77–81 (= Joshua xxi. 34–39).
The [twelve] cities of the sons of Merari.
⁷⁷Unto the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:
77. Rimmono ... Tabor] Read Rimmon or Rimmonah. Against these two names there are four in Joshua xxi. 34, 35; Jokneam, Kartah, Dimnah and Nahalal. As regards the number of the cities the text of Joshua is certainly right. See Critical Note on verses 54–81.
Tabor] No city, but only a mountain named Tabor is known to us, as having certainly existed in Old Testament times. A city however named Tabor existed on the mountain as early as 218 B.C., and it may have been as old as the times of the Chronicler. Mount Tabor was in Issachar near the border of Zebulun. For Nahalal, the reading in Joshua, compare Joshua xix. 15; Judges i. 30. Compare Bädeker, Palestine⁵, p. 250.
⁷⁸and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them, out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs, ⁷⁹and Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:
78. at Jericho] The crossing-place of the Jordan nearest to Reuben was at Jericho. For the phrase Jordan at Jericho compare Joshua xvi. 1.
in the wilderness] further defined by the addition in the table-land (Deuteronomy iv. 43, Revised Version margin). Bezer was among the high pasture lands of Reuben. It was a city of refuge.
Jahzah] also called Jahaz. Compare Judges xi. 20; Isaiah xv. 4.
⁸⁰and out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
80. Ramoth in Gilead] a city of refuge, Joshua xxi. 38. See 1 Kings xxii. 3; 2 Kings ix. 1.