“Agros vero et villas ejus dederat Caleb filio Jephone ad possidendum.”
“But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.”
“But they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.”
“But they gave the fields of the city and its villages to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.”
“But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.”
Possession. Only the houses which the priests occupied, were taken from him. (Calmet) — Caleb enjoyed all the dependencies of Hebron, and took the city, as he would not have been secure while the Chanaanites dwelt there. (Magalian.) — Serarius thinks that he abandoned the city to the priests, in which he follows Tostat, who supposes that they had to pay tribute to the tribes among whom they lived; and that mines, &c., belonged to the latter. (Menochius)
Upon the whole, it appears that effectual care was taken that the Levites should live both comfortably and usefully: and those, whether ministers or others, for whom Providence has done well, must look upon themselves as obliged thereby to do good, and, according as their capacity and opportunity are, to serve their generation.
Verses 9-42 By mixing the Levites with the other tribes, they were made to see that the eyes of all Israel were upon them, and therefore it was their concern to walk so that their ministry might not be blamed. Every tribe had its share of Levites' cities. Thus did God graciously provide for keeping up religion among them, and that they might have the word in all parts of the land. Yet, blessed be God, we have the gospel more diffused amongst us.