⁵⁴Now these are their dwelling places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, for theirs was the first lot,
54. Now these ... borders] the words are supplied by the Chronicler. Owing to his rearrangement of the material, the original introduction (i.e. Joshua xxi. 9) appears in this chapter as verse 65 (where see note).
encampments] Properly, the circular encampments of a nomadic tribe; here used more freely = habitations.
⁵⁵to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it;
55. suburbs] compare xiii. 2, note.
⁵⁶but the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
56. to Caleb] Joshua xxi. 12; Judges i. 20.
⁵⁷And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs;
57. the cities of refuge, Hebron] Read, the city of refuge, Hebron (compare Joshua xxi. 13), Hebron being the only city of refuge here mentioned (Joshua xx. 7).
Libnah] in the south-west of Judah, Joshua x. 29; 2 Kings viii. 22, xix. 8.