Joshua 21:27 This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah--two cities, together with their pasturelands.

◄ Joshua 21:27 ►

New International Version
The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands—two towns;

New Living Translation
The descendants of Gershon, another clan within the tribe of Levi, received the following towns with their pasturelands from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone) and Be-eshterah—two towns.

English Standard Version
And to the Gershonites, one of the clans of the Levites, were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands—two cities;

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah—two cities, together with their pasturelands.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Also to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, from the other half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), and Be Eshterah with its common-land: two cities;

New American Standard Bible
And to the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities.

NASB 1995
To the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities.

NASB 1977
And to the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now to the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities.

Amplified Bible
To the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, they gave from the other half-tribe of Manasseh, [the city of] Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for anyone who committed manslaughter, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities.

Christian Standard Bible
From half the tribe of Manasseh, they gave to the descendants of Gershon, who were one of the Levite clans: Golan, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands in Bashan, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands—two cities.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
From half the tribe of Manasseh, they gave to the descendants of Gershon, who were one of the Levite clans: Golan, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands in Bashan, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands—two cities.

American Standard Version
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Be-eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.

English Revised Version
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer; and Be-eshterah with her suburbs; two cities.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They gave the families of Gershon's descendants, who were in the tribe of Levi, two cities with pasturelands from half of the tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for murderers) and Ashtaroth.

Good News Translation
Another group of Levites, the clan of Gershon, received from the territory of East Manasseh two cities: Golan in Bashan (one of the cities of refuge) and Beeshterah, with their pasture lands.

International Standard Version
To the descendants of Gershon (one of the Levitical families) from the half-tribe of Manasseh were allocated Golan in Bashan as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, and Beeshterah with its pasture lands, for a total of two cities.

Majority Standard Bible
This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah—two cities, together with their pasturelands.

NET Bible
They assigned to the Gershonite clans of the Levites the following cities: from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) and Beeshtarah, along with the grazing areas of each--a total of two cities;

New Heart English Bible
They gave to the descendants of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Be Eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.

Webster's Bible Translation
And to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half-tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer, and Beesh-terah with its suburbs; two cities.

World English Bible
They gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Be Eshterah with its pasture lands: two cities.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And for the sons of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, the city of refuge [for] the manslayer, Golan in Bashan and its outskirts, and Beeshterah and its outskirts—two cities.

Young's Literal Translation
And for the sons of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, the city of refuge for the man-slayer, Golan in Bashan and its suburbs, and Beeshterah and its suburbs -- two cities.

Smith's Literal Translation
And to the sons of Gershon from the families of the Levites, from half the tribe of Manasseh, the city of refuge of the slayer, Golan in Bashan and her area, and Beeshterah and her area: two cities.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
To the children of Gerson also of the race of Levi out of the half tribe of Manasses, Gaulon in Basan, one of the cities of refuge, and Bosra, with their suburbs, two cities.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Likewise, to the sons of Gershon, of the stock of Levi, from the one half tribe of Manasseh, went Golan in Bashan, one of the cities of refuge, and Bosra, with their suburbs, two cities;

New American Bible
The Gershonite clan of the Levites received from the half-tribe of Manasseh the city of refuge for homicides at Golan in Bashan, with its pasture lands; and also Beth-Astharoth with its pasture lands: two cities.

New Revised Standard Version
To the Gershonites, one of the families of the Levites, were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the slayer, and Beeshterah with its pasture lands—two towns.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the Gershonites, of the families of the Levites, had their cities out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Mathnin, the city of refuge for the slayer, with its suburbs, and Ashteroth with its suburbs; two cities with their suburbs.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And for the children of Gershun from the tribe of the Levites were the towns from half of the tribe of Menasheh, from the city of the place of deliverance of a manslayer: Gulan that is in Mathnin and its fields and Estruth and its fields two towns and their fields

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer; and Beeshterah with the open land about it; two cities.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joshua gave to the sons of Gedson the Levites out of the other half tribe of Manasse cities set apart for the slayers, Gaulon in the country of Basan, and its suburbs; and Bosora and its suburbs; two cities.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
…26In all, ten cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans. 27This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah— two cities, together with their pasturelands. 28From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kishion, Daberath,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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 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.

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 6:54-60
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. ...

Numbers 35:1-5
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. ...

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.

Exodus 21:13
If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

Numbers 35:11-15
designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. / You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly. / The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge. ...

Deuteronomy 19:1-3
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.

Hebrews 6:18
Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

Acts 7:45
And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,

Hebrews 4:8
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Luke 10:30-37
Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. / Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. / So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. ...

Romans 8:34
Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

Treasury of Scripture

And to 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.

And unto

Joshua 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.

Golan

Joshua 20:8
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Deuteronomy 1:4
After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:

Deuteronomy 4:43
Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.

1 Chronicles 6:71
Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:

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Accused Bashan Children Cities City Clans Half Half-Tribe Levites Manasseh Manas'seh Manslayer Murder Open Pasture Pasturelands Refuge Slayer Suburbs Together Tribe

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Accused Bashan Children Cities City Clans Half Half-Tribe Levites Manasseh Manas'seh Manslayer Murder Open Pasture Pasturelands Refuge Slayer Suburbs Together Tribe

Joshua 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

Berean Study Bible

This is what the Levites received
The Levites, descendants of Levi, were set apart for religious duties and did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes. Instead, they were given specific cities and surrounding pasturelands. This allocation underscores the Levites' unique role in Israelite society as spiritual leaders and caretakers of the tabernacle, emphasizing their dependence on God and the community for sustenance.

From the tribe of Manasseh
Manasseh was one of the tribes descended from Joseph, specifically his son Manasseh. The tribe was divided into two half-tribes, one on each side of the Jordan River. This allocation to the Levites from Manasseh highlights the interconnectedness of the tribes and the shared responsibility in supporting the Levites, who served all of Israel.

they received Golan in Bashan
Golan was one of the cities of refuge, located in the region of Bashan, east of the Jordan River. Cities of refuge were designated places where individuals who had accidentally committed manslaughter could seek asylum until a fair trial. The inclusion of Golan as a Levitical city underscores the Levites' role in administering justice and mercy, reflecting God's provision for both spiritual and societal order.

a city of refuge
The concept of a city of refuge is deeply rooted in the justice system established by God for Israel. It provided protection and ensured that justice was tempered with mercy. The Levites, as custodians of these cities, were integral in maintaining this balance, symbolizing God's grace and the importance of due process.

with its pasturelands
Pasturelands were essential for the sustenance of the Levites, who relied on livestock for food and offerings. The provision of pasturelands with the cities ensured that the Levites could maintain their livelihood while focusing on their spiritual duties. This arrangement reflects God's care for those dedicated to His service, ensuring they had the necessary resources to fulfill their roles.

and Beeshterah
Beeshterah, another city allocated to the Levites, further illustrates the distribution of cities among the Levites across different tribal territories. This distribution ensured that the Levites were present throughout Israel, facilitating their role in teaching the Law and leading worship, thus maintaining the spiritual health of the nation.

with its pasturelands—two cities
The mention of "two cities" emphasizes the specific and intentional provision for the Levites. Each city, with its accompanying pasturelands, was a tangible expression of God's provision and the community's support for those who served in spiritual capacities. This allocation ensured that the Levites could focus on their divine duties without the distraction of securing their own sustenance, highlighting the communal responsibility in upholding the spiritual fabric of Israel.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 27. - To be a city of refuge (see above, ver. 13). Be-eshterah. Thus printed by the Masorites, and thus translated by the LXX., but no doubt the same as Og's city Ashtaroth (see Joshua 12:4, and 1 Chronicles 6:71).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

[This is what] the Levite
הַלְוִיִּם֒ (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

clans
מִמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת (mim·miš·pə·ḥōṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people

of the Gershonites [were given]:
גֵרְשׁוֹן֮ (ḡê·rə·šō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1648: Gershon -- a son of Levi

From the half-tribe
מֵחֲצִ֞י (mê·ḥă·ṣî)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2677: The half, middle

of Manasseh
מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה (mə·naš·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519: Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites

[they received]
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

Golan
גּוֹלָ֤ן (gō·w·lān)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1474: Golan -- a city and a region East of the Jordan in Manasseh

in Bashan,
בַּבָּשָׁן֙ (bab·bā·šān)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1316: Bashan -- 'smooth', a region East of the Jordan

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

and Beeshterah—
בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָ֖ה (bə·‘eš·tə·rāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1203: Be-eshterah -- perhaps 'house of Ashtoreth', a Levitical city in Manasseh

two
שְׁתָּֽיִם׃ (šə·tā·yim)
Number - fd
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

cities,
עָרִ֖ים (‘ā·rîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

along with
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

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

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OT History: Joshua 21:27 They gave to the children of Gershon (Josh. Jos)