Joshua 21

Jos 21:1 Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;

A list of the Levitical cities, varying in some particulars from that given in this chapter, is also, given in 1 Chr. 6:54-81.

The heads of the fathers of the Levites - The Levites were composed of three brand families, the Gershonites, Koathites, and Merarites. To none of these had God assigned any portion in the division of the land. But in this general division it must have been evidently intended that the different tribes were to furnish them with habitations; and this was according to a positive command of God, Num_35:2-3 Command the sons of Israel that they give to the Levites, from the land of their possessions cities to live in. And you shall give to the Levites suburbs for the cities all around them. And they shall have the cities to live in. And their open lands shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their animals. Num 35:6 And among the cities which you shall give to the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which you shall appoint for the manslayer, so that he may flee there. And you shall add forty-two cities to them. Finding now that each tribe had its inheritance appointed to it, the heads of the Levites came before Eleazar, Joshua, and the chiefs of the tribes who had been employed in dividing the land, and requested that cities and suburbs should be granted them according to the Divine command.

After the cities of refuge had been set apart, the towns were also selected, which the different tribes were to give up for the priest and Levites to dwell in according to the Mosaic instructions in Num_35:1-8, together with the necessary fields as pasturage for their cattle. The setting apart of the cities of refuge took place before the appointment of the Levitical towns, because the Lord had given commandment through Moses in Num_35:6, that they were to give to the Levites the six cities of refuge, and forty-two cities besides, i.e., forty-eight cities in all.

Jos 21:2 And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.

Jos 21:3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.

And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites - They freely obeyed the Divine command, and cities for habitations were appointed to them out of the different tribes by lot.

Jos 21:4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

Thirteen cities - This number is said to be too great for a single family. But it appears 1 Chr. 24 that the two surviving sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar, had together 24 sons, the heads of the priestly families. Since Aaron was 123 years old when he died Num_33:39, his sons’ grandchildren and great grandchildren were no doubt living in the elapsing years of Joshua’s course, and had to he provided with dwellings. They might altogether number several thousands. The “cities” of Canaan were for the most part small; as is manifest from the astonishing number of them in proportion to the area of the land, more particularly in the south, where the portion of the priests was situated. It appears, further, that several of the cities here enumerated were only wrested from the Canaanites at a later date.

and the children of Aaron the priest - which were of the Levites who descended from Amram, the eldest son of Kohath,

Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin - Which three tribes were nearest the temple, where their business lay.

the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites--The Levites were divided into Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the family of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all the rest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot was drawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by the priests, to whom thirteen cities were granted, and ten to the rest of the Kohathites (Jos_21:5); thirteen to the Gershonites (Jos_21:6), and twelve to the Merarites (Jos_21:7).

the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites--The tribe of Levi was divided into three branches, - The Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites (see Num 3 and Exo_6:16-19). The Kohathites again were divided into the four families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel (Exo_6:18); and the family of Amram into two lines, consisting of the descendants of Moses and Aaron (Exo_6:20). The priesthood was committed to the line of Aaron (Num_18:1-7); but the other descendants of Amram, i.e., the descendants of Moses, were placed on a par with the other descendants of Levi, and numbered among the simple Levites (Num. 3; 1Ch_6:1-7). The towns in which the different families of Levi were to dwell were determined by lot; but in all probability the towns which each tribe was to give up to them were selected first of all, so that the lot merely decided to which branch of the Levites each particular town was to belong.

Jos 21:5 And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

The rest of the Kohathites - the descendants of Moses, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, received ten towns from Ephraim, Dan, and half Manasseh. That is, the remaining part of that family that were not priests, for those who were priests had their lot in the preceding tribes. The non-priestly Kohathites had been diminished by the destruction of Korah and his company Num. 16. On comparing Num_26:57 following with Num_3:27, two of the families of the Kohathites seem to have disappeared altogether. Hence, it is not surprising that the rest of the Kohathites were sufficiently accommodated in ten cities.

It has been asked in what sense did the Levites possess those cities, seeing they had no inheritance? To which it may be answered that it is not likely the Levites had the exclusive property of the cities in which they dwelt, for it is evident that the other Israelites dwelt among them. For instance, Gibeah of Benjamin, which is here given to the Levites, Jos_21:17, was always peopled by the Benjamites, as appears from the history of the Levite, whose wife was so horribly abused by them; Jdg_19:22-27. Saul and all his family dwelt in the same city; and David and his court spent the first years of his reign at Hebron, which was also a city of the Levites, Jos_21:10. It appears, therefore, that they had no other property in those cities than merely the right to certain houses, which they might sell, but always with the right of perpetual redemption, for they could finally alienate nothing; and if the possessor of such a house, having sold it, did not redeem it at the year of jubilee, it reverted to the Levites. And as to their lands for their cattle, which extended two thousand cubits without the city, these they were not permitted to sell: they were considered as the Lord’s property. See Lev_25:32-34. It is therefore very likely that, in the first instance, the Levites had simply the right to choose, in all the cities assigned them, the houses in which they were to dwell, and that those of the tribe to which the city belonged occupied all the other dwellings. There is also reason to believe that in process of time, when the families of the Levites increased, they had more dwellings assigned to them, which were probably built at the public expense. We may also observe that the Levites were not absolutely bound to live in these and no other cities: for when the tabernacle was at Nob, priests and Levites dwelt there, see 1Sa_21:1, etc.; and when the worship of God was established at Jerusalem, multitudes both of priests and Reviles dwelt there, though it was no Levitical city: as did the courses of priests afterwards at Jericho. This was a circumstance which Moses had foreseen, and for which he had provided. See Deu_18:6.

Jos 21:6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

And the children of Gershon - These were Levites who descended from Gershon, the eldest son of Levi, and had their cities by lot assigned them in tribes at a greater distance.

Jos 21:7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

The children of Merari - The descendants of Merari, the third son of Levi:

Jos 21:8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs - these cities did not lie all together, and so could not be described by their coasts; but in the several tribes, and intermixed with their cities; which fulfilled Jacob's prophecy, that they should be divided and scattered in Israel, Gen_49:7; as well as it was so ordered for the benefit of the several tribes, that they might have the assistance of the priests and Levites, to instruct them in the knowledge of the laws and commandments of God, and all divine things:

Jos 21:9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,

Jos 21:10 Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.

Families - That is, of the family, the plural number for the singular, which is not unusual.

Jos 21:11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.

The city of Arba - And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba, the city of Arba.

Anak - according to one scholar, is not the name of a man, but a general name, comprehending the Anakims, a race of giants, among whom Arba was the chief and principal man, a prince and ruler over them.

Jos 21:12 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

The fields of the city - gave they to Caleb - This was an exclusive privilege to him and his family, with which the grant to the Levites did not interfere.

The fields and villages - That is, all beyond the two thousand cubits expressed, Num_35:5. Of all the other cities given to the Levites, that they and their suburbs, extending to such a distance only, were given to them; but the fields and villages, which belonged to them, continued the inheritance of the tribes in which they were. This is here mentioned, not as his peculiar case, but as one eminent instance, to shew, that it was so in all the rest of the cities here named; that the fields and villages thereof still belonged to the several tribes from whom the cities and their suburbs were taken; and to make the rest of the Israelites more chearfully resign part of their possessions to the Levites, because even Caleb did so, though his possession had been long before promised, and now actually given to him by God's special command, as a mark of honor and compensation for his long and faithful service.

Jos 21:13 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 also received Libnah in the lowland (see Jos_15:42; Jos_10:29); Jattir (Jos_15:48), Eshtemoah (Jos_15:50), Holon (Jos_15:51), and Debir (Jos_15:15, Jos_15:49; Jos_10:38) on the mountains of Judah; Ain, for which we should read Ashan (1Ch_6:44; cf. Jos_15:42), in the tribe of Simeon (Jos_19:7); Juttah on the mountains (Jos_15:55); and Beth-shemesh in the lowland (Jos_15:10).

Jos 21:14 And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,

Jos 21:15 And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,

Jos 21:16 And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.

and Bethshemesh with her suburbs - which is not mentioned among the cities of Judah, Jos_15:21; only as in the borders of it, Jos_21:10; and perhaps is the same Bethshemesh to which the ark was directed by the Philistines from Ashdod, 1Sa_6:9; in it formerly was a temple dedicated to the sun, from whence it had its name:

nine cities out of those two tribes - they are mostly from the tribe of Judah; and as that tribe had the largest number of cities in its lot, the more were given out of it to the Levites, according to a rule prescribed, Num_35:8 And the cities which you shall give shall be of the possessions of the sons of Israel. You shall give many from those who have many. But from those who have few you shall give few. Everyone shall give of his cities to the Levites according to his inheritance which he inherits.

And Ain - Ain and Gibeon, and some others here named are not named in 1Ch_6:59. Either they were destroyed in some of those invasions wherewith their land was grievously wasted before that time; or they appear there under other names.

Jos 21:17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,

Jos 21:18 Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.

Anathoth - Celebrated as the birthplace of Jeremiah. This is not mentioned among the cities of Benjamin, Jos_18:11;

and Almon with her suburbs - this also is not mentioned among the cities of Benjamin, Jos_18:11; it is called Alemeth, 1Ch_6:60. Some scholars say it is the same with Bahurim, 2Sa_3:16; where the Targum renders it by Almeth, and both words signify the same thing, "youth":

Jos 21:19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

Jos 21:20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.

Towns of the Levites. - Jos_21:20-26. The other Kohathites received four towns from the tribe of Ephraim (Jos_21:21, Jos_21:22), four from Dan (Jos_21:23, Jos_21:24), and two from the half tribe of Manasseh on this side of the Jordan (Jos_21:25). From Ephraim they received Shechem (see Jos_17:7), Gezer (Jos_10:33), Kibzaim - for which we find Jockmeam in 1Ch_6:68, possibly a different name for the same place - and Beth-horon, whether Upper or Lower is not stated (see Jos_10:10). From Dan they received Elthekeh and Gibbethon (Jos_19:44), Ajalon and Gath-rimmon (Jos_19:42, Jos_19:45). From half Manasseh they received Taanach (Jos_17:11; Jos_12:21) and Gath-rimmon - eye to the previous verse, for Bileam (1Ch_6:70), i.e., Jibleam (Jos_17:11).

Jos 21:21 For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,

and Gezer with her suburbs - a place from whence the Canaanites were not expelled.

Jos 21:22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.

Beth-horon - There were two cities of this name, the upper and the nether; but which is intended here, cannot be ascertained although one scholar thinks it is upper Bethhoron: see Jos_16:3,

And Kibzaim with her suburbs - Which seems to, be the same with Jokneam, 1Ch_6:68; This is perhaps another name for the same place, since both names may be derived from roots having a similar meaning;

Jos 21:23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,

Jos 21:24 Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.

Jos 21:25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.

two cities - these are called Aner and Bilean in 1Ch_6:70 instead of Tanach and Gath-rimmon. Either the cities had at this time different names, or afterwards their names were changed; or the Levites, being by some means dispossessed of the cities first assigned them, received others from their brethren.

Jos 21:26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.

All the cities were ten, with their suburbs - Four out of Ephraim, four out of Dan, and two out of the half tribe of Manasseh:

Jos 21:27 And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.

Beeshterah - contracted from Beth-eshterah, the house of Astarte, called Ashtaroth in 1Ch_6:56, may possibly have been the capital of king Og Jos_12:4; Deu_1:4; 1Ch_6:71 (Ashtaroth-karnaim, Gen_14:5). Here seems to have been formerly a temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte; for Beeshterah is a compound of "Beth" and "Ashterah", or Astarte; that is, the house or temple of Astarte.

Jos 21:28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,

And out of the tribe of Issachar - From Issachar they received four towns: Kishon (Jos_19:20), Dabrath (Jos_19:12), Jarmuth = Remeth (see Jos_19:21), and En-gannim (Jos_19:21, or Anem, 1Ch_6:73).

Kishon with her suburbs - From whence the river Kishon probably had its name, or the city from that; it is the same with Kishion, Jos_19:20; and called Kedesh, 1Ch_6:72.

Jos 21:29 Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.

Jarmuth with her suburbs - Called Ramoth, 1Ch_6:73; very probably the same with Remeth, Jos_19:21,

Engannim with her suburbs - called Anem, 1Ch_6:73,

Jos 21:30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,

And out of the tribe of Asher - From Asher they received four towns: Mishal or Masal or Misheal (Jos_19:26; cf. 1Ch_6:74), Abdon (Jos_19:28), Helkath (Jos_19:25, called Hukok in 1Ch_6:75), and Rehob (Jos_19:28).

Jos 21:31 Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.

Helkath with her suburbs - the same with Hukok in 1Ch_6:75,

Jos 21:32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.

And out of the tribe of Naphtali - From Naphtali they received three towns: Kedesh (Jos_19:37 and Jos_12:22), Hammoth-dor (called Hammath in Jos_19:35, and Hammon in 1Ch_6:76), and Kartan (contracted from Kartain for Kirjathaim, 1Ch_6:76 but cannot be the Kirjathaim in Num_32:37; for that belonged to the tribe of Reuben, and was on the other side Jordan).

Jos 21:33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

All the cities of the Gershonites - two out of the half tribe of Manasseh beyond Jordan, four out of Issachar, four out of Asher, and three out of Naphtali.

Jos 21:34 And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,

And unto the families of the children of Merari - The Merarites received twelve towns. From the tribe of Zebulun they received four: Jokneam (Jos_19:11 : see at Jos_12:22), Kartah and Dimnah, Some of these places are not found in the list of Zebulonite cities in Jos_19:10-16.

Jokneam with her suburbs - which was a royal city.

and Kartah with her suburbs - perhaps the same with Kattath, Jos_19:15.

Jos 21:35 Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.

four cities - only two are mentioned, 1Ch_6:77; and they by different names; the one is Rimmon, before observed, and the other Tabor; perhaps the same with Chislothtabor, Jos_19:12.

Jos 21:36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,

And out of the tribe of Reuben - From Reuben they received four: Gezer (Jos_20:8 : see Deu_4:43), Jahza, Kedemoth, and Mephaath (Jos_13:18).

and Jahazah with her suburbs - called Jahaz;

Jos 21:37 Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.

Kedemoth with her suburbs - Near to which was a wilderness of that name; Deu_2:26,

Jos 21:38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

And out of the tribe of Gad - From Gad they received four towns: Ramoth in Gilead, and Mahanaim (see at Jos_13:26), Heshbon (Jos_13:17) and Jaezer (Jos_13:25 : see at Num_21:32).

and Mahanaim with her suburbs - here it was the angels met Jacob, which gave rise to the name of the place, Gen_32:1; afterwards a city was built here, and was on the borders of the tribe of Gad, and belonged to it, Jos_13:26; mention is made of it in other places, 2Sa_2:8 1Ki_2:8.

Jos 21:39 Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.

Heshbon with her suburbs - Which was formerly the royal city of Sihon king of the Amorites, and was first given to and rebuilt by the Reubenites, but was upon the border of the tribe of Gad; and appears from hence to have been one of their cities, Num_21:26,

Jos 21:40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.

All the cities for the sons of Merari - four out of the tribe of Zebulun, four out of the tribe of Reuben, and four out of the tribe of Gad.

Jos 21:41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.

Jos 21:42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.

After this verse, the Septuagint introduces a passage (in part a repetition from Jos_19:49-50), recording the grant of a special inheritance to Joshua, and also that he buried at Timnath-serah the flint-knives with which he had circumcised (Jos_5:2 note) the people after the passage of Jordan. The latter statement, which has the authority of the Septuagint only, is, according to one scholar, a Jewish legend of early date. Josh 21:42 a city and the suburbs round about the city to all these cities: and Joshua ceased dividing the land by their borders: and the children of Israel gave a portion to Joshua because of the commandment of the Lord: they gave him the city which he asked: they gave him Thamnasachar in mount Ephraim; and Joshua built the city, and dwelt in it: and Joshua took the knives of stone, wherewith he circumcised the children of Israel that were born in the desert by the way, and put them in Thamnasachar. (Septuagint)

Jos 21:43 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

There is no real inconsistency between the declarations of these verses and the fact that the Israelites had not as yet possessed themselves of all the cities allotted to the various tribes Judg. 1:21-36 - nor did at any time, subdue the whole extent of country promised to them Num_34:1-12. God had fulfilled all His part of the covenant. It was no part of His purpose that the native population should be annihilated suddenly Deu_7:22 And the LORD your God will put out those nations before you by little and little. You may not destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon you; but they were delivered into the hand of Israel, and their complete dispossession could have been effected at any time by that divine aid which was never wanting when sought. At the time referred to in the text, the Canaanites were discouraged, broken in strength, holding fast in isolated spots only up and down the land in the very midst of the tribes of God’s people. The conquest of Canaan was already a perfect work; just as in the New Testament the triumph of the individual Christian and of the Christian Church in their warfare is often spoken of as accomplished in view of the divine will that it should be so, and of divine grace that it may be so. It was therefore, only the inertness and pusillanimity of the Israelites which prevented the completion of the conquest when the allotment of Canaan was made by Joshua; as it was their subsequent backslidings which caused God to turn the tide of victory against them and even to cast them out of the land promised to their forefathers and actually won in the campaigns of Joshua.

And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land - All was now divided by lot unto them, and their enemies were so completely discomfited that there was not a single army of the Canaanites remaining to make head against them; and those which were left in the land served under tribute, and the tribute that they paid was the amplest proof of their complete subjugation. Add to this, they had as much of the land in actual possession as they could occupy; and, as they increased, God enabled them to drive out the rest of the ancient inhabitants; but in consequence of the infidelity of the Israelites, God permitted their enemies often to straiten them, and sometimes to prevail against them. It should also be remembered, that God never promised to give them the land, or to maintain them in it, but on condition of obedience; and so punctually did he fulfill this intention, that there is not a single instance on record in which they were either straitened or subjugated, while obedient and faithful to their God.

Jos_21:43-45 form the conclusion to the account of the division of the land in Josh 13-21, which not only points back to Jos_11:23, but also to Jos_1:2-6, and connects the two halves of our book together. By the division of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, the promise which Joshua had received from God after the death of Moses was fulfilled (Jos_1:2.). The Lord had given Israel the whole land which He had sworn to the fathers (Gen_12:7; Gen_15:18, compared with Jos_1:3-4); and they had now taken possession of it to dwell therein.

Jos 21:44 And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.

And the LORD gave them rest round about - He had also procured them rest round about, as He had sworn to their fathers, inasmuch as not a man of all their enemies stood against them. The expression “gave them rest,” etc., points back to Deu_12:9-10 For you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the LORD your God gives you. But when you go over Jordan and live in the land which the LORD your God gives you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies all around, so that you live in safety, and refers to all the divine promises of the Pentateuch which assured the Israelites of the peaceable possession of Canaan, such as Exo_33:14 And He said, My presence shall go with you , and I will give you rest; Deu_3:20. No enemy had been able to withstand them, as the Lord had promised Joshua (Jos_1:5). “The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand.” It is true the Canaanites were not all exterminated; but those who were left had become so powerless, that they could neither accomplish nor attempt anything against Israel, so long as the Israelites adhered faithfully to their God, or so long as Joshua and the elders who were his contemporaries were alive (Jdg_2:6.), because the Lord had overwhelmed them with fear and terror before the Israelites. This is a type depiction for Christians, that as we enter the promised land, He gives us rest too.

there stood not a man of all their enemies before them - for whenever any rose up to oppose them, they were immediately cut off: this is to be understood while Joshua was living; for afterwards, sinning against God, they were again and again delivered up into the hands of their enemies:

Jos 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

all had come to pass – This relates to the gracious promises of God with regard to the peaceful possession of Canaan, which formed the basis of all the salvation promised to Israel, and the pledge of the fulfillment of all the further promises of God. Notwithstanding the fact that many a tract of country still remained in the hands of the Canaanites, the promise that the land of Canaan should be given to the house of Israel for a possession had been fulfilled; for God had not promised the immediate and total destruction of the Canaanites, but only their gradual extermination (Exo_23:29-30; Deu_7:22). And even though the Israelites never came into undisputed possession of the whole of the promised land, to the full extent of the boundaries laid down in Num_34:1-12, the promises of God were no more broken on that account than they were through the circumstance, that after the death of Joshua and the elders his contemporaries, Israel was sometimes hard pressed by the Canaanites; since the complete fulfillment of this promise was inseparably connected with the fidelity of Israel to the Lord.

All came to pass - Such an acknowledgment as this, here subscribed by Joshua, in the name of all Israel, we afterward find made by Solomon; and all Israel did in effect say amen to it, 1Ki_8:56 Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant. The inviolable truth of God's promise, and the performance of it to the uttermost, is what all believers in Christ have been always ready to bear their testimony to.