Joshua 21:8

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.)

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 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;

10 to the sons of Aaron, by the families of Kohath, of the kin of Levi (to the sons of Aaron, who were of the Kohathite families of the Levites), of the which cities these be the names; for the first lot went out to them;