Joshua 21 KJV: The Allotment of the Levitical Cities
Joshua 21 records the designation of 48 cities and their surrounding pasture lands for the tribe of Levi, who received no large territorial block. This strategic dispersal ensures that the teachers of the Law and the administrators of the sanctuary are integrated into every region of Israel.
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;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Discover how the tribe of Levi was scattered as a blessing to provide spiritual leadership in every corner of the nation. Begin your study with joshua 21 summary.
By placing Levites in 48 different locations, God ensured that no Israelite was ever far from a spiritual authority or a teacher of the covenant. The Word Secret is Migrash, referring to the 'suburbs' or open pasture lands around the cities, emphasizing God's care for the practical needs of those in ministry. Discover the riches with joshua 21 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Unlock the hidden joshua 21 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.
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