Josue 21 — Church Fathers

Douay-Rheims

Deuteronomy

Chapter 20

Chapter 22

Judges

Chapter 21

Josue 21:1-8

THE LEVITES REQUEST CITIES

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1 And the Princes of the families of Levi came to Eleazar the Priest, and Josue the son of Nun, and to the chief of the kindreds in every tribe of the children of Israel 1 note

2 and they spake to them in Silo of the Land of Chanaan, and said: Our Lord commanded by the hand of Moyses, that cities should be given us to inhabit, and their suburbs to feed cattle. 1 note

3 And the children of Israel gave of their possessions according to the commandment of our Lord, cities and their suburbs. 1 note

4 And the lot came forth unto the family of Caath of the children of Aaron the Priest out of the tribe of Judas, and Simeon, and Benjamin, thirteen cities. 1 note

5 And to the rest of the children of Caath, that is to the Levites, which remained, out of the tribes of Ephraim, and Dan, and the half tribe of Manasses, ten cities. 1 note

6 Moreover to the children of Gerson came forth a lot, that they should take of the tribes of Issachar & Aser & Nephthali, & the half tribe of Manasses in Basan, cities in number thirteen. 1 note

7 And to the sons of Merari by their kindreds, of the tribe of Ruben and Gad & Zabulon, twelve cities. 1 note

8 and the children of Israel gave to the Levites cities and their suburbs, as our Lord commanded by the hand of Moyses, giving to every one by lot. 1 note

Josue 21:9-26

THE CITIES OF THE LEVITESTHE LORD’S PROMISES FULFILLEDAN ALTAR BY THE JORDAN

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9 Of the tribes of the children of Judas & Simeon Josue gave cities: whose names be these, 2 notes

10 to the children of Aaron by the families of Caath of the Levitical stock (for the first lot came forth to them) 2 notes

11 Cariatharbe the father of Enac, which is called Hebron, in the mountain of Judas, & the suburbs thereof round about. 2 notes

12 But the fields and the towns thereof he had given to Caleb the son of Jephone to possess. 2 notes

13 He gave therefore to the children of Aaron the Priest Hebron a city of refuge, & the suburbs thereof: and Lobna with the suburbs thereof: 2 notes

14 and Jether and Estemo, 2 notes

15 & Holon, & Dabir, 2 notes

16 and Ain, & Ieta, and Bethsames, with the suburbs thereof: nine cities of two tribes, as hath been said. 2 notes

17 And of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, Gabaon, & Gabæ, 2 notes

18 and Anathoth and Almon, with their suburbs: four cities. 2 notes

19 All the cities together of the children of Aaron the Priest, thirteen, with their suburbs. 2 notes

20 But to the rest by the families of the children of Caath of the Levitical stock was given this possession. 2 notes

21 Of the tribe of Ephraim the cities of refuge, Sichem with the suburbs thereof in the mountain of Ephraim, and Gazer 2 notes

22 and Cibsaim, and Beth horon, with the suburbs thereof, four cities. 2 notes

23 Of the tribe of Dan also, Eltheco and Gabathon, 2 notes

24 & Aialon and Gethremmon, with the suburbs thereof, four cities. 2 notes

25 Moreover of the half tribe of Manasses, Thanac and Gethremmon, with their suburbs, two cities. 2 notes

26 All the cities ten, and their suburbs, were given to the children of Caath of the inferior degree. 2 notes

27 To the children of Gerson also of the Levitical stock he gave of the half tribe of Manasses the cities of refuge, Gaulon in Basan, and Bosram, with their suburbs, two cities.

28 Moreover of the tribe of Issachar, Cesion, and Dabereth,

29 and Iaramoth, & Engannim, with their suburbs, four cities.

30 And of the tribe of Aser, Masal and Abdon,

31 and Helcath, & Rohob, with their suburbs, four cities.

32 Of the tribe also of Nephthali the cities of refuge, Cedes in Galilee: and Hammoth Dor, and Carthan, with their suburbs, three cities.

33 All the cities of the families of Gerson, thirteen, with their suburbs.

34 And to the children of Merari Levites of the inferior degree by their families was given of the tribe of Zabulon, Iecnam and Cartha

35 and Damna and Naalol, four cities with their suburbs.

36 Of the tribe of Ruben beyond Jordan against Jericho the cities of refuge, Bosor in the wilderness, Misor and Jaser and Iethson and Mephaath, four cities with their suburbs.

37 Of the tribe of Gad the cities of refuge, Ramoth in Galaad, and Manaim & Hesebon & Jaser, four cities with their suburbs.

38 All the cities of the children of Merari by their families and kindreds, twelve.

39 Therefore all the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty eight,

40 with their suburbs, every one distributed by the families.

41 And our Lord God gave to Israel all the Land, that he had sworn he would give to their fathers: and they possessed it, and dwelt in it.

42 And peace was given by him on all nations round about: and none of their enemies durst resist them, but all were brought into their dominion.

43 Not so much certes as one word, which he had promised, that he would perform unto them, was frustrate, but all things were accomplished in deeds.

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Josue 21:1-8 1 entry

THE LEVITES REQUEST CITIES

A DRAWING OF LOTS.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–c. 254)

It was fitting that there be a drawing of lots even regarding the suburbs and cities so that perhaps the renowned division among the Levites might not seem perhaps indiscriminate and accidental. Therefore, the distribution by lot that took place among the sons of Israel was characterized by reason, by which someone was considered worthy of the first lot, and someone else the second, as we have already previously examined to the extent we were able. This was true in regard to both those who receive through Moses beyond the Jordan and those who receive from Jesus [Joshua] in the land of promise, where the first lot fell to Benjamin^[1] and afterwards to the rest, among whom Dan was the last.^[2] Even so it is necessary that there be some reason also in the order of priestly and levitical lots. Thus the first is drawn for someone, the second for someone else, and the third for another, through which these or those places are determined for each one. HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 25.1.^[3]

On that occasion, without doubt, there will be some such observances of encampments and priestly distributions and ranks and signals of trumpets.

Homilies on Joshua 25.4

Josue 21:9-26 2 entries

THE CITIES OF THE LEVITESTHE LORD’S PROMISES FULFILLEDAN ALTAR BY THE JORDAN

THE FULLNESS OF THE NATIONS.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–c. 254)

After these things Jesus [Joshua] assembles the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who had served as soldiers with him to overcome the foes of the Israelites, and he dismisses them to go to their inheritance with certain gifts given to them, as it is written. Whereby this seems to indicate the mystery that when the fullness of the nations will come in,^[1] they receive from the Lord Jesus what was promised to them, those who had been taught and instructed by Moses and who by prayers and entreaties brought aid to us who are placed in the contest. They have not yet attained the promises,^[2] waiting so that our calling might also be fulfilled, as the apostle says.^[3] But now at last with the gifts they receive from Jesus they may attain the perfection that had been deferred for them so that each one may dwell in peace with every war and every battle ceasing.

Homilies on Joshua 26.2

THAT PRIOR PEOPLE.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–c. 254)

Do you still wish that I prove more clearly to you that all things among that prior people, whom Moses foreshadowed in the two and a half tribes, were neither complete nor perfect? Even the history written in this little book itself, Jesus [Joshua], son of Nun, also declares it when it says that the true altar was in the land that Jesus [Joshua] was distributing.^[1] But those who were across the Jordan, that is, Reuben and Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh, made an altar for themselves, but it was not a true altar. It merely contained a type and sign of the true altar that was with Jesus [Joshua]. Thus you have no cause to wonder whether or not those people had received the entire knowledge of the Trinity, since they had built neither an entire nor a true altar.

Homilies on Joshua 3.2