Joshua 21:38 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

From the tribe of Gad's territory, they gave Ramoth in Gilead with its surrounding pasturelands to be a city of refuge for anyone who accidentally killed someone, and Mahanaim with its surrounding pasturelands,

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse describes two cities from the tribe of Gad that were given to the Levites, including one designated as a safe haven for people who accidentally caused someone's death.

📚 Historical Context

This verse is part of the distribution of cities to the Levites (the priestly tribe) after Israel conquered the Promised Land. Cities of refuge were special places where someone who accidentally killed another person could flee for protection from revenge, ensuring they received a fair trial rather than immediate retaliation from the victim's family.

Explore Similar Verses

Joshua 21:13

So they gave to Aaron's descendants, who were priests, the city of Hebron with its surrounding pasturelands as a city of refuge for anyone who accidentally killed someone. They also gave them Libnah with its surrounding lands.

Joshua 21:32

From the tribe of Naphtali's territory, they gave three cities: Kedesh in Galilee with its surrounding pasturelands (which served as a city of refuge for someone who accidentally killed another person), Hammoth-dor with its pasturelands, and Kartan with its pasturelands.

Joshua 21:21

They gave them the city of Shechem with its surrounding pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, which was designated as a city of refuge for anyone who accidentally killed someone; and also Gezer with its surrounding lands,

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