John Gill Commentary Joshua 21:18

"Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities." — Joshua 21:18 (ASV)

Anathoth with her suburbs
This is not mentioned among the cities of Benjamin, (Joshua 18:11–28); it was the native place of the Prophet Jeremiah, (See Gill on Jeremiah 1:1); it lay about two or three miles north of Jerusalem; three, says, Jerom ^F11 . Rauwolff ^F12 speaks of it as a small village, when he travelled into those parts, and as lying on a height or eminence, and which was within twenty furlongs of Jerusalem, as Josephus writes ^F13 :

and Almon with her suburbs ;
this also is not mentioned among the cities of Benjamin, (Joshua 18:11–28); it is called Alemeth, (1 Chronicles 6:60). Jarchi and Kimchi say it is the same with Bahurim, (2 Samuel 3:16); where the Targum renders it by Almeth, and both words signify the same thing, "youth":

four cities ;
which were a large number for so small a tribe as little Benjamin to give.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F11: De loc. Heb. fol. 88. H.
• F12: Travels, par. 3. c. 2. p. 216.
• F13: Antiqu. l. 10. c. 7. sect. 3.