Joshua 21:8

8 So the People of Israel gave these cities with their pastures to the Levites just as God had ordered through Moses, that is, by lot.

Joshua 21:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 21:8

And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these
cities with their suburbs
Reaching two thousand cubits from the cities all around: these cities did not lie all together, and so could not be described by their coasts; but in the several tribes, and intermixed with their cities; which fulfilled Jacob's prophecy, that they should be divided and scattered in Israel, ( Genesis 49:7 ) ; as well as it was so ordered for the benefit of the several tribes, that they might have the assistance of the priests and Levites, to instruct them in the knowledge of the laws and commandments of God, and all divine things:

as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses;
( Numbers 35:2 ) .

Joshua 21:8 In-Context

6 The Gershonites received by lot thirteen cities from the families of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7 The families of the Merarites received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

8 So the People of Israel gave these cities with their pastures to the Levites just as God had ordered through Moses, that is, by lot.

9 They assigned from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin the following towns, here named individually

10 (these were for the descendants of Aaron who were from the families of the Kohathite branch of Levi because the first lot fell to them):