New International Version So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah, New Living Translation The following towns with their pasturelands were given to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Hebron (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Libnah, English Standard Version And to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasturelands, Libnah with its pasturelands, Berean Standard Bible So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah, Berean Literal Bible And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave a city of refuge for the manslayer, Hebron and its pasturelands, and Libnah and its pasturelands, King James Bible Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs, New King James Version Thus to the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Libnah with its common-land, New American Standard Bible So to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, Libnah with its pasture lands, NASB 1995 So to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Libnah with its pasture lands, NASB 1977 So to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Libnah with its pasture lands, Legacy Standard Bible Thus to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, Libnah also with its pasture lands, Amplified Bible So to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for anyone who committed manslaughter, with its pasture lands, and Libnah with its pasture lands, Berean Annotated Bible So to the descendants of Aaron (light bringer) the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron (association), a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah (pavement), Christian Standard Bible They gave to the descendants of the priest Aaron: Hebron, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands, Libnah with its pasturelands, Holman Christian Standard Bible They gave to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Hebron, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands, Libnah with its pasturelands, American Standard Version And unto the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with its suburbs, English Revised Version And unto the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with her suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with her suburbs; GOD'S WORD® Translation So they gave the following cities with pasturelands to the descendants of Aaron, the priest. The nine cities from those two tribes were Hebron (a city of refuge for murderers), Libnah, Good News Translation In addition to Hebron (one of the cities of refuge), the following cities were assigned to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Libnah, International Standard Version So they gave Hebron to the descendants of Aaron the priest to serve as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, Libnah with its pasture lands, NET Bible So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah, New Heart English Bible To the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah with its suburbs, Webster's Bible Translation Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest, Hebron with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with its suburbs, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah, World English Bible To the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Libnah with its pasture lands, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd to the sons of Aaron the priest they have given the city of refuge [for] the manslayer, Hebron and its outskirts, and Libnah and its outskirts, Berean Literal Bible And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave a city of refuge for the manslayer, Hebron and its pasturelands, and Libnah and its pasturelands, Young's Literal Translation And to the sons of Aaron the priest they have given the city of refuge for the man-slayer, Hebron and its suburbs, and Libnah and its suburbs, Smith's Literal Translation And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave the city of refuge of the slayer, Hebron and its areas, and Libnah and her areas, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe gave therefore to the children of Aaron the priest, Hebron a city of refuge, and the suburbs thereof: and Lobna with the suburbs thereof, Catholic Public Domain Version Therefore, he gave to the sons of Aaron the priest, Hebron as a city of refuge, as well as its suburbs, and Libnah, with its suburbs, New American Bible Thus to the descendants of Aaron the priest were given the city of refuge for homicides at Hebron, with its pasture lands; also, Libnah with its pasture lands, New Revised Standard Version To the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the slayer, with its pasture lands, Libnah with its pasture lands, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest, Hebron, the city of refuge for the slayers, with its suburbs, and Libnah with its suburbs, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And to the children of Aaron the Priest they gave a city of salvation of manslayers: Khebron and its fields and Lebna and its fields OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And unto the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with the open land about it; Brenton Septuagint Translation And to the sons of Aaron he gave the city of refuge for the slayer, Chebron, and the suburbs belonging to it; and Lemna and the suburbs belonging to it; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites…12But they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession. 13So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah, 14Jattir, Eshtemoa,… Cross References So to the descendants of Aaron the priest 1 Chronicles 6:54 Now these were the territories assigned to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clan for their settlements, because the first lot fell to them: Numbers 18:20 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. Deuteronomy 18:1-2 The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance. / Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them. they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: 1 Chronicles 6:55 They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands. Numbers 35:5 You are also to measure two thousand cubits outside the city on the east, two thousand on the south, two thousand on the west, and two thousand on the north, with the city in the center. These areas will serve as larger pasturelands for the cities. Numbers 35:2 “Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Joshua 20:7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. Numbers 35:6-7 Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities. / The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, with their corresponding pasturelands. Deuteronomy 19:2-3 then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess. / You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities. Libnah, 1 Chronicles 6:57 So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Joshua 15:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Joshua 10:29-30 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah. / And the LORD also delivered that city and its king into the hand of Israel, and Joshua put all the people to the sword, leaving no survivors. And he did to the king of Libnah as he had done to the king of Jericho. Numbers 35:9-34 Then the LORD said to Moses, / “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, / designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. … Leviticus 25:32-34 As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the cities they possess. / So whatever belongs to the Levites may be redeemed—a house sold in a city they possess—and must be released in the Jubilee, because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites. / But the open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for this is their permanent possession. Deuteronomy 4:41-43 Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east / to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities: / Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites. Deuteronomy 19:1-13 When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land He is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their cities and houses, / then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess. / You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities. … Treasury of Scripture Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs, they gave 1 Chronicles 6:56 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. Hebron Joshua 15:54 And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages: a city Joshua 20:7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. Numbers 35:6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. Libnah Joshua 10:29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah: Joshua 15:42 Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, 1 Chronicles 6:57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs, Jump to Previous Aaron Accused Children City Descendants Hebron Libnah Manslayer Man-Slayer Murder Open Pasture Priest Refuge Slayer Suburbs TakerJump to Next Aaron Accused Children City Descendants Hebron Libnah Manslayer Man-Slayer Murder Open Pasture Priest Refuge Slayer Suburbs TakerJoshua 21 1. Forty-eight cities given by lot, out of the other tribes unto the Levites.43. God gives the land, and rest unto the Israelites, according to his promise So to the descendants of Aaron the priest Aaron’s descendants served as Israel’s priests, carrying out sacrifices and other duties connected with worship. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites received no tribal territory, but God provided for them through assigned cities and pasturelands among Israel. 1Ch 6:54 Now these were the territories assigned to the Aaronites… they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: These cities gave the priests homes throughout the land, while the surrounding pasturelands supported their households and livestock. Their distribution also placed priestly instruction and ministry within reach of the tribes. 1Ch 6:55 They were given Hebron in the land of Judah… Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, was assigned to the priests and designated as a city of refuge for those responsible for accidental death. A person could flee there for protection until his case was heard, preserving justice while restraining personal vengeance. Hebron was also closely associated with Abraham and the burial place of the patriarchs. Jos 20:7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country… Libnah, Libnah, meaning “whiteness,” was a city in Judah’s lowland region. Its assignment to the priests strengthened the Levitical presence among the people and later became significant when it rebelled against Judah during Jehoram’s reign. 1Ch 6:57 So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron… Persons / Places / Events 1. AaronThe first high priest of Israel, brother of Moses, and ancestor of the Levitical priesthood. His descendants were given specific cities as part of their inheritance. 2. Hebron A significant city in the hill country of Judah, designated as a city of refuge. It holds historical importance as the place where Abraham settled and where David was anointed king. 3. City of Refuge A city designated as a safe haven for those who committed unintentional manslaughter, providing protection from the avenger of blood until a fair trial could be conducted. 4. Levites The tribe of Levi, set apart for religious duties and service to the Lord. They were not given a territorial inheritance like other tribes but were assigned specific cities and pasturelands. 5. Judah One of the twelve tribes of Israel, known for its leadership and prominence. The hill country of Judah was part of the territory allotted to this tribe. Teaching Points God's Provision for Justice and MercyThe establishment of cities of refuge demonstrates God's concern for justice and mercy, ensuring protection for those who accidentally cause harm. This reflects God's character and His desire for a fair and compassionate society. The Role of the Priesthood The allocation of Hebron to the descendants of Aaron underscores the importance of the priesthood in Israel. It reminds us of the spiritual leadership and intercessory role that priests played, pointing forward to Christ as our ultimate High Priest. Inheritance and Responsibility The Levites' inheritance of cities rather than land signifies their unique role and responsibility in serving God and His people. This can inspire us to consider how we use our own "inheritance" or resources for God's purposes. Sanctuary and Safety in God Hebron as a city of refuge symbolizes the safety and sanctuary we find in God. Just as the manslayer could flee to Hebron for protection, we can seek refuge in God amidst life's challenges. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 21:13?2. How does Joshua 21:13 demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel? 3. What role did Hebron play in the Levitical cities' spiritual significance? 4. How can we apply the concept of "cities of refuge" in our lives today? 5. Why is it important for Christians to support those in spiritual leadership roles? 6. How does Joshua 21:13 connect to the broader theme of God's provision in Scripture? 7. What is the significance of Hebron being given to the Levites in Joshua 21:13? 8. How does Joshua 21:13 reflect God's promise to the Levites? 9. Why was Hebron chosen as a city of refuge in Joshua 21:13? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 21? Verse 13. - Hebron with her suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer. Rather, the city of refuge for the slayer, Hebron and her cattle drives (see note above on ver. 2). The translation in our version obscures the meaning, which is clearly that the cities of refuge were first fixed on, and then assigned to the Levites. Most of the cities in the following list have been noticed already. Joshua 21:13 shows the Lord’s meticulous care for His priestly servants, fulfilling promises made generations earlier. By granting Hebron and Libnah—with their supporting pasturelands—to Aaron’s descendants, God provides both practical needs and strategic spiritual outposts. Hebron illustrates mercy and covenant continuity; Libnah reminds us that every place and person can be set apart for His purposes. The verse invites us to trust the Lord’s provision, honor His appointed servants, and cherish the refuge we ultimately have in Christ. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So to the descendantsוְלִבְנֵ֣י ׀ (wə·liḇ·nê) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son of Aaron אַהֲרֹ֣ן (’a·hă·rōn) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses the priest הַכֹּהֵ֗ן (hak·kō·hên) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3548: Priest they gave נָֽתְנוּ֙ (nā·ṯə·nū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 5414: To give, put, set [these cities] אֶת־ (’eṯ-) Direct object marker Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case with their pasturelands: מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ (miḡ·rā·še·hā) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 4054: A suburb, the area around a, building, the margin of the sea Hebron, חֶבְר֖וֹן (ḥeḇ·rō·wn) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 2275: Hebron -- 'association, league', a city in southern Judah a city עִיר֙ (‘îr) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 5892: Excitement of refuge מִקְלַ֣ט (miq·laṭ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4733: Refuge, asylum for the manslayer, הָרֹצֵ֔חַ (hā·rō·ṣê·aḥ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7523: To dash in pieces, kill, to murder Libnah, לִבְנָ֖ה (liḇ·nāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3841: Libnah -- a city in soutwest Judah, also a place in the wilderness Additonal Resources Joshua 21:13 Blue Letter BibleJoshua 21:13 Bible Gateway Joshua 21:13 Bible.com Joshua 21:13 NIV |
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