Joshua 21:3 kjv
And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.
Joshua 21:3 nkjv
So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their common-lands:
Joshua 21:3 niv
So, as the LORD had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:
Joshua 21:3 esv
So by command of the LORD the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance.
Joshua 21:3 nlt
So by the command of the LORD the people of Israel gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own grants of land.
Joshua 21 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 13:15 | "for all the land which you see I will give to you and your descendants..." | God's promise of land inheritance to Israel. |
| Num 18:20 | "You shall have no inheritance in their land... I am your portion..." | Levites' portion is the Lord. |
| Num 18:21 | "I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an..." | Levites supported by tithes. |
| Num 35:2 | "Command the children of Israel to give to the Levites cities..." | Direct command for Levitical cities. |
| Num 35:7 | "All the cities which you will give the Levites shall be forty-eight..." | Specific number of cities commanded. |
| Lev 25:32 | "Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities of..." | Levites' houses are their redemption right. |
| Deut 10:9 | "Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren..." | Reinforces no territorial inheritance for Levi. |
| Deut 12:12 | "You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and..." | Inclusion of Levites in national celebrations. |
| Deut 18:1 | "The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part..." | Reiterates no land inheritance. |
| Josh 14:3 | "...for the Lord had promised them no inheritance among them." | Context for Levites' lack of land inheritance. |
| Josh 21:1 | "Then the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites came near..." | Levites request fulfillment of the command. |
| Josh 21:41 | "All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children..." | Summation of 48 cities given. |
| Josh 24:33 | "And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill..." | Levites (Eleazar) among the people even in death. |
| Judg 17:7 | "Now there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of..." | Example of Levites spread throughout the land. |
| Neh 10:37 | "...the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive" | Continued support for Levites in later history. |
| Neh 10:39 | "For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring..." | Joint responsibility to bring offerings. |
| Matt 10:10 | "...for a worker is worthy of his food." | New Testament principle of supporting ministers. |
| Luke 10:7 | "...for the laborer is worthy of his wages." | New Testament application for evangelists. |
| 1 Cor 9:13 | "Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat the..." | Comparison to Old Testament priestly provision. |
| 1 Cor 9:14 | "Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel..." | Gospel ministers supported by the gospel. |
| Heb 7:5 | "And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the..." | Levitical priests receiving tithes. |
Joshua 21 verses
Joshua 21 3 Meaning
Joshua 21:3 signifies the faithful obedience of the children of Israel in fulfilling the Lord's commandment regarding the provision for the Levites. Having conquered and divided the land of Canaan, the tribes collectively gave designated cities and their surrounding pasture lands to the tribe of Levi, who received no territorial inheritance, affirming God's unique provision for those consecrated to His service and the communal responsibility to support them.
Joshua 21 3 Context
Joshua chapter 21 details the fulfillment of a critical divine command given to Moses concerning the provision for the tribe of Levi. Having no territorial inheritance of their own (Num 18:20, Deut 10:9), the Levites, comprising the priestly lineage and those serving the tabernacle, were to be sustained by the other tribes. Verses 1-2 establish the Levites approaching Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal heads at Shiloh, reminding them of the Lord's instruction through Moses to provide them with cities for dwelling and surrounding pasturage. Joshua 21:3 directly follows this appeal, confirming that the other Israelite tribes indeed acted in immediate obedience, thereby completing the land distribution and settling all twelve tribes in their respective places as ordained by the Lord. This act underscored Israel's faithfulness in executing God's entire covenant plan.
Joshua 21 3 Word analysis
- So: Implies continuity and direct consequence, showing Israel's immediate response to the Levites' request and God's earlier command.
- the children of Israel: Refers collectively to the ten-and-a-half tribes who received land inheritance. This highlights the united obedience and corporate responsibility of the entire nation, emphasizing tribal cooperation in God's plan.
- gave: (Hebrew: nāthnū, נָתְנוּ - "they gave, presented") This denotes an active, volitional act of bestowment, not reluctant compliance. It signifies an act of generous obedience, demonstrating recognition of the Levites' divine appointment and the importance of their work.
- to the Levites: The recipients, chosen by God for sacred service (Num 3:6-7), responsible for teaching the law, performing priestly duties, and maintaining the Tabernacle/Temple (Deut 33:10, Num 3:5-8). They were dispersed among the tribes to serve as spiritual anchors and teachers.
- from their inheritance: The other tribes willingly allocated portions of their newly acquired and divided tribal territories. This indicates a sacrificial aspect, as each tribe shared a part of what was directly granted to them by God (Josh 14:1-2).
- according to the commandment: (Hebrew: pî YHWH, פִּי יְהוָה - "the mouth/command of YHWH") Emphasizes that this act was not arbitrary or humanly devised, but directly ordered by God Himself through Moses (Num 35:2). It underscores divine authority as the sole basis for Israel's action and the provision for the Levites.
- of the Lord: Refers to YHWH, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. This attributes the command's origin and ultimate authority to God, establishing its sacred and binding nature.
- these cities: Designated urban centers scattered throughout the tribal territories, serving as places of residence for the Levites. This strategically placed the Levites among all the people for spiritual instruction and oversight (Josh 21:41-42 lists these cities).
- and their common-lands: (Hebrew: migrāsheyhem, מִגְרָשֵׁיהֶם - "their pasturage/open fields") This refers to the surrounding open land beyond the city walls, designated for the Levites' cattle, flocks, and other property, as commanded in Numbers 35:3-5. This provision ensured the Levites could sustain themselves and their livestock, essential for daily life, as they did not have agricultural land. It highlights God's comprehensive provision.
Joshua 21 3 Bonus section
The dispersion of the Levites throughout all the tribes via these cities served a critical missional purpose: to be spiritual anchors, teachers of the Law, and arbiters of disputes (Deut 33:10, Mal 2:7). This decentralized structure ensured that access to religious instruction and the upholding of the covenant laws were not confined to a single sanctuary but were present within reach of every Israelite. The establishment of Levitical cities thus created a framework for national spiritual health and prevented theological drift, acting as localized centers of covenant understanding. This unique land distribution underscored God's commitment to His chosen people's spiritual formation, integrating His chosen servants within the fabric of daily life.
Joshua 21 3 Commentary
Joshua 21:3 is a powerful statement of divine order fulfilled through human obedience. It marks the successful completion of the complex and critical task of settling the Promised Land and establishing the divinely ordained structure for the Israelite nation. By collectively giving cities and their common-lands to the Levites, Israel demonstrated not only their compliance with a specific Mosaic commandment (Num 35) but also their corporate understanding that provision for God's ministers was a national responsibility. This provision enabled the Levites to carry out their essential spiritual duties among all the tribes, maintaining religious instruction and worship throughout the land, thus promoting the spiritual well-being and unity of Israel. This arrangement illustrates a key biblical principle: those dedicated to God's service are to be supported by the community, allowing them to fully commit to their ministry without being burdened by material sustenance, a principle echoed in the New Testament concerning the support of gospel ministers (1 Cor 9:14).