Joshua 21:8

8 The {Israelites} gave to the Levites these cities and their pastureland by lot, just as Yahweh commanded through the hand of Moses.

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 descendants of Gershon [received] by lot thirteen cities from the families of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7 The descendants of the Merarites according to their families [received] twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

8 The {Israelites} gave to the Levites these cities and their pastureland by lot, just as Yahweh commanded through the hand of Moses.

9 They gave these cities, which are [here] mentioned by name, from the tribe of the families of Judah and from the tribe of the families of Simeon;

10 and they were for the descendants of Aaron, from the families of the Kohathites, from the descendants of Levi, because the first lot was theirs.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"