TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
KJV (with Strong's)
And the children H1121 of Gershon H1648 had by lot H1486 out of the families H4940 of the tribe H4294 of Issachar H3485, and out of the tribe H4294 of Asher H836, and out of the tribe H4294 of Naphtali H5321, and out of the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 in Bashan H1316, thirteen H7969 H6240 cities H5892.
Complete Jewish Bible
The descendants of Gershon received by lot thirteen cities from the families of the tribes of Yissakhar, Asher, Naftali and the half-tribe of M'nasheh in Bashan.
Berean Standard Bible
The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
American Standard Version
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.
World English Bible Messianic
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.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Also 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 ye tribe of Naphtali, and out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteene cities.
Young's Literal Translation
And for the sons of Gershon are , 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, by lot, thirteen cities.
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Commentary on Joshua 21 verses 1–8
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.
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.
Here is, I. The Levites' petition presented to this general convention of the states, now sitting at Shiloh, Jos 21:1, Jos 21:2. Observe, 1. They had not their lot assigned them till they made their claim. There is an inheritance provided for all the saints, that royal priesthood, but then they must petition for it. Ask, and it shall be given you. Joshua had quickened the rest of the tribes who were slack to put in their claims, but the Levites, it may be supposed, knew their duty and interest better than the rest, and were therefore forward in this matter, when it came to their turn, without being called upon. They build their claim upon a very good foundation, not their own merits nor services, but the divine precept: "The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities, commanded you to grant them, which implied a command to us to ask them." Note, The maintenance of ministers is not an arbitrary thing, left purely to the good-will of the people, who may let them starve if they please; no, as the God of Israel commanded that the Levites should be well provided for, so has the Lord Jesus, the King of the Christian church, ordained, and a perpetual ordinance it is that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel (Co1 9:14), and should live comfortably. 2. They did not make their claim till all the rest of the tribes were provided for, and then they did it immediately. There was some reason for it; every tribe must first know their own, else they would not know what they gave the Levites, and so it could not be such a reasonable service as it ought to be. But it is also an instance of their humility, modesty, and patience (and Levites should be examples of these and other virtues), that they were willing to be served last, and they fared never the worse for it. Let not God's ministers complain if at any time they find themselves postponed in men's thoughts and cares, but let them make sure of the favour of God and the honour that comes from him, and then they may well enough afford to bear the slights and neglects of men.
II. The Levites' petition granted immediately, without any dispute, the princes of Israel being perhaps ashamed that they needed to be called upon in this matter, and that the motion had not been made among themselves for the settling of the Levites. 1. The children of Israel are said to give the cities for the Levites. God had appointed how many they should be in all, forty-eight. It is probable that Joshua and the princes, upon consideration of the extent and value of the lot of each tribe as it was laid before them, had appointed how many cities should be taken out of each; and then the fathers of the several tribes themselves agreed which they should be, and therefore are said to give them, as an offering, to the Lord; so God had appointed. Num 35:8, Every one shall give of his cities to the Levites. Here God tried their generosity, and it was found to praise and honour, for it appears by the following catalogue that the cities they gave to the Levites were generally some of the best and most considerable in each tribe. And it is probable that they had an eye to the situation of them, taking care they should be so dispersed as that no part of the country should be too far distant from a Levites' city. 2. They gave them at the commandment of the Lord, that is, with an eye to the command and in obedience to it, which was it that sanctified the grant. They gave the number that God commanded, and it was well this matter was settled that the Levites might not ask more nor the Israelites offer less. They gave them also with their suburbs, or glebe-lands, belonging to them, so many cubits by measure from the walls of the city, as God had commanded (Num 35:4, Num 35:5), and did not go about to cut them short. 3. When the forty-eight cities were pitched upon, they were divided into four lots, as they lay next together, and then by lot were determined to the four several families of the tribe of Levi. When the Israelites had surrendered the cities into the hand of God, he would himself have the distributing of them among his servants. (1.) The family of Aaron, who were the only priests, had for their share the thirteen cities that were given by the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, Jos 21:4. God in wisdom ordered it thus, that though Jerusalem itself was not one of their cities, it being as yet in the possession of the Jebusites (and those generous tribes would not mock the Levites, who had another warfare to mind, with a city that must be recovered by the sword before it could be enjoyed), yet the cities that fell to their lot were those which lay next to Jerusalem, because that was to be, in process of time, the holy city, where their business would chiefly lie. (2.) The Kohathite-Levites (among whom were the posterity of Moses, though never distinguished from them) had the cities that lay in the lot of Dan, which lay next to Judah, and in that of Ephraim, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, which lay next to Benjamin. So those who descended from Aaron's father joined nearest to Aaron's sons. (3.) Gershon was the eldest son of Levi, and therefore, though the younger house of the Kohathites was preferred before his, yet his children had the precedency of the other family of Merari, Jos 21:6. (4.) The Merarites, the youngest house, had their lot last, and it lay furthest off, Jos 21:7. The rest of the sons of Jacob had a lot for every tribe only, but Levi, God's tribe, had a lot for each of its families; for there is a particular providence directing and attending the removals and settlements of ministers, and appointing where those shall fix who are to be the lights of the world.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–8. Public domain.
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Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 25.4
Who will explain the diverse sites of the encampments, how this distribution must be retained in the resurrection for each priestly or levitical order of the saints, so that, just as the apostle says, nothing is done haphazardly in the resurrection, but everyone comes "in his own order, Christ first, then those who belong to Christ who have believed in his coming, when he will hand the kingdom over to our God and Father, when he will subject to him every principality and power"?On that occasion, without doubt, there will be some such observances of encampments and priestly distributions and ranks and signals of trumpets.
Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 25.1
It was fitting that there be a drawing of lots even regarding the suburbs and cities so that perhaps the renowned division among the Levites might not seem perhaps indiscriminate and accidental. Therefore, the distribution by lot that took place among the sons of Israel was characterized by reason, by which someone was considered worthy of the first lot, and someone else the second, as we have already previously examined to the extent we were able. This was true in regard to both those who receive through Moses beyond the Jordan and those who receive from Jesus [Joshua] in the land of promise, where the first lot fell to Benjamin and afterwards to the rest, among whom Dan was the last. Even so it is necessary that there be some reason also in the order of priestly and levitical lots. Thus the first is drawn for someone, the second for someone else, and the third for another, through which these or those places are determined for each one.
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 21:6 meticulously records the divine allocation of thirteen cities to the Gershonite clan of the Levites, drawn from the territories of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. This verse is an integral part of Joshua chapter 21, which details the distribution of cities among all three Levitical families, underscoring God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises by providing for His designated spiritual leaders through a divinely guided process of casting lots, thereby establishing their presence throughout the land.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Joshua 21:6 is situated within the broader narrative of the division of the Promised Land among the Israelite tribes, following the successful military campaigns detailed in the earlier chapters of Joshua. Chapters 13-19 describe the territorial allocations to the twelve tribes, while Joshua 20 focuses on the establishment of the Cities of Refuge. Chapter 21, culminating this extensive land distribution, shifts focus to the Levites, who, unlike the other tribes, did not receive a contiguous territorial inheritance. This chapter meticulously lists the 48 cities, along with their pasturelands, that were designated for the Levites, fulfilling the divine command given in Numbers 35:1-8. Specifically, Joshua 21:6 details the portion for the Gershonites, following the Kohathites (Joshua 21:4-5) and preceding the Merarites (Joshua 21:7-8), ensuring a complete and precise record of God's provision for His priestly tribe.
Historical & Cultural Context: The allocation of cities to the Levites was a direct fulfillment of God's instructions given through Moses (e.g., Numbers 18:20-24 and Numbers 35:1-8). Historically, the Levites were set apart for service to the Lord, having no tribal land inheritance, as "the Lord Himself was their inheritance" (Numbers 18:20). Culturally, the practice of casting lots was a recognized and deeply significant method in ancient Israel for making important decisions or dividing property, believed to be under divine direction rather than mere chance. This method, explicitly mentioned as "by lot" in Joshua 21:6, underscored the belief that God was sovereignly guiding the distribution, ensuring fairness, preventing disputes, and demonstrating His meticulous care. The specific tribes mentioned (Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and half-Manasseh in Bashan) indicate the geographical spread of the Gershonites, primarily in the northern and eastern regions of the newly acquired land, ensuring Levitical presence across diverse areas.
Key Themes: Joshua 21:6, along with the entire chapter, powerfully illustrates several key themes central to the book of Joshua and the broader Pentateuchal narrative. Firstly, it highlights Divine Sovereignty and Providence, as the distribution of cities "by lot" signifies God's direct involvement and meticulous planning, ensuring that His will, not human preference, determined the outcome (Proverbs 16:33). Secondly, it demonstrates Covenant Faithfulness, as God meticulously fulfills His promises to provide for the Levites and establish His people in the land, just as He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Thirdly, the strategic scattering of the Levites among all tribes emphasizes the theme of Spiritual Accessibility and Discipleship. By living within the tribal territories, the Levites, responsible for teaching God's law and administering justice (Deuteronomy 33:10), ensured that spiritual instruction and guidance were readily available to all Israelites. Finally, it underscores the Unity and Interdependence of the Tribes, as each tribe contributed cities and pasturelands, demonstrating their shared responsibility in supporting the Levitical ministry and the spiritual well-being of the entire nation.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The passage employs several literary devices to convey its message of divine order and fulfillment. Enumeration and Cataloging are prominently featured throughout Joshua 21, as the chapter systematically lists the cities allocated to each Levitical clan. This detailed listing emphasizes the meticulousness of God's plan and the comprehensive nature of its execution, leaving no doubt about the fulfillment of His promises. The Repetition of phrases like "by lot" (or similar expressions of divine determination) reinforces the theme of God's sovereign hand guiding the entire process, preventing any notion of random chance or human manipulation and highlighting divine control. Furthermore, the Fulfillment Motif is central; the entire chapter, including Joshua 21:6, serves as a literary demonstration that God has faithfully kept every promise He made to Israel, particularly regarding the land and the provision for the Levites. The Geographical Specificity in naming the contributing tribes (Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh) and the region of "Bashan" adds a layer of realism and historical grounding, making the divine promises tangible and demonstrating their actualization in the physical landscape of Canaan.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 21:6, in its meticulous detail, speaks volumes about God's character and His relationship with His people. It highlights God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, demonstrating His commitment to providing for those He has set apart for His service. The precise allocation of cities, determined by lot, underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His meticulous care in orchestrating the details of His divine plan, ensuring justice and order. This passage reminds us that God is a God of order and abundant provision, ensuring that His people, both those who serve and those who are served, are adequately sustained and guided. The dispersion of the Levites also illustrates God's desire for spiritual instruction and guidance to be accessible throughout the nation, fostering a deep connection between the people and His law, and preventing spiritual ignorance.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The seemingly administrative details of Joshua 21:6 hold profound spiritual lessons for believers today. Just as God meticulously provided for the Gershonite Levites, ensuring their sustenance and strategic placement for ministry throughout the land, so too does He care for and guide the lives of His servants and His church in every generation. This verse encourages us to trust in God's sovereign plan, even when the path ahead seems determined by "lot" or circumstances beyond our immediate control, knowing with certainty that His hand is ultimately guiding all outcomes for our good and His glory. It also calls us to reflect on our role in supporting those who dedicate their lives to spiritual leadership and teaching within our communities, recognizing that their provision is a shared responsibility of the body of Christ, enabling them to focus on their divine calling. Furthermore, the dispersion of the Levites reminds us of the importance of making God's truth accessible to all, prompting us to consider how we can share the Gospel and disciple others effectively in our own spheres of influence, ensuring that spiritual guidance and the knowledge of God are not confined but widely available to a world in need.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why didn't the Levites receive a tribal land inheritance like the other tribes?
Answer: The Levites were uniquely set apart for sacred service to the Lord, specifically for the Tabernacle and later Temple duties, teaching the law, and administering justice. Unlike the other tribes, their inheritance was not a piece of land but the Lord Himself, as profoundly stated in Numbers 18:20: "You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any part among them: I am your part and your inheritance among the children of Israel." This unique arrangement emphasized their spiritual calling over material possessions, ensuring their full dedication to God's service and preventing them from being tied down by agricultural pursuits like the other tribes.
What was the purpose of scattering the Levites among all the tribes?
Answer: The strategic dispersion of the Levites throughout all the tribes served multiple crucial purposes, demonstrating God's wisdom in establishing a spiritual infrastructure for His people. Firstly, it ensured that spiritual instruction, the administration of God's law, and judicial counsel were readily accessible to every part of the nation (Deuteronomy 33:10). Secondly, it fostered national unity by creating spiritual anchors in diverse regions, promoting a shared understanding of God's covenant and preventing tribal isolation. Thirdly, it prevented the Levites from becoming an isolated, politically powerful land-owning tribe, maintaining their distinct role as servants of God and the people, and ensuring their impartiality in matters of justice and teaching.
What does "by lot" signify in this context?
Answer: In the context of the land distribution in Joshua, the phrase "by lot" (Hebrew: gôwrâl) signifies divine guidance and absolute sovereignty. It was not a random gamble or a game of chance, but a sacred method believed to reveal God's direct and infallible will. As Proverbs 16:33 states, "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD." This practice ensured impartiality, prevented tribal disputes over desirable territories, and powerfully demonstrated that the allocation of cities, including those for the Gershonites, was a divinely orchestrated fulfillment of God's promises, not a human arrangement or political maneuver. It underscored that the land was truly God's gift, distributed according to His perfect plan.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous provision for the Gershonite Levites in Joshua 21:6, and indeed for all the Levites, beautifully foreshadows the ultimate provision and spiritual inheritance found in Jesus Christ. Just as the Levites had no earthly inheritance but the Lord Himself, so too believers in Christ find their true and eternal inheritance not in material possessions or earthly territories, but entirely in Christ Himself and the boundless spiritual blessings He bestows upon His people (Ephesians 1:11). Jesus is the ultimate High Priest, who, unlike the Levitical priests, offered a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for sin, eternally securing redemption for all who believe (Hebrews 4:14 and Hebrews 9:11-14). The scattering of the Levites among the tribes to teach and guide points to the New Covenant reality where all believers are made a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), commissioned to go into all the world, making disciples and teaching them to obey all that Christ commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). The divine precision in providing for the Levites assures us that God, who is faithful in every detail of His ancient promises, will also supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), as He is our ultimate and eternal inheritance, the very source and fulfillment of all God's promises.