“Jarmuth with her suburbs, En-gannim with her suburbs; four cities.”
Context: The book of Joshua recounts the conquest of the Promised Land by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua, following the death of Moses. In this chapter, the distribution of the cities and territories among the twelve tribes of Israel is described. The Levites were given specific cities to dwell in, and Joshua 21 provides an account of the cities assigned to the Levites.
The Significance of Jarmuth: Jarmuth was one of the cities given to the Levites as a dwelling place. The name “Jarmuth” means “elevation” or “height.” Jarmuth was located in the territory of the tribe of Judah and was allotted to the Levitical family of the Kohathites (Joshua 21:20). It was an important city during the time of the conquest and was known for its strategic location.
The Significance of En-gannim: En-gannim was another city given to the Levites. Its name means “fountain of gardens” or “spring of gardens.” En-gannim was located in the territory of the tribe of Issachar and was assigned to the Levitical family of the Kohathites (Joshua 21:29). The city’s name suggests a place of fertility and abundance, emphasizing God’s provision for the Levites.
The Number of Cities: Joshua 21:29 states that four cities were mentioned, namely Jarmuth and En-gannim, along with their respective suburbs. The inclusion of the suburbs was important because it provided ample space for the Levites and their livestock. The suburbs served as areas for agricultural purposes and grazing lands.
