King James Bible

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Joshua

Note Journal Prayer

21

:

41

“

All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
All all manner Noun H3605 כֹּ֚ל kol
All the cities Ai Noun H5892 עָרֵ֣י a·rei
of the Levites Leviite Adjective H3881 הַלְוִיִּ֔ם hal·vi·yim,
within hope Noun H8432 בְּתֹ֖וךְ be·to·vch
the possession possession Noun H272 אֲחֻזַּ֣ת a·chuz·zat
of the children afflicted Noun H1121 בְּנֵֽי־ be·nei-
of Israel Israel Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל yis·ra·'el;
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
[were] forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֥ים ar·ba·'im
Analysis:

Forty: Transition or change

Often people will speak of the number forty as a generational number. There is no evidence for such an interpretation from the Scripture. The number 40 expresses a change or transition. The examples for such a view are seen throughout both the Old and New Covenants. 

  • It rained for 40 days in the days of Noah (see Genesis 7:12). These rains brought about a transition; HaShem would begin the world again with the family of Noah. 
  • Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (see Exodus 34:28). Although this was the second time Moses went up to the mountain, it was this time that the Law was actually given to the Children of Israel and a transition was made to Israel being commanded to observe the Law.
  • Yeshua was tested in the mountains of Judah for 40 days and 40 nights (see Matthew 4:2) and afterwards He began His ministry. Hence, a transition was made from when Yeshua did not minister to the time when He began to fulfill His Father's will in a formal way.
  • After the resurrection, Yeshua appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and He ascended into the heavens. Yeshua's earthly ministry had finished and there was a transition to His disciples carrying on His work.
  • In the account of Absalom, the reader is told that at the end of 40 years (see 2 Samuel 15:7), Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron from his father. Although he said that he wanted to pay his vows, this was said so he could depart and begin his rebellion against David, his father. Why is 40 years mentioned? To what does the 40 years refer? Some commentaries say the 40 years was from when Saul began the monarchy. Whether this is true or not is undetermined. However, what is for sure is that there was a transition in the leadership of Israel. The number 40 appears in verse 7 to assist the reader in identifying this change in leadership.

Numerous other examples could be provided, but these few sufficiently demonstrate the meaning and use of the number 40 in the Scriptures. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016
cities Ai Noun H5892 עָרִ֛ים a·rim
with their suburbs cast out Noun H4054 וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶֽן׃ u·mig·re·shei·hen.

Locations

Israel

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF" I. THE FIRST PERIOD1. The Two Kingdoms2. The Ist Dynasty3. The IInd Dynasty4. Civil WarII. PERIOD OF THE SYRIAN WARS1. The IIIrd Dynasty2. World-Politics3. Battle of Karkar4. Loss of Territory5. Reform of Religion6. Revolution7. The IVth Dynasty8. Renewed Prosperity9. AnarchyIII. DECLINE AND FALL1. Loss of Independence2. Decline3. Extinct... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
Hebrew Greek English All the cities of the Levites within in the midst of the possession of the children sons of Israel were forty and eight forty-eight cities with their suburbs.pasture lands.
New American Standard Bible 1995 All the cities of the Levites within in the midst of the possession of the children sons of Israel were forty and eight forty-eight cities with their suburbs.pasture lands.