Joshua 21:41

41 From the land that the people of Israel possessed, a total of forty-eight cities, with the pasture lands around them, was given to the Levites.

Joshua 21:41 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 21:41

All the cities of the Levites, within the possession of the
children of Israel
As comprised in one sum total:

[were] forty and eight cities with their suburbs;
which is just the number that Moses from the mouth of God ordered to be given unto them, before they entered into the land, and before they were in possession of one city in it, ( Numbers 35:7 ) ; which, as it is a proof of the omniscience, prescience, and predetermination of God; so of the sure and true prediction of Moses, who could not be otherwise certain than from the Lord of the Israelites being able to give so many cities to them, out of each of their tribes: and it is to be observed, that this tribe of Levi, though it had no share in the division of the land, yet had more cities by lot given to it than any other, excepting the tribe of Judah; though indeed, in the account of some of the tribes, all the cities in them are not mentioned; and besides, they had only the cities they had with their suburbs round about them, but not the lands belonging to them, nor the villages; however this shows that a large and liberal maintenance of the ministers of the Lord, that serve in his sanctuary should be allowed and made for them, as in the legal, so under the Gospel dispensation

Joshua 21:41 In-Context

39 Heshbon, and Jazer, with their pasture lands.
40 So the clan of Merari was assigned a total of twelve cities.
41 From the land that the people of Israel possessed, a total of forty-eight cities, with the pasture lands around them, was given to the Levites.
43 So the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he had solemnly promised their ancestors he would give them. When they had taken possession of it, they settled down there.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.