Bible Strands
Joshua 21:32
And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua distributes Levitical cities to the Gershonite clans, drawing specifically from the tribal inheritance of Naphtali. This allocation occurs during the final territorial settlement of the Promised Land.
The words — The text highlights מִקְלַט (mik.Lat) for "refuge" and הָֽ/רֹצֵ֗חַ (ha./ro.Tze.ach) for "killer," formally designating Kedesh as a sanctuary for the manslayer. It also names קֶ֨דֶשׁ (Ke.desh) as the primary city granted from the tribe of Naphtali.
The thread — This allocation echoes the earlier sanctuary designation in Joshua 20:7 and parallels the Levitical distribution recorded in 1 Chronicles 6:76. The granted cities correspond to the fortified settlements of Naphtali listed in Joshua 19:35.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to track the precise, documented division of land to the Levites. It establishes Kedesh as a functioning city of refuge while confirming the fulfillment of tribal inheritance allocations.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammoth–dor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
Cross-references
- Joshua 20:7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
- 1 Chronicles 6:76 And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.
- Joshua 19:35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,
- Joshua 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,