Joshua 21

Cities and Pasturelands Allotted to Levi

1 Then the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites came u to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel. 2 And they said to them v at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, w "The Lord commanded through Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, along with their pasturelands for our livestock." 3 So by command of the Lord the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance.

4 The lot came out for the clans of the Kohathites. So those Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest x received by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, thirteen cities.

5 And the rest of the Kohathites received by lot y from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

6 The z Gershonites received by lot from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

7 The a Merarites according to their clans received from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

8 These cities and their pasturelands the people of Israel b gave by lot to the Levites, c as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

9 Out of the tribe of the people of Judah and the tribe of the people of Simeon they gave the following cities mentioned by name, 10 which went to d the descendants of Aaron, one of the clans of the Kohathites who belonged to the people of Levi; since the lot fell to them first. 11 e They gave them f Kiriath-arba (Arba being the father of Anak), that is Hebron, g in the hill country of Judah, along with the pasturelands around it. 12 But the fields of the city and its villages had been given to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession.

13 And to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, h the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasturelands, i Libnah with its pasturelands, 14 Jattir with its pasturelands, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands, 15 Holon with its pasturelands, Debir with its pasturelands, 16 Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands - nine cities out of these two tribes; 17 then out of the tribe of Benjamin, j Gibeon with its pasturelands, Geba with its pasturelands, 18 Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands - four cities. 19 The cities of the descendants of Aaron, the priests, were in all thirteen cities with their pasturelands.

20 k As to the rest of the Kohathites belonging to the Kohathite clans of the Levites, the cities allotted to them were out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21 To them were given Shechem, l the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands, 22 Kibzaim with its pasturelands, Beth-horon with its pasturelands - four cities; 23 and out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands, 24 Aijalon with its pasturelands, Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands - four cities; 25 and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its pasturelands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands - two cities. 26 The cities of the clans of the rest of the Kohathites were ten in all with their pasturelands.

27 m And to the Gershonites, one of the clans of the Levites, were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands, l the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands - two cities; 28 and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands, 29 Jarmuth with its pasturelands, En-gannim with its pasturelands - four cities; 30 and out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands, 31 Helkath with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands - four cities; 32 and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, l the city of refuge for the manslayer, Hammoth-dor with its pasturelands, and Kartan with its pasturelands - three cities. 33 The cities of the several clans of the Gershonites were in all thirteen cities with their pasturelands.

34 n And to the rest of the Levites, the Merarite clans, were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasturelands, Kartah with its pasturelands, 35 Dimnah with its pasturelands, Nahalal with its pasturelands - four cities; 36 and out of the tribe of Reuben, o Bezer with its pasturelands, Jahaz with its pasturelands, 37 Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands - four cities; 38 and out of the tribe of Gad, o Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, p Mahanaim with its pasturelands, 39 p Heshbon with its pasturelands, Jazer with its pasturelands - four cities in all. 40 As for the cities of the several Merarite clans, that is, the remainder of the clans of the Levites, those allotted to them were in all twelve cities.

41 q The cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the people of Israel were in all forty-eight cities with their pasturelands. 42 These cities each had its pasturelands around it. So it was with all these cities.

43 r Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. 44 s And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. t Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for u the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. 45 v Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.

  1. Cross References
    Joshua 14:1
    These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit.
    Joshua 17:4
    They approached Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, "The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brothers." So according to the mouth of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
    Joshua 19:51
    These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.
    Numbers 34:17 - 18
    These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun.
  2. Cross References
    Joshua 18:1
    Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.
  3. Cross References
    Numbers 35:2
    Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pasturelands around the cities.
  4. Cross References
    Joshua 21:9 - 19
    Out of the tribe of the people of Judah and the tribe of the people of Simeon they gave the following cities mentioned by name.
    Exodus 6:16 - 19
    These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years.
    Numbers 3:17 - 20
    And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon and Kohath and Merari.
  5. Cross References
    Joshua 21:20 - 26
    As to the rest of the Kohathites belonging to the Kohathite clans of the Levites, the cities allotted to them were out of the tribe of Ephraim.
  6. Cross References
    Joshua 21:27 - 33
    And to the Gershonites, one of the clans of the Levites, were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands - two cities.
  7. Cross References
    Joshua 21:34 - 40
    And to the rest of the Levites, the Merarite clans, were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasturelands, Kartah with its pasturelands.
  8. Cross References
    Joshua 21:3
    So by command of the Lord the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance.
  9. Cross References
    Numbers 35:2
    Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pasturelands around the cities.
    Joshua 14:3 - 5
    For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
  10. Cross References
    Joshua 21:4
    The lot came out for the clans of the Kohathites. So those Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, thirteen cities.
  11. Cross References
    Joshua 21:11 - 19
    They gave them Kiriath-arba (Arba being the father of Anak), that is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with the pasturelands around it.
    1 Chronicles 6:54 - 60
    These are their dwelling places according to their settlements within their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the clans of Kohathites, for theirs was the first lot.
  12. Cross References
    Joshua 14:13 - 15
    Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
  13. Cross References
    Joshua 20:7
    So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
    Luke 1:39
    In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah.
  14. Cross References
    Joshua 20:7
    So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
  15. Cross References
    Joshua 10:29
    Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.
  16. Cross References
    Joshua 9:3
    But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai.
  17. Cross References
    Joshua 21:20 - 26
    As to the rest of the Kohathites belonging to the Kohathite clans of the Levites, the cities allotted to them were out of the tribe of Ephraim.
    1 Chronicles 6:66 - 70
    And some of the clans of the sons of Kohath had cities of their territory out of the tribe of Ephraim.
  18. Cross References
    Joshua 20:7 - 8
    So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
  19. Cross References
    Joshua 21:27 - 33
    And to the Gershonites, one of the clans of the Levites, were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands - two cities.
    1 Chronicles 6:71 - 76
    To the Gershomites were given out of the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands and Ashtaroth with its pasturelands.
  20. Cross References
    Joshua 21:21
    To them were given Shechem, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands.
  21. Cross References
    Joshua 21:21
    To them were given Shechem, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands.
  22. Cross References
    Joshua 21:34 - 40
    And to the rest of the Levites, the Merarite clans, were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasturelands, Kartah with its pasturelands.
    1 Chronicles 6:77 - 81
    To the rest of the Merarites were allotted out of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono with its pasturelands, Tabor with its pasturelands.
  23. Cross References
    Joshua 20:8
    And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.
  24. Cross References
    Joshua 21:36
    And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasturelands, Jahaz with its pasturelands.
  25. Cross References
    Joshua 13:26
    And from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir.
  26. Cross References
    Joshua 21:38
    And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands, the city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim with its pasturelands.
  27. Cross References
    Numbers 35:7
    All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with their pasturelands.
  28. Cross References
    Genesis 13:15
    For all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.
    Genesis 15:18
    On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.
    Genesis 26:3
    Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.
    Genesis 28:4
    May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!
    Genesis 28:13
    And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.
  29. Cross References
    Joshua 11:23
    So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.
  30. Cross References
    Joshua 10:8
    And the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.
    Joshua 23:9
    For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day.
  31. Cross References
    Joshua 2:24
    And they said to Joshua, "Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.
    Deuteronomy 7:24
    And he will give their kings into your hand, and you shall make their name perish from under heaven. No one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.
  32. Cross References
    Joshua 23:14 - 15
    And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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