Joshua 21:13

Verse

So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah,

American Standard Version (1901)

And unto the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with its suburbs,

Bible in Basic English

And to the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its grass-lands, the town where the taker of life might be safe, and Libnah with its grass-lands;

Free Bible Version

They gave to the descendants of Aaron the priest the following towns and their pastures: Hebron (a sanctuary town for those who accidentally committed murder), Libnah,

Geneva Bible 1599

Thus they gaue to the children of Aaron the Priest, a citie of refuge for the slaier, euen Hebron with her suburbes, and Libnah with her suburbes,

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,

Translation for Translators

They allotted to them Hebron, which was one of the cities to which people could run/escape to be safe/protected. They also allotted to the Kohath clan the cities of Libnah,

Unlocked Literal Bible

To the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasturelands—which was a city of refuge for any who killed another unintentionally—and Libnah with its pasturelands,

Noah Webster Bible

Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest, Hebron with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with its suburbs,

World English Bible

To the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Libnah with its pasture lands,

Young's Literal Translation

And to the sons of Aaron the priest they have given the city of refuge [for] the man-slayer, Hebron and its suburbs, and Libnah and its suburbs,

Context

Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites

¹²But they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.¹³So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah,¹⁴Jattir, Eshtemoa,

Summary

Joshua 21:13 recounts how the Israelites, in accordance with God's promise, gave the city of Hebron to the descendants of Aaron the priest as a designated city of refuge. This act fulfilled the Lord's command to provide safe havens for those who unintentionally caused harm to others, ensuring justice tempered with mercy. The allocation of Hebron to the Levites exemplifies God's faithfulness in honoring His covenant with His people and establishing order within the community. It also underscores the importance of upholding righteousness and compassion in the administration of justice, reflecting God's character of both holiness and grace.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest,.... The families of the Kohathites, that part of them which descended from him, and were priests: Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; that had slain a person unawares, and without design; see on Jos 20:3, and Libnah with her suburbs; a royal city, of which see Jos 10:29.