Cities of the Levites
Joshua 21, verse 1. Now the heads of the fathers of the sons of Levi came to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the chiefs of the tribes of the fathers from the tribes of Israel, Joshua 21, verse 2. and spoke to them in Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The Lord commanded through the hand of Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, with the common-lands for our cattle.” Joshua 21, verse 3. So the children of Israel gave the Levites a portion of their inheritance at the command of the Lord, cities and their common-lands. Joshua 21, verse 4. Now the lot came out for the family of the Kohathites, and from the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Simeon, and the tribe of Benjamin, there were thirteen cities given by lot to the sons of Aaron, who were priests among the Levites. Joshua 21, verse 5. For the remaining sons of Kohath, ten cities were chosen by lot from the tribe of Ephraim, the tribe of Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Joshua 21, verse 6. For the sons of Gershon, there were thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of Issachar, the tribe of Asher, the tribe of Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. Joshua 21, verse 7. For the sons of Merari according to their families, there were twelve cities by lot from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun. Joshua 21, verse 8. So the children of Israel gave the Levites cities and their common-lands by lot, as the Lord commanded Moses. Joshua 21, verse 9. From the tribe of the sons of Judah, and the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, they gave the cities, designated by name, Joshua 21, verse 10. to the sons of Aaron from the family of Kohath, who were of the sons of Levi, because the lot was theirs. Joshua 21, verse 11. They gave them Kirjath Arba, the capital of the sons of Anak (which is Hebron), in the mountains of Judah, with the common-land surrounding it. Joshua 21, verse 12. But the fields of the city and its villages Joshua gave to the sons of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, as their possession. Joshua 21, verse 13. Thus to the sons of Aaron they gave Hebron with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Libna with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 14. Jattir with its common-land, Eshtemoa with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 15. Holon with its common-land, Debir with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 16. Ain with its common-land, Juttah with its common-land, and Beth Shemesh with its common-land: nine cities from those two tribes; Joshua 21, verse 17. and from the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon with its common-land, Geba with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 18. Anathoth with its common-land, and Almon with its common-land: four cities. Joshua 21, verse 19. All the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their common-lands. Joshua 21, verse 20. Now the families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, the rest of the sons of Kohath, had cities of their lot from the tribe of Ephraim. Joshua 21, verse 21. For they gave them Shechem with its common-land in the mountains of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the slayer), Gezer with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 22. Kibzaim with its common-land, and Beth Horon with its common-land: four cities; Joshua 21, verse 23. and from the tribe of Dan: Eltekeh with its common-land, Gibbethon with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 24. Aijalon with its common-land, and Gath Rimmon with its common-land: four cities; Joshua 21, verse 25. and from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with its common-land and Jebatha with its common-land: two cities. Joshua 21, verse 26. All ten cities with their common-lands were for the rest of the families of the sons of Kohath. Joshua 21, verse 27. To the sons of Gershon, to the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), and Be Eshterah with its common-land: two cities; Joshua 21, verse 28. and from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its common-land, Daberath with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 29. Jarmuth with its common-land, and En Gannim with its common-land: four cities; Joshua 21, verse 30. and from the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its common-land, Abdon with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 31. Helkath with its common-land, and Rehob with its common-land: four cities; Joshua 21, verse 32. and from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Hammoth Dor with its common-land, and Kartan with its common-land: three cities. Joshua 21, verse 33. All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their common-lands. Joshua 21, verse 34. To the family of the sons of Merari, the rest of the Levites, from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its common-land, Kartah with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 35. Dimnah with its common-land, and Nahalal with its common-land: four cities; Joshua 21, verse 36. and from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the desert of Misor with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Jahaz with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 37. Kedemoth with its common-land, and Mephaath with its common-land: four cities; Joshua 21, verse 38. and from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Mahanaim with its common-land, Joshua 21, verse 39. Heshbon with its common-land, and Jazer with its common-land: four cities in all. Joshua 21, verse 40. So all the cities for the sons of Merari according to their families, the rest of the tribe of Levi, were by their lot twelve cities.
Israel Takes the Land
Joshua 21, verse 41. All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the sons of Israel were forty-eight cities with their common-lands. Joshua 21, verse 42. Every one of these cities had its common-land surrounding it; thus were all these cities. Joshua 21, verse 43. So Joshua finished dividing the land according to their borders, Joshua 21, verse 44. and the children of Israel gave a portion to Joshua according to the Lord's command. They gave him the city he requested, which was Timnath Serah in the mountain of Ephraim, Joshua 21, verse 45. and Joshua built the city and dwelt in it. Joshua 21, verse 46. Then Joshua took the stone knives with which he circumcised the sons of Israel who were born on the way in the desert, and he put them in Timnath Serah. Joshua 21, verse 47. So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give to their fathers; and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. Joshua 21, verse 48. The Lord gave them rest all around, as He had sworn to their fathers, and no one rose up against them from all their enemies. The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands. Joshua 21, verse 49. Not a word failed of any good thing the Lord had spoken to the children of Israel. All came to pass.