Joshua 21: God's Faithfulness in Providing for the Levites and Fulfilling His Promises
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their suburbs.
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Beth–shemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,
And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Beth–horon with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
Aijalon with her suburbs, Gath–rimmon with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gath–rimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beesh–terah with her suburbs; two cities.
And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
Jarmuth with her suburbs, En–gannim with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,
Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammoth–dor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,
Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.
All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand.
There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Joshua 21 details the allocation of cities to the Levites, a tribe set apart for priestly service rather than land ownership. This chapter, seemingly filled with lists and locations, reveals profound truths about God's provision, faithfulness, and the importance of spiritual leadership within the community of faith. The tribe of Levi, having no land inheritance, was given cities within the territories of the other tribes, ensuring their needs were met and their ministry accessible to all of Israel.
Cities for the Levites: A Distributed Ministry (Joshua 21:1-7)
As previously established, the tribe of Levi did not receive a specific land allotment like the other tribes. Their inheritance was the Lord Himself (Joshua 13:33). However, they still needed places to dwell, and the LORD provided for them. The heads of the Levite families approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the heads of the other tribes, reminding them of the LORD’s command through Moses concerning their provision (Joshua 21:1-2; Numbers 35:1-8). God had instructed that the Levites were to receive cities with pasturelands within the territories of their brethren (Joshua 21:3).
This distribution of the Levites throughout the land served a vital purpose. By living in cities scattered among the other tribes, the Levites were strategically positioned to fulfill their duty to "teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given to them through Moses" (Leviticus 10:11). They were to be spiritual guides and instructors, ensuring that God's law was known and followed throughout the nation.
In total, the Levites received forty-eight cities (Joshua 21:41). These were distributed among the three clans descended from Levi's sons: Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. Twenty-three cities were assigned to the Kohathite clans, descendants of Levi's second son, with thirteen of these specifically designated for the descendants of Aaron who served as priests (Joshua 21:4-5). Thirteen cities were given to the Gershonite clans, descendants of Levi's first son (Joshua 21:6), and twelve cities went to the Merarite clans, descendants of Levi's third son (Joshua 21:7).
Geographical Distribution and Strategic Importance (Joshua 21:8-40)
The geographical placement of these Levitical cities was not arbitrary. The cities of the Kohathite clans were located in Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin (Joshua 21:9-19). Because the descendants of Aaron were responsible for performing their priestly duties in the temple, it was logical for them to be situated near Jerusalem (Joshua 21:13), the center of worship. The Kohathite clans also received cities in Ephraim, Dan, and Manasseh (Joshua 21:20-26). The descendants of Gershon were given cities in Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali (Joshua 21:27-33), while the descendants of Merari resided in Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad (Joshua 21:34-40). This widespread distribution ensured that the Levites were accessible to all the tribes, facilitating their ministry throughout the land.
God's Faithfulness: A Fulfilled Promise (Joshua 21:43-45)
The chapter culminates with a powerful declaration of God's faithfulness. Joshua 21:43-45 states that the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give them, and he gave them rest on every side. This leads to the central affirmation of the book of Joshua: "Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass."
Centuries earlier, God had promised Abram that he would give the land of Canaan to his descendants (Genesis 12:1-7). Despite the long wait, the numerous challenges, and the people's own shortcomings, God remained faithful to His word. When Jacob (Israel) and his sons had to flee Canaan because of famine, God was faithful. When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, God was faithful. Even when the people wandered in the wilderness due to their disobedience, God remained faithful.
Lessons for Today
We live in a world where broken promises are commonplace. However, Hebrews 10:23 encourages us to "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." While people may fail to keep their word due to lack of intention, human fallibility, or unforeseen circumstances, God never fails. Every one of God's promises finds its "Yes" in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
We are called to trust in the God who is faithful to always keep His word. This declaration of trust requires action. God's promises are available to us, but we must actively lay hold of them. Just as the Israelites had to march around Jericho by faith before the walls fell (Hebrews 11:30), we must act in faith, believing that God will fulfill His promises. When we act in faith, God is faithful to act on our behalf. Joshua 21 is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and a call for us to trust in His promises, knowing that He will always keep His word.
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their suburbs.
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Beth–shemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,
And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Beth–horon with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
Aijalon with her suburbs, Gath–rimmon with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gath–rimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beesh–terah with her suburbs; two cities.
And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
Jarmuth with her suburbs, En–gannim with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,
Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammoth–dor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,
Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.
All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand.
There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Joshua 21 details the allocation of cities to the Levites, a tribe set apart for priestly service rather than land ownership. This chapter, seemingly filled with lists and locations, reveals profound truths about God's provision, faithfulness, and the importance of spiritual leadership within the community of faith. The tribe of Levi, having no land inheritance, was given cities within the territories of the other tribes, ensuring their needs were met and their ministry accessible to all of Israel.
Cities for the Levites: A Distributed Ministry (Joshua 21:1-7)
As previously established, the tribe of Levi did not receive a specific land allotment like the other tribes. Their inheritance was the Lord Himself (Joshua 13:33). However, they still needed places to dwell, and the LORD provided for them. The heads of the Levite families approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the heads of the other tribes, reminding them of the LORD’s command through Moses concerning their provision (Joshua 21:1-2; Numbers 35:1-8). God had instructed that the Levites were to receive cities with pasturelands within the territories of their brethren (Joshua 21:3).
This distribution of the Levites throughout the land served a vital purpose. By living in cities scattered among the other tribes, the Levites were strategically positioned to fulfill their duty to "teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given to them through Moses" (Leviticus 10:11). They were to be spiritual guides and instructors, ensuring that God's law was known and followed throughout the nation.
In total, the Levites received forty-eight cities (Joshua 21:41). These were distributed among the three clans descended from Levi's sons: Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. Twenty-three cities were assigned to the Kohathite clans, descendants of Levi's second son, with thirteen of these specifically designated for the descendants of Aaron who served as priests (Joshua 21:4-5). Thirteen cities were given to the Gershonite clans, descendants of Levi's first son (Joshua 21:6), and twelve cities went to the Merarite clans, descendants of Levi's third son (Joshua 21:7).
Geographical Distribution and Strategic Importance (Joshua 21:8-40)
The geographical placement of these Levitical cities was not arbitrary. The cities of the Kohathite clans were located in Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin (Joshua 21:9-19). Because the descendants of Aaron were responsible for performing their priestly duties in the temple, it was logical for them to be situated near Jerusalem (Joshua 21:13), the center of worship. The Kohathite clans also received cities in Ephraim, Dan, and Manasseh (Joshua 21:20-26). The descendants of Gershon were given cities in Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali (Joshua 21:27-33), while the descendants of Merari resided in Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad (Joshua 21:34-40). This widespread distribution ensured that the Levites were accessible to all the tribes, facilitating their ministry throughout the land.
God's Faithfulness: A Fulfilled Promise (Joshua 21:43-45)
The chapter culminates with a powerful declaration of God's faithfulness. Joshua 21:43-45 states that the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give them, and he gave them rest on every side. This leads to the central affirmation of the book of Joshua: "Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass."
Centuries earlier, God had promised Abram that he would give the land of Canaan to his descendants (Genesis 12:1-7). Despite the long wait, the numerous challenges, and the people's own shortcomings, God remained faithful to His word. When Jacob (Israel) and his sons had to flee Canaan because of famine, God was faithful. When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, God was faithful. Even when the people wandered in the wilderness due to their disobedience, God remained faithful.
Lessons for Today
We live in a world where broken promises are commonplace. However, Hebrews 10:23 encourages us to "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." While people may fail to keep their word due to lack of intention, human fallibility, or unforeseen circumstances, God never fails. Every one of God's promises finds its "Yes" in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
We are called to trust in the God who is faithful to always keep His word. This declaration of trust requires action. God's promises are available to us, but we must actively lay hold of them. Just as the Israelites had to march around Jericho by faith before the walls fell (Hebrews 11:30), we must act in faith, believing that God will fulfill His promises. When we act in faith, God is faithful to act on our behalf. Joshua 21 is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and a call for us to trust in His promises, knowing that He will always keep His word.