King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD [is] their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
Complete Jewish Bible:
But the L'vi'im have no share with you, because the office of cohen to ADONAI is their inheritance; and Gad and Re'uven and the half-tribe of M'nasheh have received their inheritance beyond the Yarden to the east, which Moshe the servant of ADONAI gave them."
Berean Standard Bible:
The Levites, however, have no portion among you, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the LORD. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received the inheritance that Moses the servant of the LORD gave them beyond the Jordan to the east.”
American Standard Version:
For the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of Jehovah is their inheritance: and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave them.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
But the Levites{H3881} have no part{H2506} among{H7130} you; for the priesthood{H3550} of the LORD{H3068} is their inheritance{H5159}: and Gad{H1410}, and Reuben{H7205}, and half{H2677} the tribe{H7626} of Manasseh{H4519}, have received{H3947} their inheritance{H5159} beyond{H5676} Jordan{H3383} on the east{H4217}, which Moses{H4872} the servant{H5650} of the LORD{H3068} gave{H5414} them.
Cross-References (KJV):
Joshua 13:33
- But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not [any] inheritance: the LORD God of Israel [was] their inheritance, as he said unto them.
Numbers 18:20
- ¶ And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I [am] thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
Joshua 13:8
- With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, [even] as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;
Joshua 13:31
- And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, [were pertaining] unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, [even] to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
Numbers 18:23
- But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
Deuteronomy 3:12
- ¶ And this land, [which] we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which [is] by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites.
Deuteronomy 3:17
- The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast [thereof], from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, [even] the salt sea, under Ashdothpisgah eastward.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Joshua 18:7
Joshua 18:7 is a verse that captures a moment in the historical allocation of land among the tribes of Israel following their entry into the Promised Land. The context is the distribution of the land of Canaan, which God had promised to the Israelites. The verse highlights two key points:
1. **The Levites' Inheritance**: The Levites, being the priestly tribe, were not given a territorial inheritance like the other tribes. Their inheritance was the Lord Himself, meaning they were supported by the offerings and tithes of the other tribes as they served in the tabernacle and later the temple. This underscores the unique role of the Levites as religious leaders and officiants over the worship practices of ancient Israel.
2. **The Inheritance of Gad, Reuben, and Half of Manasseh**: The tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had already received their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River. This allocation was made prior to the main conquest of Canaan and was part of the territory conquered under the leadership of Moses, who is referred to here as "the servant of the LORD." These tribes chose this land because it was suitable for their livestock, as recorded in Numbers 32.
The verse reflects the broader theme of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to His people, as well as the importance of the Levitical priesthood in Israel's religious life. It also illustrates the practical considerations and choices made by the tribes regarding their settlement in the land, which were sanctioned by Moses and later affirmed by Joshua, Moses' successor. This moment in Israel's history was pivotal in establishing the geographical and social structure that would shape the nation for centuries to come.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3881
There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵוִיִּי
Transliteration: Lêvîyîy
Pronunciation: lay-vee-ee'
Description: or לֵוִי; patronymically from לֵוִי; a Levite or descendant of Levi; Leviite. - Strong's Number: H2506
There are 63 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֵלֶק
Transliteration: chêleq
Pronunciation: khay'lek
Description: from חָלַק; properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an allotment; flattery, inheritance, part, [idiom] partake, portion. - Strong's Number: H7130
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֶרֶב
Transliteration: qereb
Pronunciation: keh'-reb
Description: from קָרַב; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self. - Strong's Number: H3550
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּהֻנָּה
Transliteration: kᵉhunnâh
Pronunciation: keh-hoon-naw'
Description: from כָּהַן; priesthood; priesthood, priest's office. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H5159
There are 191 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַחֲלָה
Transliteration: nachălâh
Pronunciation: nakh-al-aw'
Description: from נָחַל (in its usual sense); properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion; heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession. Compare נַחַל. - Strong's Number: H1410
There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּד
Transliteration: Gâd
Pronunciation: gawd
Description: from גּוּד; Gad, a son of Jacob, including his tribe and its territory; also a prophet; Gad. - Strong's Number: H7205
There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רְאוּבֵן
Transliteration: Rᵉʼûwbên
Pronunciation: reh-oo-bane'
Description: from the imperative of רָאָה and בֵּן; see ye a son; Reuben, a son of Jacob; Reuben. - Strong's Number: H2677
There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֵצִי
Transliteration: chêtsîy
Pronunciation: khay-tsee'
Description: from חָצָהlemma חָעָה ayin, corrected to חָצָה; the half or middle; half, middle, mid(-night), midst, part, two parts. - Strong's Number: H7626
There are 178 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁבֶט
Transliteration: shêbeṭ
Pronunciation: shay'-bet
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan; [idiom] correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe. - Strong's Number: H4519
There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְנַשֶּׁה
Transliteration: Mᵉnashsheh
Pronunciation: men-ash-sheh'
Description: from נָשָׁה; causing to forget; Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Manasseh. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H5676
There are 84 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵבֶר
Transliteration: ʻêber
Pronunciation: ay'-ber
Description: from עָבַר; properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the Jordan; ususally meaning the east); [idiom] against, beyond, by, [idiom] from, over, passage, quarter, (other, this) side, straight. - Strong's Number: H3383
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַרְדֵּן
Transliteration: Yardên
Pronunciation: yar-dane'
Description: from יָרַד; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine; Jordan. - Strong's Number: H4217
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִזְרָח
Transliteration: mizrâch
Pronunciation: miz-rawkh'
Description: from זָרַח; sunrise, i.e. the east; east (side, -ward), (sun-) rising (of the sun). - Strong's Number: H4872
There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
Transliteration: Môsheh
Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses. - Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.