John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites , etc.] When the land was divided to the several tribes, and everyone knew the cities that belonged to them, and what they could and should part with to the Levites, and when the six cities of refuge were fixed; the Levites came to put in their claim for cities of habitation, they having no share in the division of the land; and yet it was necessary they should have habitations; the persons that undertook to put in a claim for them were the principal men among them; the fathers of them were Kohath, Gershon, and Merari; the heads of those were the chief men that were then living: these came unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun ; the high priest and chief magistrate: and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel ; the princes appointed to divide the land with the two great personages before mentioned, ( Numbers 34:17-29).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided for, before the preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a very good foundation; not their own merits or services, but the Divin precept. The maintenance of ministers is not a thing left merely to the will of the people, that they may let them starve if they please; the which preach the gospel should live by the gospel, and should liv comfortably. (Jos 21:9-42)
Original Hebrew ויגשׁו5066 ראשׁי7218 אבות1 הלוים3881 אל413 אלעזר499 הכהן3548 ואל413 יהושׁע3091 בן1121 נון5126 ואל413 ראשׁי7218 אבות1 המטות4294 לבני1121 ישׂראל׃3478
