Joshua 21:9-42

9 These are the names of the towns that came from the lands of Judah and Simeon.

10 The first choice of towns was given to the Kohath family groups of the Levites.

11 They gave them Kiriath Arba, also called Hebron, and all its pastures in the mountains of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.)

12 But the fields and the villages around Kiriath Arba had been given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.

13 So they gave the city of Hebron to the descendants of Aaron (Hebron was a city of safety). They also gave them the towns of Libnah,

14 Jattir, Eshtemoa,

15 Holon, Debir,

16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, and all the pastures around them. Nine towns were given from these two tribes.

17 They also gave the people of Aaron these cities that belonged to the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon, Geba,

18 Anathoth, and Almon. They gave them these four towns and the pastures around them.

19 So these thirteen towns with their pastures were given to the priests, who were from the family of Aaron.

20 The other Kohathite family groups of the Levites were given these towns from the tribe of Ephraim:

21 Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim (which was a city of safety), Gezer,

22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon. There were four towns and their pastures.

23 The tribe of Dan gave them Eltekeh, Gibbethon,

24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon. There were four towns and their pastures.

25 West Manasseh gave them Taanach and Gath Rimmon and the pastures around these two towns.

26 So these ten towns and the pastures around them were given to the rest of the Kohathite family groups.

27 The Gershonite family groups of the Levite tribe were given these towns: East Manasseh gave them Golan in Bashan, which was a city of safety, and Be Eshtarah, and the pastures around these two towns.

28 The tribe of Issachar gave them Kishion, Daberath,

29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim, and the pastures around these four towns.

30 The tribe of Asher gave them Mishal, Abdon,

31 Helkath, and Rehob, and the pastures around these four towns.

32 The tribe of Naphtali gave them Kedesh in Galilee (a city of safety), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, and the pastures around these three towns.

33 So the Gershonite family groups received thirteen towns and the pastures around them.

34 The Merarite family groups (the rest of the Levites) were given these towns: The tribe of Zebulun gave them Jokneam, Kartah,

35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, and the pastures around these four towns.

36 The tribe of Reuben gave them Bezer, Jahaz,

37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the pastures around these four towns.

38 The tribe of Gad gave them Ramoth in Gilead (a city of safety), Mahanaim,

39 Heshbon, and Jazer, and the pastures around these four towns.

40 So the total number of towns given to the Merarite family groups was twelve.

41 A total of forty-eight towns with their pastures in the land of Israel were given to the Levites.

42 Each town had pastures around it.

Joshua 21:9-42 Meaning and Commentary

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.