Joshua Chapter 21 · Verse 16
And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
Original Language Analysis
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
1 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עַ֣יִן
And Ain
H5871
עַ֣יִן
And Ain
Strong's:
H5871
Word #:
2 of 19
ajin, the name (thus simply) of two places in palestine
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ
with her suburbs
H4054
מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ
with her suburbs
Strong's:
H4054
Word #:
4 of 19
a suburb (i.e., open country whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area around a building, or the margin of the sea
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ
with her suburbs
H4054
מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ
with her suburbs
Strong's:
H4054
Word #:
8 of 19
a suburb (i.e., open country whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area around a building, or the margin of the sea
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ
with her suburbs
H4054
מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ
with her suburbs
Strong's:
H4054
Word #:
13 of 19
a suburb (i.e., open country whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area around a building, or the margin of the sea
עָרִ֣ים
cities
H5892
עָרִ֣ים
cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
14 of 19
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
מֵאֵ֕ת
H853
מֵאֵ֕ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:59And Ashan with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs:Joshua 15:10And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah:Joshua 15:55Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
Historical Context
Beth-shemesh (Tell er-Rumeileh) guarded the strategic Sorek Valley, a major route from the Philistine coastal plain into the Judean highlands. Excavations uncovered a substantial Israelite settlement with cultic installations. Its border location made it vulnerable to Philistine incursions (1 Samuel 6; 2 Kings 14:11-13). Ain may be the same as Ashan (1 Chronicles 6:59). Juttah (Yatta) lies 5 miles south of Hebron and may have been the city where John the Baptist's parents lived (Luke 1:39-40, "city of Judah" in the hill country).
Questions for Reflection
- How does Beth-shemesh's tragic ark incident warn against casual familiarity with sacred things?
- What does God's precise allocation of exactly nine cities teach about His faithfulness to detailed promises?
- How should Christians today balance accessibility to God through Christ with reverence for His holiness?
Analysis & Commentary
Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes (עַיִן וְיֻתָּה וּבֵית־שֶׁמֶשׁ, Ayin veYuttah uVeit-Shemesh)—Beth-shemesh ("house of the sun") carried pagan connotations, likely a former Canaanite solar worship site, yet became a Levitical city. This site later witnessed the judgment upon those who looked into the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 6:19-20), demonstrating that proximity to holiness without reverence brings destruction. The phrase nine cities out of those two tribes (תֵּשַׁע עָרִים מֵאֵת שְׁנֵי הַשְּׁבָטִים הָאֵלֶּה, tesha arim me'et shenei hashvatim ha'eleh) refers to Judah and Simeon, whose territories overlapped (Joshua 19:1).
The precise enumeration—exactly nine cities from Judah/Simeon—reveals God's mathematical precision in fulfilling the Levitical allocation prescribed in Numbers 35. No city was forgotten; no promise left incomplete.