Joshua 21:7

7 and to the sons of Merari, by their families, of the lineages of Reuben, and of Gad, and of Zebulun, twelve cities. (and for the Merarites, by their families, from the tribes of Reuben, and Gad, and Zebulun, twelve cities.)

Joshua 21:7 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 21:7

The children of Merari by their families
The descendants of Merari, the third son of Levi:

[had] out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad;
which were both on the other side Jordan:

and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities;
in all forty eight, as the Lord commanded, ( Numbers 35:7 ) .

Joshua 21:7 In-Context

5 and to the others of the sons of Kohath, that is, to the deacons that were left (over), of the lineages of Ephraim, and of Dan, and of the half lineage of Manasseh, ten cities. (and to the rest of the Kohathite families, that is, to the Levites of the lower degree, ten cities from the tribes of Ephraim, and Dan, and the western half of the tribe of Manasseh.)

6 And lot went out to the sons of Gershon, that they should take of the lineages of Issachar, and of Asher, and of Naphtali, and of the half lineage of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities in number; (And the lot went out to the Gershonites, that they should receive from the tribes of Issachar, and Asher, and Naphtali, and from the eastern half of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities in number;)

7 and to the sons of Merari, by their families, of the lineages of Reuben, and of Gad, and of Zebulun, twelve cities. (and for the Merarites, by their families, from the tribes of Reuben, and Gad, and Zebulun, twelve cities.)

8 And the sons of Israel gave to the deacons cities, and their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses; and all gave by lot. (And so the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities, and their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by Moses; and all gave by lot.)

9 (Out) Of [the] possessions of the lineages of the sons of Judah, and of Simeon, Joshua gave (these) cities;