New American Standard Bible 1995

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Joshua

21

:

41

All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasture lands.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
All the whole, all Noun H3605 כֹּ֚ל kol
the cities city, town Noun H5892 עָרֵ֣י a·rei
of the Levites desc. of Levi Adjective H3881 הַלְוִיִּ֔ם hal·vi·yim,
in the midst midst Noun H8432 בְּתֹ֖וךְ be·to·vch
of the possession a possession Noun H272 אֲחֻזַּ֣ת a·chuz·zat
of the sons son Noun H1121 בְּנֵֽי־ be·nei-
of Israel "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc. Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל yis·ra·'el;
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
were forty-eight forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֥ים ar·ba·'im
Analysis:

Eight: The Kingdom of God, redemption, and newness or renewal 

The number eight both in Judaism and Christianity expresses "newness". Many scholars call it the number of redemption or the Kingdom number. A common use for the number eight relates to circumcision, for a male child was circumcised on the eighth day. It was on the eighth day the male child was also given a name. It was through the covenant of circumcision and the giving of a Hebrew name that the child entered into a new relationship as a member of the Children of Israel. Circumcision also relates to the death of the flesh (carnal nature), which is one of the primary outcomes of redemption. Not living according to the flesh expresses a Kingdom lifestyle. Before examining a few examples from the Scripture, let it be stated that early churches were often built with eight walls to convey faith in the resurrection (the Kingdom hope). The Bible states that Yeshua rose from the dead on the first day of the week. However, when also considering the prior week, seven days and adding the first day of the week, the total is eight. Therefore, Christianity has used the number eight to convey the concept of resurrection and not only the resurrection of Yeshua, but all who will enter into the Kingdom. Resurrection and Kingdom are often linked together in both Judaism and Christianity. 

In the book of Leviticus, Moses provides a list of God's festival days. The last one is known as the Eighth Day Assembly (see Leviticus 23:36). Although very little is stated in the Scripture concerning this festival, it is treated as a Shabbat and called a holy convocation. Whereas Christianity ignores this day altogether, Judaism places great significance upon it and understands its message as related to the Kingdom. 

A classic example of the number eight is found in Acts chapter 9. In this passage, a man who was paralyzed for eight years, was healed by Peter. There is no coincidence that in the next passage the message found is resurrection. In 1 Peter 3:20, eight individuals are mentioned. These are Noah and his wife and their three sons and their wives. It was with these eight people that HaShem began humanity anew. This is one of the places that one can see how the concept of newness is related to the number eight. The vast majority of times the number eight appears in the Scripture it is part of a composite number. For example, in John chapter five a man was paralyzed for 30 and 8 years (38). This occurrence provides a good illustration of how composite numbers should be handled.

Although the number 30 has as a general meaning death, it is possible to understand it as multiplications of five and six, and three and ten. The idea then would be that when incompleteness (5) meets with the grace of God (6), there is a new beginning (8). One could make this interpretation somewhat more spiritual. As sinners we are incomplete (5) for entrance into the Kingdom of God, but when we experience the grace of God (6), we become a new creation (8) and are no longer incomplete for entrance into the Kingdom.
If one uses the other numbers (3 and 10) the following can be derived from the number 38. As we have learned, the number three expresses the concept of testing. Hence, the number thirty can relate to being thoroughly or completely (10) tested (3). Usually when a person finds himself being tested, he immediately prays for the testing to be stopped or to be removed from the trial. What is being expressed in this example is that one is going to be thoroughly or completely (10) tested (3) and when the purpose for this testing or trial is complete, then this person will have a new beginning (8). 

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cities city, town Noun H5892 עָרִ֛ים a·rim
with their pasture lands. a common, common land, open land 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

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