divers Matters.
I. Beth-cerem, Nehemiah 3:14. "The stones, as well of the altar, as of the ascent to the altar, were from the valley of Beth-cerem, which they digged out beneath the barren land. And thence they are wont to bring whole stones, upon which the working iron came not." The fathers of the traditions, treating concerning the blood of women's terms, reckon up five colours of it; among which that, "which is like the water of the earth, out of the valley of Beth-cerem."--Where the Gloss writes thus, "Beth-cerem
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Nob. Bahurim.
That Nob was placed in the land of Benjamin, not far from Jerusalem, whence Jerusalem also might be seen,--the words of the Chaldee paraphrast, upon Isaiah 10:32, do argue. For so he speaks; "Sennacherib came and stood in Nob, a city of the priests, before the walls of Jerusalem; and said to his army, 'Is not this the city of Jerusalem, against which I have raised my whole army, and have subdued all the provinces of it? Is it not small and weak in comparison of all the fortifications of the Gentiles,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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