Joshua 21:19-29

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.

Joshua 21:19-29 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.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.