Joshua 21:40

40 All these cities belonged to the families of Merari. They were the last of the families of Levi. These 12 cities were chosen by lot.

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 The tribe of Gad also gave them four cities with pasturelands: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for murderers), Mahanaim,

39 Heshbon, and Jazer.

40 All these cities belonged to the families of Merari. They were the last of the families of Levi. These 12 cities were chosen by lot.

41 Within the territory owned by the Israelites there were 48 cities in all for Levi's descendants.

42 Each of these cities had its own pastureland around it.