Joshua — Chapter 21

📖 Joshua — Chapter 21 (KJV)

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Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Joshua 21:1 Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto ^REleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;

Joshua 21:2 And they spake unto them at ^RShiloh 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.

Joshua 21:3 And the children of Israel gave ^Runto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.

Joshua 21:4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and ^Rthe 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.

Joshua 21:5 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.

Joshua 21:6 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.

Joshua 21:7 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.

Joshua 21:8 And the children of Israel gave ^Rby lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Joshua 21:9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, ^Rthese cities which are here ^Tmentioned by name.

Joshua 21:10 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.

Joshua 21:11 ^RAnd they gave them ^Tthe city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.

Joshua 21:12 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

Joshua 21:13 Thus ^Rthey 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,

Joshua 21:14 And ^RJattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,

Joshua 21:15 And ^RTHolon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,

Joshua 21:16 And ^RTAin with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.

Joshua 21:17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, ^RGibeon with her suburbs, ^TGeba with her suburbs,

Joshua 21:18 ^RAnathoth with her suburbs, and ^TAlmon with her suburbs; four cities.

Joshua 21:19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

Joshua 21:20 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.

Joshua 21:21 For they gave them ^RShechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,

Joshua 21:22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.

Joshua 21:23 And out of the tribe of Dan, ^REltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,

Joshua 21:24 ^RAijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.

Joshua 21:25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ^RTanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.

Joshua 21:26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.

Joshua 21:27 And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave ^RGolan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.

Joshua 21:28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, ^RDabareh with her suburbs,

Joshua 21:29 ^RJarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.

Joshua 21:30 And out of the tribe of Asher, ^RMishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,

Joshua 21:31 Helkath with her suburbs, and ^RRehob with her suburbs; four cities.

Joshua 21:32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, ^RKedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.

Joshua 21:33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

Joshua 21:34 ^RAnd 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,

Joshua 21:35 Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.

Joshua 21:36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, ^RBezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,

Joshua 21:37 Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.

Joshua 21:38 And out of the tribe of Gad, ^RRamoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

Joshua 21:39 ^RHeshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.

Joshua 21:40 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.

Joshua 21:41 All the cities of the Levites ^Rwithin the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.

Joshua 21:42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.

Joshua 21:43 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

Joshua 21:44 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.

Joshua 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Joshua 21:1–8 — The Levites ask for cities

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The Levite leaders request the cities and pasturelands previously commanded through Moses. Their portions are assigned by lot from the other tribes.

Key Truth: The tribal inheritance includes provision for the Levites' dwelling and service.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Joshua 21:9–40 — Cities distributed among the Levite families

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The chapter lists cities assigned to the Levite families from the various tribes. Refuge cities are among these places, connecting dwelling, service, and community protection.

Key Truth: The Levites receive cities throughout Israel's tribal territories.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Joshua 21:41–45 — The LORD's promises fulfilled

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The total Levite cities is given, followed by a summary of the LORD's gift of the land and rest. The passage emphasizes that his good promises did not fail.

Key Truth: The account credits the fulfilled promises to the LORD's faithfulness.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Numbers 35:2 — The Levites' request rests on the earlier command to provide cities and suburbs.

Numbers 35:2 (KJV) Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

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