Joshua 21 2

Joshua 21:2 kjv

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.

Joshua 21:2 nkjv

And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, "The LORD commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock."

Joshua 21:2 niv

at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, "The LORD commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock."

Joshua 21:2 esv

And they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, "The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, along with their pasturelands for our livestock."

Joshua 21:2 nlt

They came to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us towns to live in and pasturelands for our livestock."

Joshua 21 verses

Joshua 21 2 Meaning

Joshua 21:2 records the Levite chiefs, addressing Eleazar the high priest, Joshua, and the tribal heads at Shiloh. They are recalling the explicit command of the Lord, given through Moses, to provide the Levites with cities to reside in and surrounding pasturelands for their livestock. This statement serves as a foundational claim for their promised inheritance, emphasizing its divine origin and the unique provision mandated for their tribe amidst the land distribution to other tribes.

Joshua 21 2 Context

Joshua chapter 21 occurs at a crucial juncture in the Book of Joshua. The major military campaigns for conquering Canaan have largely concluded, and the land has been painstakingly divided by lot among the twelve tribes of Israel (chapters 13-19). However, one tribe, Levi, did not receive a territorial inheritance like the others, as mandated by divine command (Num 18:20, Deut 10:9). Instead, the Lord Himself was their inheritance, and they were dedicated to priestly and liturgical service to God and the nation. This chapter details the fulfillment of the specific promise and command for the Levites to receive cities within the territories of all the other tribes, ensuring their dispersion among the people for spiritual instruction, teaching the law, and maintaining the sanctuary services. Verse 2 initiates the Levites' formal request for these cities and their pasturelands, anchoring their plea in the authoritative Mosaic law and the Lord's clear instruction. Shiloh, mentioned as the location, was significant as the central place where the tabernacle was settled and where major assemblies of Israel took place.

Joshua 21 2 Word analysis

• And they spake unto them: The "they" refers to the "heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites" mentioned in Josh 21:1. They are speaking 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." This indicates a formal and official approach by the Levitical leadership to the national and tribal authorities, emphasizing due process and the rightful claim based on established law.
• at Shiloh: (Hebrew: שִׁילֹה, Shiloh). This location was not arbitrary. Shiloh was the site where the tabernacle (the tent of meeting) had been set up (Josh 18:1), making it the central religious and administrative hub of Israel during this period. Decisions of national import and the division of the land were conducted here. Its mention underscores the religious and authoritative nature of the Levites' claim.
• in the land of Canaan: Reinforces that these events are taking place within the recently conquered and now being-settled Promised Land, highlighting the fulfillment of God's overarching promise to give Israel the land.
• saying, The Lord commanded: (Hebrew: יְהוָה צִוָּה, YHWH tzivah). This is the absolute core of the Levites' argument. They are not asking for a favor or negotiating; they are reminding the leadership of a direct divine injunction from Yahweh Himself. The emphasis is on divine authority, making compliance obligatory for the recipients of the land. This contrasts any idea of a human-initiated request for privilege.
• by the hand of Moses: (Hebrew: בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה, b'yad Moshe). "By the hand of" signifies through the agency, authority, or instruction of Moses. Moses was God's chosen mediator and lawgiver for Israel. This phrase firmly connects their request to the foundational Mosaic covenant and the Pentateuchal laws (specifically Numbers 35), validating its antiquity and divine origin beyond dispute. It negates any thought that this was a recent or arbitrary demand.
• to give us cities to dwell in: The Levites did not inherit territory like the other tribes. This phrasing makes it clear they require established dwelling places within the allocated tribal territories. Their function as religious instructors and guardians of the law necessitated their dispersion throughout Israel, not concentrated in one large tribal region.
• with their suburbs for our cattle: (Hebrew: מִגְרָשֶׁיהָ, migrasheha). Migrash refers to common land, specifically pastureland surrounding the cities, typically used for grazing livestock. This was crucial for the Levites' practical sustenance, as they did not cultivate fields for food. It demonstrates God's holistic provision, not just for shelter, but also for their economic viability in a pastoral society, complementing the tithes they received.

Joshua 21 2 Bonus section

The dispersion of the Levites, requested in this verse and detailed in the rest of Joshua 21, served a crucial theological purpose beyond mere practical logistics. By distributing these priestly and teaching figures throughout all the tribes of Israel, God ensured constant access to instruction in His Law, arbitration based on His statutes, and a witness to His presence. This countered the potential for spiritual ignorance or idolatry within distant communities. It also emphasized that divine truth was not confined to a single centralized religious hub but was meant to permeate all aspects of Israelite life, making every tribe accountable to God's commands. This foreshadows the New Covenant reality where believers, as a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9), are dispersed throughout the world to be light and salt, carrying God's truth to all nations, embodying the "living stones" that comprise God's spiritual temple (1 Pet 2:5).

Joshua 21 2 Commentary

Joshua 21:2 is a profound reminder of God's faithfulness and meticulous provision for His servants. The Levites, lacking a territorial inheritance like the other tribes, appeal to a divine mandate rather than human favor. This highlights that their existence and sustenance were not left to the whims of man but were explicitly detailed in God's law given through Moses. This provision, consisting of cities and their adjoining pasturelands, underscores a paradox: while God was their unique "inheritance" (Num 18:20), He also provided tangible dwelling places. This arrangement ensured the Levites could live among the Israelites, serving as spiritual guides, teachers of the Torah, and judges (Deut 33:10). Their dispersal also prevented tribal power consolidation and encouraged national unity around common religious principles. The scene at Shiloh emphasizes the solemnity and divine authority underpinning the entire land distribution process, completing the meticulous fulfillment of all of God's promises to Israel.

• Example: A missionary relying on donations is not "begging" if they have a divine calling and trust God for provision; their "cities and suburbs" are the resources provided by the body of Christ.
• Example: When a church ministry seeks funding for a building, they are often not just asking for money but seeking support for a "dwelling place" from which to fulfill their divine mission of outreach and service, grounded in scriptural principles of stewardship.