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.
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The Levites Request Their Cities

1
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; ​
2
And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle. ​
3
And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. ​

Distribution Summary by Clan

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

Cities for the Priests (Sons of Aaron)

9
And 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 here mentioned by name,
10
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
11
And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it. ​
12
But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. ​
13
Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs, ​
14
And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
15
And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
16
And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17
And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
18
Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her 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
And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21
For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs, ​
22
And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.
23
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
24
Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.
25
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
26
All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.

Cities for the Gershonites

27
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.
28
And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
29
Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.
30
And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,
31
Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
32
And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her 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
And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,
35
Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
36
And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
37
Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.
38
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
39
Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
40
So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.

Summary of the Levitical Cities

41
All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs. ​
42
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.

Fulfillment of God’s Promises

43
And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. ​
44
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. ​
45
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto 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.

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