Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.

JOSHUA 21:39KJV
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Joshua 21:39 (KJV)

What does Joshua 21:39 mean?

Joshua 21:39 lists two towns, Heshbon and Jazer, along with their surrounding lands, noting that these make up four cities in total. This verse is part of a record showing which towns were given to the Levites as their places to live within the territory of the other Israelite tribes.

The verse comes from a section where Joshua, as leader of Israel, is assigning towns to the Levite families as God commanded. Each town mentioned includes its "suburbs," meaning the pasturelands around the city, which were important for the Levites’ livestock and daily needs. The careful counting of "four cities in all" shows the attention to detail in dividing the land fairly among the Levites.

Where else these words appear

“Jazer” Hebrew H3270 · used in 12 verses

  • Numbers 21:32 And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.
  • Numbers 32:35 And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah,
  • 1 Chronicles 26:31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.

“Heshbon” Hebrew H2809 · used in 37 verses

  • Numbers 21:25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
  • Deuteronomy 3:2 And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.
  • Judges 11:19 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.

“suburbs” Hebrew H4054 · used in 67 verses

  • Leviticus 25:34 But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession.
  • Joshua 21:25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
  • 1 Chronicles 6:68 And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,