John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And the children of Gershon [had] by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar , etc.] 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, not only out of Issachar, but out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan ; which was the other half of the tribe beyond Jordan: thirteen cities ; as many as were given out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
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 ולבני1121 גרשׁון1648 ממשׁפחות4940 מטה4294 ישׂשכר3485 וממטה4294 אשׁר836 וממטה4294 נפתלי5321 ומחצי2677 מטה4294 מנשׁה4519 בבשׁן1316 בגורל1486 ערים5892 שׁלשׁ7969 עשׂרה׃6240
