Joshua 21:34

Translation
King James Version
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,
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KJV (with Strong's)
And unto the families H4940 of the children H1121 of Merari H4847, the rest H3498 of the Levites H3881, out of the tribe H4294 of Zebulun H2074, Jokneam H3362 with her suburbs H4054, and Kartah H7177 with her suburbs H4054,
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Complete Jewish Bible
To the families of the descendants of M'rari, the rest of the L'vi'im, out of the tribe of Z'vulun: Yokne'am with its surrounding open land, Kartah with its surrounding open land,
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Berean Standard Bible
This is what the Merarite clan (the rest of the Levites) were given:
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American Standard Version
And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, and Kartah with its suburbs,
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World English Bible Messianic
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,
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Also vnto the families of the children of Merari the rest of the Leuites, they gaue out of the tribe of Zebulun, Iokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbes,
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Young's Literal Translation
And for the families of the sons of Merari, the Levites, who are left, are, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam and its suburbs, Kartah and its suburbs,
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See also
1 Chronicles 6:77Joshua 19:11Joshua 12:22Joshua 21:7Joshua 19:15
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In the KJVVerse 6,416 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Joshua 21:34 meticulously records the allocation of specific cities to the Levitical families, particularly the children of Merari, within the tribal territory of Zebulun. This verse, part of a comprehensive list detailing the forty-eight cities designated for the Levites throughout Israel, underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, His meticulous order in the land distribution, and His strategic provision for the spiritual well-being of His people by ensuring the presence of His appointed ministers across all tribes.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Joshua 21 provides a detailed account of the fulfillment of God's command to Moses regarding the Levitical cities, as recorded in Numbers 35:1-8. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites did not receive a continuous territorial inheritance because "the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance," as explicitly stated in Joshua 13:33. Instead, they were granted forty-eight cities, along with their surrounding pasturelands, scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes. This chapter systematically lists these cities by Levitical division (Kohathites, Gershonites, Merarites) and by the tribes from which the cities were taken. Joshua 21:34 specifically addresses the Merarite families, indicating their settlement within the land allotted to the tribe of Zebulun. The chapter culminates in Joshua 21:43-45, affirming God's complete faithfulness in giving Israel all the land He promised and providing rest from their enemies.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The Levites held a unique and indispensable position in ancient Israelite society, serving as priests, teachers of the Law, judges, and guardians of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Their lack of a tribal land inheritance was divinely compensated by their provision through tithes and offerings from the other tribes, and by these designated cities. The term "suburbs" (Hebrew: migrash) refers not to residential areas as in modern usage, but to the common pasturelands surrounding the cities, crucial for sustaining the Levites' livestock. This arrangement ensured that the Levites, who were responsible for maintaining the spiritual life of the nation, were strategically dispersed among all the tribes. This dispersion facilitated access to spiritual instruction, legal arbitration based on God's Law, and practical support for the Tabernacle/Temple service, thereby preventing any single tribe from becoming spiritually isolated. The specific cities of Jokneam and Kartah, located within Zebulun, highlight the integration of the spiritual leadership into the fabric of daily tribal life, fostering national unity and adherence to God's covenant.
  • Key Themes: This verse, as part of the broader narrative of Joshua 21, powerfully illustrates several key themes central to the book of Joshua and Israel's covenant relationship with God. Firstly, it underscores Divine Order and Provision, showcasing God's meticulous planning and faithful care for His people, down to the precise allocation of cities for those dedicated to His service. This reflects the orderly nature of God's kingdom and His commitment to providing for those who serve Him, as seen in the initial command for these cities in Numbers 35:2. Secondly, it highlights the Fulfillment of Prophecy and Promise, demonstrating God's unwavering faithfulness in bringing to pass what He had sworn to the patriarchs and commanded through Moses. The entire book of Joshua, and especially this chapter, serves as a powerful testament to God's reliability, culminating in the declaration that "not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass," as affirmed in Joshua 21:45. Thirdly, the scattering of the Levite cities emphasizes the Spiritual Presence and Accessibility throughout Israel, ensuring that spiritual instruction, worship leadership, and legal counsel were readily available to all tribes, fostering national unity under God's Law and preventing spiritual drift.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Merari (Hebrew, Mᵉrârîy', H4847): Merari was one of the three sons of Levi (along with Gershon and Kohath), whose descendants formed distinct divisions within the Levitical tribe. According to the provided Strong's data, the name itself means "bitter." The Merarites were primarily responsible for the heavier, structural components of the Tabernacle—the frames, bars, pillars, and bases (Numbers 3:36). In the later Temple, they continued to serve in various capacities related to its maintenance and administration. Their mention here specifies which branch of the Levites received these particular cities, indicating a precise and organized distribution system that honored the distinct roles within the Levitical priesthood.
  • Zebulun (Hebrew, Zᵉbûwlûwn', H2074): Zebulun was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's tenth son. The Strong's data indicates its meaning as "habitation." Their territory was located in the northern part of Canaan, bordering Asher and Naphtali, extending towards the Sea of Galilee. The allocation of cities to the Merarite Levites "out of the tribe of Zebulun" signifies the integration of the spiritual leadership within the geographic and social fabric of this particular tribe, ensuring that the Levites could fulfill their duties of teaching and service among them, fostering a widespread spiritual influence.
  • Suburbs (Hebrew, migrâsh', H4054): This term is crucial for understanding the Levites' economic provision and lifestyle. According to the Strong's data, migrash refers to "a suburb (i.e. open country whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area around a building, or the margin of the sea." Unlike the modern connotation of residential outskirts, migrash refers specifically to the common pasturelands surrounding the Levitical cities. These lands were designated for their livestock (cattle, sheep, goats), allowing them to sustain themselves economically without engaging in extensive agriculture, which was the primary livelihood of the other tribes. This detail highlights God's practical and comprehensive provision for the Levites, enabling them to focus on their spiritual responsibilities without being burdened by the need to cultivate large tracts of land.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites": This opening clause precisely identifies the specific recipients of these cities. The "children of Merari" are one of the three main divisions of the Levites, distinct from the Kohathites and Gershonites who had already received their allocations in earlier verses of the chapter. The phrase "the rest of the Levites" indicates that this verse is concluding the distribution to the Merarite branch, thereby completing the overall assignment of cities to the entire tribe of Levi, demonstrating the systematic and exhaustive nature of the land allocation.
  • "out of the tribe of Zebulun": This clause specifies the geographical source of the cities being allocated. The tribe of Zebulun, having received its own territorial inheritance from the overall land distribution, was now required by divine command to cede certain cities from its allotted land to the Merarite Levites. This demonstrates the required inter-tribal cooperation and the fulfillment of the divine mandate for the Levites to be scattered among all the tribes, ensuring their presence and spiritual influence throughout the land.
  • "Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs": These are the two specific cities, along with their surrounding pasturelands (migrash), that were given to the Merarite families from Zebulun's territory. The explicit mention of "her suburbs" emphasizes the full and practical provision for the Levites, including not only dwelling places but also the necessary means for their livelihood (livestock) to sustain them without engaging in the primary agricultural pursuits of other tribes. Jokneam was a strategic city, often mentioned in relation to its location near the Carmel mountain range, while Kartah, though less frequently mentioned elsewhere, was equally important in this precise and divinely ordained allocation.

Literary Devices

Joshua 21:34, as an integral part of a larger Cataloging or List within the chapter, exemplifies the meticulous nature of the biblical text in recording the fulfillment of divine commands. The entire chapter serves as a detailed roster of cities, emphasizing God's precise and orderly execution of His promises. The Repetition of the phrase "with her suburbs" throughout the chapter, including in this verse, serves to underscore the comprehensive nature of the provision for the Levites, ensuring they had not only dwelling places but also the essential means to sustain themselves. This detailed account also functions as a form of Legal Documentation, serving as a permanent and authoritative record of the land distribution and the Levites' unique inheritance, thereby validating Israel's claim to the land and the divine order established within it. The sheer Precision and specificity of names and locations highlight the historical accuracy and divine oversight of the entire process, reinforcing the trustworthiness of God's Word and His faithfulness to His covenant.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Joshua 21:34, though a seemingly mundane detail in a list of cities, profoundly illustrates God's faithfulness, order, and comprehensive provision for His people and for those dedicated to His service. It shows that God's promises are not vague generalities but are fulfilled with meticulous attention to detail, down to specific cities and their pasturelands. This divine arrangement ensured that the Levites, who represented God's spiritual presence and taught His Law, were accessible to all tribes, thereby fostering spiritual unity and knowledge of God throughout the land. The scattering of the Levites was not a punishment but a strategic blessing, ensuring that every corner of Israel had access to spiritual instruction and leadership, reinforcing the idea that God desires His truth to permeate all aspects of His people's lives and that His kingdom operates with divine precision and purpose.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Joshua 21:34, while detailing an ancient land distribution, offers timeless principles for believers today. It reminds us that God is a God of order, not chaos, and that His plans are executed with meticulous precision, down to the smallest detail. This should inspire profound confidence in His sovereignty over our lives, knowing that He oversees every aspect of our existence and has a specific purpose for our placement in the world. Just as the tribes provided for the Levites, there is a clear biblical principle of supporting those who dedicate their lives to spiritual service and teaching within the community of faith, enabling them to focus on their divine calling without undue worldly distraction. Furthermore, the scattering of the Levites among all tribes highlights the importance of spiritual presence and accessibility in every sphere of society. Believers are called to be salt and light, influencing their communities and workplaces with the truth of God's Word, ensuring that spiritual wisdom and guidance are not confined to specific institutions but are available wherever people live and work, embodying God's presence in a broken world.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does God's meticulous attention to detail in providing for the Levites encourage your trust in His provision for your own life and calling?
  • In what ways can you, as a believer, embody the "spiritual presence" in your own community, similar to how the Levites were strategically scattered among the tribes?
  • What is your role in supporting those who are dedicated to spiritual service and teaching in your local church or broader Christian community, enabling them to fulfill their unique calling?

FAQ

Why didn't the Levites receive a tribal land inheritance like the other tribes?

Answer: The Levites did not receive a continuous territorial inheritance because their inheritance was the Lord Himself. As stated in Numbers 18:20, "You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel." Their unique role was to serve God directly in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, ministering to Him and teaching His Law to the people. Instead of a land inheritance, they were provided for by the tithes and offerings of the other tribes, and by forty-eight cities scattered throughout Israel, along with their surrounding pasturelands (suburbs), ensuring they could live among the people they served. This arrangement allowed them to focus entirely on their spiritual duties without the burden of agricultural labor, underscoring their unique dedication to God's service.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

The meticulous provision for the Levites in Joshua 21:34, ensuring their presence and spiritual service among all the tribes, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the New Covenant. The Levitical priesthood, with its sacrifices and mediatorial role, was a shadow pointing to the perfect and eternal High Priesthood of Jesus. He is the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, whose single, perfect sacrifice on the cross accomplished what the countless Levitical sacrifices could never fully achieve (Hebrews 9:11-14). Furthermore, just as the Levites were scattered to bring God's presence and instruction to all Israel, Christ, through His Spirit, indwells all believers, making every Christian a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9). The New Covenant church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is now dispersed throughout the world, not confined to specific cities or territories, to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light (Acts 1:8). Thus, the Old Testament pattern of divine provision and the strategic placement of spiritual ministers foreshadows the universal, Spirit-empowered mission of the church to be Christ's presence and witness to the ends of the earth, bringing the true knowledge of God to all peoples.

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Commentary on Joshua 21 verses 9–42

We have here a particular account of the cities which were given to the children of Levi out of the several tribes, not only to be occupied and inhabited by them, as tenants to the several tribes in which they lay - no, their interest in them was not dependent and precarious, but to be owned and possessed by them as lords and proprietors, and as having the same title to them that the rest of the tribes had to their cities or lands, as appears by the law which preserved the house in the Levites' cities from being alienated any longer than till the year of jubilee, Lev 25:32, Lev 25:33. Yet it is probable that the Levites having only the cities and suburbs, while the land about pertained to the tribes in which they lay, those of that tribe, for the convenience of occupying that land, might commonly rent houses of the Levites, as they could spare them in their cities, and so live among them as their tenants. Several things may be observed in this account, besides what was observed in the law concerning it, Num. 35.

I. That the Levites were dispersed into all the tribes, and not suffered to live all together in any one part of the country. This would find them all with work, and employ them all for the good of others; for ministers, of all people, must neither be idle nor live to themselves or to one another only. Christ left his twelve disciples together in a body, but left orders that they should in due time disperse themselves, that they might preach the gospel to every creature. The mixing of the Levites thus with the other tribes would be an obligation upon them to walk circumspectly, and as became their sacred function, and to avoid every thing that might disgrace it. Had they lived all together, they would have been tempted to wink at one another's faults, and to excuse one another when they did amiss; but by this means they were made to see the eyes of all Israel upon them, and therefore saw it their concern to walk so as that their ministry might in nothing be blamed nor their high character suffer by their ill carriage.

II. That every tribe of Israel was adorned and enriched with its share of Levites' cities in proportion to its compass, even those that lay most remote. They were all God's people, and therefore they all had Levites among them. 1. To show kindness to, as God appointed them, Deu 12:19; Deu 14:29. They were God's receivers, to whom the people might give their grateful acknowledgments of God's goodness, as the occasion and disposition were. 2. To receive advice and instruction from; when they could not go up to the tabernacle, to consult those who attended there, they might go to a Levites' city, and be taught the good knowledge of the Lord. Thus God set up a candle in every room of his house, to give light to all his family; as those that attended the altar kept the charge of the Lord, to see that no divine appointment was neglected there, so those that were scattered in the country had their charge too, which was to see that no idolatrous superstitious usages were introduced at a distance and to watch for the souls of God's Israel. Thus did God graciously provide for the keeping up of religion among them, and that they might have the word nigh them; yet, blessed be God, we, under the gospel, have it yet nigher, not only Levites in every county, but Levites in every parish, whose office it is still to teach the people knowledge, and to go before them in the things of God.

III. That there were thirteen cities, and those some of the best, appointed for the priests, the sons of Aaron, Jos 21:19. Aaron left but two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, yet his family was now so much increased, and it was foreseen that it would in process of time grow so numerous, as to replenish all these cities, though a considerable number must of necessity be resident wherever the ark and the altar were. We read in both Testaments of such numbers of priests that we may suppose none of all the families of Israel that came out of Egypt increased afterwards so much as that of Aaron did; and the promise afterwards to the house of Aaron is, God shall increase you more and more, you and your children, Psa 115:12, Psa 115:14. He will raise up a seed to serve him.

IV. That some of the Levites' cities were afterwards famous upon other accounts. Hebron was the city in which David began his reign, and in Manhanaim, another Levites' city (Jos 21:38), he lay, and had his headquarters when he fled from Absalom. The first Israelite that ever wore the title of king (namely, Abimelech, the son of Gideon) reigned in Shechem, another Levites' city, Jos 21:21.

V. That the number of them in all was more than of most of the tribes, except Judah, though the tribe of Levi was one of the least of the tribes, to show how liberal God is, and his people should be, to his ministers; yet the disproportion will not appear so great as at first it seems, if we consider that the Levites had cities only with their suburbs to dwell in, but the rest of the tribes, besides their cities (and those perhaps were many more than are named in the account of their lot), had many unwalled towns and villages which they inhabited, besides country houses.

Upon the whole, it appears that effectual care was taken that the Levites should live both comfortably and usefully: and those, whether ministers or others, for whom Providence has done well, must look upon themselves as obliged thereby to do good, and, according as their capacity and opportunity are, to serve their generation.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 9–42. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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