Joshua 21

1 The ancestral heads of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the heads of the other tribes of the People of Israel.

2 This took place at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They said, "God commanded through Moses that you give us cities to live in with access to pastures for our cattle."

3 So the People of Israel, out of their own inheritance, gave the Levites, just as God commanded, the following cities and pastures:

4 The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites this way: Levites descended from Aaron the priest received by lot thirteen cities out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

5 The rest of the Kohathites received by lot ten cities from the families of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

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):

11 Kiriath Arba (Arba was the ancestor of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hills of Judah, with access to the pastures around it.

12 The fields of the city and its open lands they had already given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.

13 To the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (the asylum-city for the unconvicted killers), Libnah,

14 Jattir, Eshtemoa

15 , Holon, Debir

16 , Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, all with their accompanying pastures - nine towns from these two tribes.

17 And from the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon, Geba,

18 Anathoth, and Almon, together with their pastures - four towns.

19 The total for the cities and pastures for the priests descended from Aaron came to thirteen.

20 The rest of the Kohathite families from the tribe of Levi were assigned their cities by lot from the tribe of Ephraim:

21 Shechem (the asylum-city for the unconvicted killer) in the hills of Ephraim, Gezer,

22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, with their pastures - four towns.

23 From the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon,

24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, all with their pastures - four towns.

25 And from the half-tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach and Gath Rimmon with their pastures - two towns.

26 All told, ten cities with their pastures went to the remaining Kohathite families.

27 The Gershonite families of the tribe of Levi were given from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (an asylum-city for the unconvicted killer), and Be Eshtarah, with their pastures - two cities.

28 And from the tribe of Issachar: Kishion, Daberath,

29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim, with their pastures - four towns.

30 From the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon,

31 Helkath, and Rehob, with their pastures - four towns.

32 From the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (an asylum-city for the unconvicted killer), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, with their pastures - three towns.

33 For the Gershonites and their families: thirteen towns with their pastures.

34 The Merari families, the remaining Levites, were given from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah,

35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, with their pastures - four cities.

36 From the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz,

37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, with their pastures - four towns.

38 From the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead (an asylum-city for the unconvicted killer), Mahanaim,

39 Heshbon, and Jazer, with their pastures - a total of four towns.

40 All these towns were assigned by lot to the Merarites, the remaining Levites - twelve towns.

41 The Levites held forty-eight towns with their accompanying pastures within the territory of the People of Israel.

42 Each of these towns had pastures surrounding it - this was the case for all these towns.

43 And so God gave Israel the entire land that he had solemnly vowed to give to their ancestors. They took possession of it and made themselves at home in it.

44 And God gave them rest on all sides, as he had also solemnly vowed to their ancestors. Not a single one of their enemies was able to stand up to them - God handed over all their enemies to them.

45 Not one word failed from all the good words God spoke to the house of Israel. Everything came out right.

Joshua 21 Commentary

Chapter 21

Cities for the Levites. (1-8) The cities allotted to the Levites. (9-42) God gave the land and rest to the Israelites, according to his promise. (43-45)

Verses 1-8 The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided for, before they preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a very good foundation; not their own merits or services, but the Divine precept. The maintenance of ministers is not a thing left merely to the will of the people, that they may let them starve if they please; they which preach the gospel should live by the gospel, and should live comfortably.

Verses 9-42 By mixing the Levites with the other tribes, they were made to see that the eyes of all Israel were upon them, and therefore it was their concern to walk so that their ministry might not be blamed. Every tribe had its share of Levites' cities. Thus did God graciously provide for keeping up religion among them, and that they might have the word in all parts of the land. Yet, blessed be God, we have the gospel more diffused amongst us.

Verses 43-45 God promised to give to the seed of Abraham the land of Canaan for a possession, and now they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the promise of the heavenly Canaan is as sure to all God's spiritual Israel; for it is the promise of Him that cannot lie. There stood not a man before them. The after-prevalence of the Canaanites was the effect of Israel's slothfulness, and the punishment of their sinful inclination to the idolatries and abominations of the heathen whom they harboured and indulged. There failed not aught of any good thing, which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. In due season all his promises will be accomplished; then will his people acknowledge that the Lord has exceeded their largest expectations, and made them more than conquerors, and brought them to their desired rest.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 21

This chapter contains the address of the Levites to the court, to have the cities and suburbs given them according to the command of God by Moses, Jos 21:1,2; the grant of them by lot out of the several tribes, Jos 21:3-8; the particular cities out of the tribes of Judah and Simeon are mentioned by name, Jos 21:9-16; then those out of the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 21:17-19; next those out of the tribe of Ephraim, Jos 21:20-22; afterwards those out of the tribe of Dan, Jos 21:23-26; then those out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Jos 21:27; and out of the tribe of Issachar, Jos 21:28,29; and out of the tribe of Asher, Jos 21:30,31; and of Naphtali, Jos 21:32,33; and of Zebulun, Jos 21:34,35; and of Reuben, Jos 21:36,37; and of Gad, Jos 21:38-40; which in all made forty eight, Jos 21:41,42; and the chapter is concluded with observing, that God gave Israel all the land of Canaan, and rest in it, according to his promise, very faithfully and punctually, Jos 21:43-45.