Joshua 21:33-43

33 For the Gershonites and their families: thirteen towns with their pastures.

34 The Merari families, the remaining Levites, were given from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah,

35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, with their pastures - four cities.

36 From the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz,

37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, with their pastures - four towns.

38 From the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead (an asylum-city for the unconvicted killer), Mahanaim,

39 Heshbon, and Jazer, with their pastures - a total of four towns.

40 All these towns were assigned by lot to the Merarites, the remaining Levites - twelve towns.

41 The Levites held forty-eight towns with their accompanying pastures within the territory of the People of Israel.

42 Each of these towns had pastures surrounding it - this was the case for all these towns.

43 And so God gave Israel the entire land that he had solemnly vowed to give to their ancestors. They took possession of it and made themselves at home in it.

Joshua 21:33-43 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.