Joshua 21:19
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
Original Language Analysis
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עָרִ֖ים
All the cities
H5892
עָרִ֖ים
All the cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
2 of 9
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
בְנֵֽי
of the children
H1121
בְנֵֽי
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
3 of 9
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֑ים
the priests
H3548
הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֑ים
the priests
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
5 of 9
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
שְׁלֹשׁ
were thirteen
H7969
שְׁלֹשׁ
were thirteen
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
6 of 9
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה
H6240
עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה
Strong's:
H6240
Word #:
7 of 9
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
Historical Context
This distribution occurred circa 1400-1390 BC, centuries before David captured Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-10) or Solomon built the temple (1 Kings 6, circa 966 BC). Yet the clustering of Aaronic cities around the future temple mount demonstrates divine foreknowledge. When temple service required 24 priestly divisions rotating weekly (1 Chronicles 24:7-19), these nearby cities housed the priests between their service periods. The Chronicler later confirms this list (1 Chronicles 6:54-60), emphasizing its enduring importance.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the geographic clustering of priestly cities near future Jerusalem demonstrate God's providential planning across centuries?
- What does the distinction between Aaronic priests and other Levites teach about different callings within God's service?
- How does God's provision of sustaining pastureland (migrash) challenge modern assumptions about faith and finances for ministry workers?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs (כָּל־עָרֵי בְנֵי־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים שְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵה עָרִים וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן, kol-arei benei-Aharon hakohanim shlosh-esreh arim umigrsheihen)—This summary verse emphasizes the distinct inheritance of the children of Aaron, the priests versus other Kohathite Levites (verses 20-26). The Aaronic line alone performed sacrificial duties at the altar, representing the people before God. Their thirteen cities (nine from Judah/Simeon, four from Benjamin) clustered in southern and central Canaan near Jerusalem, the future temple site—a geographic providence anticipating Solomon's temple 400 years later.
The number thirteen here represents complete provision, not curse. God allotted precisely what the Aaronic priesthood needed to fulfill their mediatorial role. The repetition of umigrsheihen ("with their suburbs") underscores that every city came with sustenance-producing pastureland—God's ministers would not beg for bread.