Joshua21

Joshua 21 details the fulfillment of God's command to provide cities for the Levites throughout the land of Israel. The Levites received a total of forty-eight cities with their suburbs, allocated by lot to the families of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari, including six cities of refuge. The chapter concludes by affirming that the LORD had given Israel all the promised land, granting them rest and delivering their enemies, thus fulfilling every good word He had spoken.

The Levites Request Their Cities

1
Then the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel. ​
2
They spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for our livestock.” ​
3
The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of the LORD, these cities with their suburbs. ​

Distribution Summary by Clan

4
The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin. ​
5
The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh.
6
The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
7
The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun.
8
The children of Israel gave these cities with their suburbs by lot to the Levites, as the LORD commanded by Moses. ​

Cities for the Priests (Sons of Aaron)

9
They gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are mentioned by name:
10
and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.
11
They gave them Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (the same is Hebron), in the hill country of Judah, with its suburbs around it. ​
12
But they gave the fields of the city and its villages to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. ​
13
To the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Libnah with its suburbs, ​
14
Jattir with its suburbs, Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
15
Holon with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs,
16
Ain with its suburbs, Juttah with its suburbs, and Beth Shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17
Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs,
18
Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities.
19
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs. ​

Cities for the Remaining Kohathites

20
The families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21
They gave them Shechem with its suburbs in the hill country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Gezer with its suburbs, ​
22
Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Beth Horon with its suburbs; four cities.
23
Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs,
24
Aijalon with its suburbs, Gath Rimmon with its suburbs; four cities.
25
Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Gath Rimmon with its suburbs; two cities.
26
All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbs.

Cities for the Gershonites

27
They gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Be Eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.
28
Out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,
29
Jarmuth with its suburbs, En Gannim with its suburbs; four cities.
30
Out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs,
31
Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities.
32
Out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the man slayer, Hammothdor with its suburbs, and Kartan with its suburbs; three cities.
33
All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

Cities for the Merarites

34
To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, Kartah with its suburbs,
35
Dimnah with its suburbs, and Nahalal with its suburbs; four cities.
36
Out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its suburbs, Jahaz with its suburbs,
37
Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.
38
Out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,
39
Heshbon with its suburbs, Jazer with its suburbs; four cities in all.
40
All these were the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites. Their lot was twelve cities.

Summary of the Levitical Cities

41
All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their suburbs. ​
42
Each of these cities included their suburbs around them. It was this way with all these cities.

Fulfillment of God’s Promises

43
So the LORD gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers. They possessed it, and lived in it. ​
44
The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that he swore to their fathers. Not a man of all their enemies stood before them. The LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. ​
45
Nothing failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. ​

Study Notes for Joshua 21

Verse 1

This chapter records the fulfillment of the laws governing the Levites’ inheritance (Numbers 35:1-8). As they had no tribal territory, they were given cities scattered throughout Israel so they could minister to the entire population.

Verse 2

The Levites cite the command given to Moses, demonstrating that the land distribution process was not merely a human administrative task but the execution of divine law.

Verse 3

The phrase 'at the commandment of the LORD' emphasizes the obedience and unity of the tribes, who willingly gave up parts of their own inheritance to support the ministry of the Levites.

Verse 4

The Kohathites were divided into two main groups: the Priests (descendants of Aaron) and the other Kohathites. The Priests received their cities first, primarily from the central and southern tribes (Judah, Simeon, Benjamin).

Verse 8

The distribution 'by lot' (vv. 4-7) ensured that the process was directed by God, confirming that the location of each Levitical family was divinely ordained to serve specific areas of the land.

Verse 11

Hebron was a major historical site and the burial place of the patriarchs. Giving Hebron to the priests solidified their central role in Israel's spiritual life.

Verse 12

This verse clarifies that while the city itself and its immediate suburbs were for the priests, the agricultural fields surrounding the city remained the possession of Caleb, respecting his earlier grant (Josh. 14:14-15).

Verse 13

Hebron is designated as a City of Refuge (one of six total). This illustrates the dual purpose of the Levitical cities: serving as priestly residences and providing sanctuary for those who committed accidental homicide.

Verse 19

The number thirteen is symbolically significant. The total 48 cities were distributed to ensure that the priests were placed in the most accessible and central locations.

Verse 21

Shechem was located in the heart of Mount Ephraim and was a crucial site for covenant renewal (Joshua 24). Its designation as a City of Refuge demonstrates the Levites' role in upholding justice in the central territory.

Verse 41

The final count of forty-eight cities fulfills the specific command given in Numbers 35:7. This meticulous record confirms the completion of the national distribution and the successful integration of the Levites.

Verse 43

This verse marks the transition from the detailed records of land division to the theological conclusion of the book. The main point is that God had completely fulfilled His oath to the patriarchs regarding the land.

Verse 44

The 'rest' refers not merely to cessation of war, but to the secure possession of the land and the fulfillment of God's covenant promise (Deut. 12:10). This rest was conditional on obedience, though the present generation had achieved it.

Verse 45

This powerful concluding statement serves as the central theological summary of the Conquest narrative: God is absolutely faithful. Every promise regarding the land, victory, and rest came to pass because of His integrity.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options