Joshua 21:15 (KJV)

What does Joshua 21:15 mean?

Joshua 21:15 lists two towns, Holon and Debir, along with their surrounding lands ("suburbs"), as part of the territory given to the Levites. This verse is part of a larger record showing how specific cities and their nearby fields were assigned to the Levite families for their use.

In the context of the book of Joshua, the leaders of Israel are distributing land among the tribes after entering Canaan. The Levites, who served special religious roles, did not receive a large territory like the other tribes but were instead given certain towns and their surrounding pasturelands. Joshua 21:15 simply names two of these towns and notes that their "suburbs" (the open land around them) were included in the Levites' allotment.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 21:15

• חֹלֹן (Holon, ḥolōn): This is the name of one of the towns given to the Levites. The original Hebrew form helps identify the specific location being referenced in ancient records.
• דְּבִיר (Debir, deḇîr): Another town named here, Debir is mentioned elsewhere in Joshua as a notable city in the region.
• מִגְרָשׁ (suburbs, migrāš): This word refers to the open land or pastureland surrounding a city, not to "suburbs" in the modern sense of residential areas. These lands were important for the Levites' livestock and daily needs.

Why Joshua 21:15 matters

• This verse clarifies that the Levites were provided not just with towns but also with the necessary surrounding land to support their families and work, highlighting the practical care taken in Israel's land distribution.
• The mention of specific towns like Holon and Debir connects this verse to earlier narratives in Joshua, showing continuity and fulfillment of God's instructions regarding the Levites.
• Understanding the meaning of "suburbs" (migrāš) helps avoid confusion with modern city layouts and shows the agricultural nature of these allocations.