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To 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.

Verse Takeaways

1

From Pagan Shrine to Holy City

Commentators explain that the city 'Be-eshterah' is a contraction of 'Beth-Ashterah,' meaning 'house of Ashterah,' a pagan goddess. The transformation of a site dedicated to idol worship into a city for God's ministers, the Levites, powerfully illustrates God's redemptive work, reclaiming and sanctifying what was once unholy for His purposes.

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Book Overview

Joshua

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Commentaries

3

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Joshua 21:27–33

18th Century

Theologian

Compare Joshua 19:18 and similar passages. Of the cities of the Gershonites, for Beesh-terah read (Beeshterah). The name is a contraction of Beth-A…

John Gill

John Gill

On Joshua 21:27

17th Century

Pastor

And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the
Levites
The descendants of t…

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Joshua 21:9–42

17th Century

Minister

By mixing the Levites with the other tribes, they were made to see that the eyes of all Israel were upon them, and therefore it was their concern t…