TRV
Translation
King James Version
All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
Complete Jewish Bible
All the cities of the L'vi'im, forty-eight cities with their surrounding open land, are to be in among the lands possessed by the people of Isra'el -
Berean Standard Bible
For the Levites, then, there were forty-eight cities in all, together with their pasturelands, within the territory of the Israelites.
American Standard Version
All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
World English Bible Messianic
All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their suburbs.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And all the cities of the Leuites within the possession of the children of Israel, were eight and fourtie with their suburbes.
Young's Literal Translation
All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel are forty and eight cities, and their suburbs.
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In the KJVVerse 6,423 of 31,102
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Commentary on Joshua 21 verses 9–42
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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SUMMARY
Joshua 21:41 serves as a pivotal concluding statement in the meticulous account of the land's distribution among the tribes of Israel, specifically affirming the precise fulfillment of God's command regarding the Levites. It meticulously records that forty-eight cities, complete with their surrounding pasturelands, were designated for this priestly tribe, underscoring divine faithfulness and the meticulous execution of God's covenant promises to His people in establishing their dwelling within the Promised Land.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Joshua 21:41 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. Primarily, it functions as a Summary Statement or Recapitulation, drawing together the detailed lists of cities for the Levites provided in the preceding verses (Joshua 21:1-40) into a concise, definitive conclusion. This summarization reinforces the completeness and finality of the land distribution, emphasizing God's meticulous fulfillment. The precise mention of "forty and eight cities" also utilizes Numerology, where the specific number holds theological significance, pointing to the divine order and meticulous planning behind Israel's establishment in the land. It signifies not just a quantity but a divinely ordained and perfectly executed fulfillment of a long-standing command. Furthermore, the verse implicitly employs Fulfillment Language, connecting the current reality of the Levites' settled cities to past divine commands and promises. This reinforces the overarching theme of God's unwavering faithfulness and the reliability of His covenant promises, a theme that reverberates throughout the entire book of Joshua, culminating in the declaration of Joshua 21:45.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 21:41, though a historical accounting, carries profound theological weight. It stands as a powerful testament to the meticulous faithfulness of God, demonstrating that not a single detail of His promises or commands goes unfulfilled. The precise provision for the Levites, who had no earthly inheritance of their own, underscores God's unique care for those consecrated to His service, and His ability to provide for His people in ways that transcend conventional human arrangements. This divine provision enabled the Levites to fulfill their crucial role as spiritual educators and custodians of the Law, highlighting the importance of a dedicated, supported ministry within the community of faith. The dispersion of the Levites among all tribes also prefigures the universal reach of God's truth, meant to permeate every aspect of His people's lives, ensuring that spiritual guidance and access to God's presence were available throughout the nation.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 21:41, while detailing an ancient land distribution, offers timeless principles for believers today. It serves as a profound reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness and meticulous care. Just as He precisely fulfilled His promise to provide for the Levites, down to the exact number of cities and their surrounding lands, so too can we trust in His faithfulness to fulfill every promise He has made to us. This should cultivate a deep sense of security and peace, knowing that God's plans are perfect and His provision is comprehensive, even in the smallest details of our lives. Furthermore, the Levites' unique role and provision highlight the importance of supporting those who are called to minister God's Word and shepherd His people today. Just as the Levites were freed from agricultural concerns to focus on spiritual duties, so too should the Church ensure that its spiritual leaders are adequately supported, enabling them to dedicate themselves fully to prayer, teaching, and pastoral care. This verse encourages us to value and participate in the spiritual health of our communities, recognizing that God's order and provision are designed for the flourishing of His people and the widespread dissemination of His truth.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why didn't the Levites receive a tribal land inheritance like the other tribes?
Answer: The Levites did not receive a contiguous territorial inheritance because the Lord Himself was declared to be their inheritance. This unique arrangement, established in passages like Numbers 18:20 and Deuteronomy 10:9, underscored their distinct role as the priestly tribe, set apart for sacred service to God and the nation. Instead of agricultural or territorial pursuits, their primary focus was to be on the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple), teaching the Law, administering justice, and mediating between God and the people. Their dispersion among all the other tribes, living in 48 designated cities, allowed them to fulfill this spiritual mandate effectively by being accessible to all of Israel, ensuring spiritual instruction was widespread.
What is the significance of "suburbs" in this context?
Answer: The term "suburbs" (Hebrew: migrash) in Joshua 21:41 refers specifically to the open pasturelands surrounding the Levitical cities, not merely residential extensions. These areas were designated for the Levites' livestock, providing a practical means of sustenance. This detail is significant because it highlights God's comprehensive and thoughtful provision for the Levites. While they were dedicated to spiritual duties and did not engage in large-scale agriculture, God ensured their material needs were met, allowing them to focus on their sacred calling without undue worldly distraction. This provision was also explicitly commanded in Numbers 35:2-5, demonstrating God's meticulous care for His consecrated servants.
How does this verse relate to God's faithfulness?
Answer: Joshua 21:41 is a powerful testament to God's unwavering faithfulness. The command to provide 48 cities for the Levites was given centuries earlier through Moses in Numbers 35:7. This verse confirms the precise and complete fulfillment of that ancient promise. It demonstrates that God is true to His word, meticulously carrying out every detail of His covenant. This theme of divine faithfulness is explicitly reinforced in the very next verses of Joshua, particularly Joshua 21:45, which declares that "not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." It assures us that God's promises are reliable and will always come to pass.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 21:41, with its meticulous account of God's provision for the Levites, finds its ultimate and profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The Levites, as the priestly tribe, were mediators between God and Israel, teaching the Law and facilitating worship. This role foreshadows Christ, who is our ultimate and perfect High Priest, mediating a new and better covenant (as seen in Hebrews 4:14 and Hebrews 8:6). Furthermore, the Levites' unique inheritance—God Himself—points directly to Christ as the believer's supreme inheritance and satisfaction. In Him, we find our ultimate provision, purpose, and eternal dwelling, far surpassing any earthly possession (Ephesians 1:11). Just as the Levites were dispersed among all the tribes to bring spiritual instruction and access to God's presence, so too is the church, empowered by Christ, commissioned to spread the Gospel to every nation, making disciples of all peoples (Matthew 28:19-20). The divine faithfulness evident in the precise fulfillment of the Levites' cities ultimately culminates in Christ, who perfectly fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan (Matthew 5:17). Through Him, we, too, become part of a "royal priesthood," called to declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9), participating in the ongoing mission of God's dispersed people.