Joshua 21:40

40 All these were the cities of the descendants of M'rari according to their families, the rest of the families of the L'vi'im; their lot totaled twelve cities.

Joshua 21:40 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 21:40

So all the cities for the children of Merari by their
families
Which were distributed by lot to them, according to the number of their families, and were sufficient for them:

which were remaining of the families of the Levites;
the last division of them, besides those of the Kohathites, Levites, and the Gershonites:

were [by] their lot twelve cities;
four out of the tribe of Zebulun, four out of the tribe of Reuben, and four out of the tribe of Gad, whose names are before given,

Joshua 21:40 In-Context

38 Out of the tribe of Gad: Ramot in Gil'ad with its surrounding open land, the city of refuge for the killer; Machanayim with its surrounding open land;
39 Heshbon with its surrounding open land and Ya'zer with its surrounding open land - four cities in all.
40 All these were the cities of the descendants of M'rari according to their families, the rest of the families of the L'vi'im; their lot totaled twelve cities.
41 All the cities of the L'vi'im, forty-eight cities with their surrounding open land, are to be in among the lands possessed by the people of Isra'el -
42 these cities, each with its surrounding open land; thus is it to be with all these cities.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.