Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon, New Living Translation The following towns and pasturelands were allotted to the priests from the tribe of Dan: Eltekeh, Gibbethon, English Standard Version and out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands, Berean Standard Bible From the tribe of Dan they were given Elteke, Gibbethon, Berean Literal Bible And from the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and its pasturelands, Gibbethon and its pasturelands, King James Bible And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs, New King James Version and from the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its common-land, Gibbethon with its common-land, New American Standard Bible And from the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, NASB 1995 From the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, NASB 1977 And from the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, Legacy Standard Bible From the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, Amplified Bible From the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, Berean Annotated Bible From the tribe of Dan they were given (He has judged) Elteke (let God spew you out), Gibbethon (mound), Christian Standard Bible From the tribe of Dan they gave: Elteke with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands, Holman Christian Standard Bible From the tribe of Dan they gave: Elteke with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands, American Standard Version And out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs, English Revised Version And out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs; GOD'S WORD® Translation The tribe of Dan gave them four cities: Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Good News Translation From the territory of Dan they were given four cities: Eltekeh, Gibbethon, International Standard Version From the tribe of Dan were allocated Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, NET Bible From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon, New Heart English Bible Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs, Webster's Bible Translation And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFrom the tribe of Dan they were given Elteke, Gibbethon, World English Bible Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and its outskirts, Gibbethon and its outskirts, Berean Literal Bible And from the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and its pasturelands, Gibbethon and its pasturelands, Young's Literal Translation And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and its suburbs, Gibbethon and its suburbs, Smith's Literal Translation And from the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh and her area, and Gibbethon and her area, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd of the tribe of Dan, Eltheco and Gabathon, Catholic Public Domain Version and from the tribe of Dan, Elteke and Gibbethon, New American Bible From the tribe of Dan they obtained Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, New Revised Standard Version Out of the tribe of Dan: Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd out of the tribe of Dan, Ethleka with its suburbs, Gibethen with its suburbs, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And from the tribe of Dan: Athlaqa and its fields and Gebthuun and its fields OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with the open land about it, Gibbethon with the open land about it; Brenton Septuagint Translation and the tribe of Dan, Helcothaim and its suburbs; and Gethedan and its suburbs: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites…22Kibzaim, and Beth-horon—four cities, together with their pasturelands. 23From the tribe of Dan they were given Elteke, Gibbethon, 24Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon—four cities, together with their pasturelands.… Cross References From the tribe of Dan Joshua 19:40-48 The seventh lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Dan: / The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, / Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, … Judges 18:1-2 In those days there was no king in Israel, and the tribe of the Danites was looking for territory to occupy. For up to that time they had not come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. / So the Danites sent out five men from their clans, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. “Go and explore the land,” they told them. The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. Judges 1:34 The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to come down into the plain. they were given 1 Chronicles 6:64-65 So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands. / They assigned by lot the cities named above from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. Numbers 35:2-8 “Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. / The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock. / The pasturelands around the cities you are to give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the wall on every side. … 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. Elteke, Joshua 19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 1 Chronicles 6:69 Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon, together with their pasturelands. Gibbethon, 1 Kings 15:27 Then Baasha son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon of the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging the city. 1 Kings 16:15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah for seven days. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines, 1 Kings 16:17-18 Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. / When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died Numbers 35:1-8 Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho: / “Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. / The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock. … Joshua 20:1-9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, / “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, / so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood. … 1 Chronicles 6:54-81 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: / They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands. / But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. … 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. 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. Treasury of Scripture And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs, Eltekeh Joshua 19:44,45 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, … Jump to Previous Dan Eltekeh Lands Open Pasture Received Suburbs TribeJump to Next Dan Eltekeh Lands Open Pasture Received Suburbs TribeJoshua 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 From the tribe of Dan The tribe of Dan was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Dan, the fifth son of Jacob and the first son of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. Dan's territory was located in the central coastal region of Canaan, which included fertile lands but also faced challenges from neighboring Philistine territories. The tribe of Dan is known for its struggles to fully possess its allotted land, as seen in Judges 1:34, where the Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country. This context highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Israelites in securing their inheritance. they were given Elteke Gibbethon Persons / Places / Events 1. Tribe of DanOne of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Dan, the fifth son of Jacob and Bilhah. The tribe was allocated land in the northern part of Israel. 2. Eltekeh A city given to the Levites from the tribe of Dan. It was one of the cities with pasturelands for the Levites to dwell in and sustain themselves. 3. Gibbethon Another city given to the Levites from the tribe of Dan. Like Eltekeh, it included surrounding pasturelands. 4. Levites The priestly tribe of Israel, descendants of Levi. They were given specific cities and pasturelands throughout Israel as they did not receive a contiguous territory like the other tribes. 5. Allocation of Cities This event is part of the broader distribution of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, with specific cities designated for the Levites. Teaching Points God's Provision for His ServantsThe allocation of cities to the Levites demonstrates God's provision for those who serve Him. Just as the Levites were provided for, God ensures that those who dedicate their lives to His service are cared for. The Importance of Community Support The tribes of Israel were responsible for supporting the Levites, illustrating the importance of community and mutual support within the body of believers. Faithfulness in Fulfilling God's Commands The Israelites' obedience in distributing the land as commanded by God serves as a model for us to faithfully follow God's instructions in our lives. The Role of Spiritual Leaders The Levites were set apart for spiritual leadership and service. This reminds us of the importance of supporting and respecting those who lead and serve in our spiritual communities. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 21:23?2. How does Joshua 21:23 demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises? 3. What role do the Levites play in Joshua 21:23, and why is it significant? 4. How can we apply the concept of God's provision in Joshua 21:23 today? 5. What connections exist between Joshua 21:23 and God's covenant with Israel? 6. How does Joshua 21:23 encourage us to trust in God's plan for us? 7. What is the significance of Anathoth and Almon in Joshua 21:23? 8. How does Joshua 21:23 reflect God's promise to the Levites? 9. Why were specific cities given to the Levites in Joshua 21:23? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 21? 11. How does Joshua 23:14's statement that all God's promises were fulfilled reconcile with later prophetic books that foresee unfulfilled promises? 12. Psalm 106:34-35 suggests Israel did not fully conquer or destroy surrounding nations--how does this align with biblical passages that claim they subdued the land completely? 13. How did David consult the ephod for instant divine guidance in 1 Samuel 23:9-12 when similar direct communication is uncommon elsewhere in the Old Testament? 14. Psalm 111:6 speaks of God gifting nations to His people--what archaeological proof exists that this specific divine intervention took place? What Does Joshua 21:23 Mean From the tribe of Dan“From the tribe of Dan they were given Elteke, Gibbethon” (Joshua 21:23). • Dan’s territory lay along the coastal plain (Joshua 19:40–46), a strategic strip between Israelite highlands and Philistine cities. • The LORD had earlier commanded that Levites be scattered among all the tribes to teach His Law and model worship (Numbers 35:1-8; Deuteronomy 33:10). • By naming Dan specifically, the text underlines God’s meticulous fulfillment of His word—every tribe, even one later known for idolatry (Judges 18:30-31), must host cities for the priestly servants. They were given • “Given” reminds us the land ultimately belongs to the LORD (Leviticus 25:23). Tribes received it by allotment; Levites received their towns by gift. • This sharing protected Israel from clerical elitism and regional isolation, weaving spiritual leaders into daily community life (2 Chronicles 17:7-9). • It also foreshadows the church’s call to mutual support: “The Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14). Elteke • Likely situated in central Dan near the border with Ephraim (Joshua 19:44), Elteke means “God is my relief,” an apt reminder that service brings divine provision (Psalm 55:22). • As a Levitical city with surrounding pastureland (Joshua 21:2), it supplied both housing and resources so priests could focus on sacrifices and teaching (Leviticus 10:11). • Elteke testifies that God cares about the practical needs of those He calls (Philippians 4:19). Gibbethon • Located closer to the Philistine frontier, Gibbethon later appears as a battleground where Israel and Philistia clashed (1 Kings 15:27; 16:15-17). • Assigning Levites here placed light in a dark place, much as believers today are “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13-16). • Its history shows that ministry sites can be contested, yet God stations His servants where they are most needed (Acts 18:9-10). summary Joshua 21:23 demonstrates God’s faithfulness to His covenant—every tribe, including Dan, surrendered specific towns so Levites could dwell among the people. Elteke illustrates provision; Gibbethon highlights mission amid conflict. Together they encourage us that the LORD meticulously provides places and resources for His servants and positions them where their witness will shine the brightest. Hebrew From the tribeוּמִמַּ֨טֵּה־ (ū·mim·maṭ·ṭêh-) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe of Dan [they were given] דָ֔ן (ḏān) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1835: Dan -- 'judge', a son of Jacob, also a place in Northern Israel Elteke, אֶלְתְּקֵ֖א (’el·tə·qê) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 514: Elteke -- a city in Palestine Gibbethon, גִּבְּת֖וֹן (gib·bə·ṯō·wn) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 1405: Gibbethon -- 'mound', a city in Dan Links Joshua 21:23 NIVJoshua 21:23 NLT Joshua 21:23 ESV Joshua 21:23 NASB Joshua 21:23 KJV Joshua 21:23 BibleApps.com Joshua 21:23 Biblia Paralela Joshua 21:23 Chinese Bible Joshua 21:23 French Bible Joshua 21:23 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 21:23 Out of the tribe of Dan Elteke (Josh. Jos) |
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