# Joshua 21 đź“–: Towns for the Levites
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Levitical Cities
[[#Verse 01.]]Â The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leadersÂ
[[#Verse 02.]] in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle.”Â
[[#Verse 03.]] So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the Lord had instructed.
[[#Verse 04.]] The first lot belonged to the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
[[#Verse 05.]] The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, and from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] Gershon’s descendants were allotted thirteen cities from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribes of Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] Merari’s descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the Lord had instructed Moses.
[[#Verse 09.]]Â They assigned from the tribes of Judah and Simeon the cities listed below.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] (They were assigned to the Kohathite clans of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron, for the first lot fell to them.)Â
[[#Verse 11.]]Â They assigned them Kiriath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding grazing areas.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] (Now the city’s fields and surrounding towns they had assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property.)Â
[[#Verse 13.]]Â So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah,Â
[[#Verse 14.]]Â Jattir, Eshtemoa,Â
[[#Verse 15.]]Â Holon, Debir,Â
[[#Verse 16.]] Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes.
[[#Verse 17.]] From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned Gibeon, Geba,Â
[[#Verse 18.]] Anathoth, and Almon, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities.
[[#Verse 19.]]Â The priests descended from Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.
[[#Verse 20.]]Â The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim.Â
[[#Verse 21.]]Â They assigned them Shechem (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer,Â
[[#Verse 22.]] Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities.
[[#Verse 23.]]Â From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon,Â
[[#Verse 24.]] Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities.Â
[[#Verse 25.]] From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned Taanach and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of two cities.
[[#Verse 26.]]Â The rest of the Kohathite clans received ten cities and their grazing areas.
[[#Verse 27.]] They assigned to the Gershonite clans of the Levites the following cities: from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) and Beeshtarah, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of two cities;Â
[[#Verse 28.]]Â from the tribe of Issachar: Kishon, Daberath,Â
[[#Verse 29.]] Jarmuth, and En Gannim, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities;Â
[[#Verse 30.]]Â from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon,Â
[[#Verse 31.]] Helkath, and Rehob, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities;Â
[[#Verse 32.]] from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of three cities.Â
[[#Verse 33.]]Â The Gershonite clans received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.
[[#Verse 34.]]Â They assigned to the Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) the following cities: from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah,Â
[[#Verse 35.]] Dimnah, and Nahalal, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities;Â
[[#Verse 36.]]Â from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz,Â
[[#Verse 37.]] Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities;Â
[[#Verse 38.]]Â from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Mahanaim,Â
[[#Verse 39.]] Heshbon, and Jazer, along with the grazing areas of each—a total of four cities.Â
[[#Verse 40.]]Â The Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) were allotted twelve cities.
[[#Verse 41.]] The Levites received within the land owned by the Israelites forty-eight cities in all and their grazing areas.
[[#Verse 42.]]Â Each of these cities had grazing areas around it; they were alike in this regard.
[[#Verse 43.]] So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had solemnly promised to their ancestors, and they conquered it and lived in it.Â
[[#Verse 44.]] The Lord made them secure, in fulfillment of all he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could resist them. The Lord handed all their enemies over to them.Â
[[#Verse 45.]] Not one of the Lord’s faithful promises to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; every one was realized.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
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###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
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###### Verse 15.
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###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
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###### Verse 27.
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###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
###### Verse 35.
###### Verse 36.
###### Verse 37.
###### Verse 38.
###### Verse 39.
###### Verse 40.
###### Verse 41.
###### Verse 42.
###### Verse 43.
###### Verse 44.
###### Verse 45.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The Levites received forty-eight towns with their pasturelands (21:41).
2. The three Levite clans were Kohath, Gershon, and Merari (21:4-7).
3. Aaron's descendants received thirteen towns in Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin (21:4).
4. Anathoth (21:18) was later the hometown of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1).
5. This chapter fulfills the command in Numbers 35:1-8.
6. Jacob said Levi would be scattered in Israel (Genesis 49:7), and God turned that scattering into a blessing for the whole nation.
7. Hebron was given to the priests, while its fields and villages remained with Caleb (21:11-12).
8. The pasturelands around Levitical towns were measured out (Numbers 35:4-5).
9. A parallel list of Levitical towns appears in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81.
10. The Lord gave Israel rest on every side (21:44).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the faithful One in whom not one of God's good promises fails (21:45). Every promise of God finds its "Yes" in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The Levites were spread throughout all the tribes (21:41). Why would God place those who taught His law among every tribe?
2. Not one of God's good promises failed (21:45). Which of His promises have you seen fulfilled?
3. Aaron's descendants received cities in Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin (21:4). Why might it matter that the priests lived near what would become Jerusalem?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 2: The Levites remind Joshua that the Lord commanded towns and pasturelands for them.
- đź“– verse 43: The Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers.
- đź“– verse 45: Not one of the Lord's good promises to Israel failed. Every one came true.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Numbers 35#Verse 01.|Numbers 35:1-8]] - Towns for the Levites.
- đź”— [[1 Chronicles 06#Verse 54.|1 Chronicles 6:54-81]] - The Levitical towns listed again.
- đź”— [[2 Corinthians 01#Verse 20.|2 Corinthians 1:20]] - All God's promises are Yes in Christ.
- đź”— [[1 Kings 08#Verse 56.|1 Kings 8:56]] - Not one word of His good promise has failed.
- đź”— [[Hebrews 10#Verse 23.|Hebrews 10:23]] - He who promised is faithful.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Joshua 21 - SOAP|The Lord is Faithful Over the Years]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes