Joshua 21 41

Joshua 21:41 kjv

All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.

Joshua 21:41 nkjv

All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their common-lands.

Joshua 21:41 niv

The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands.

Joshua 21:41 esv

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.

Joshua 21:41 nlt

The total number of towns and pasturelands within Israelite territory given to the Levites came to forty-eight.

Joshua 21 verses

Joshua 21 41 Meaning

Joshua 21:41 declares that the total number of cities designated for the Levites within the land possessed by the children of Israel was forty-eight, along with their surrounding pasturelands. This verse acts as a definitive numerical summary, affirming the precise fulfillment of the divine command concerning the inheritance of the tribe of Levi, who received no tribal territory of their own among the other tribes of Israel. It signifies God's faithfulness in establishing His people according to His detailed plans.

Joshua 21 41 Context

Joshua 21:41 appears at the climax of the detailed record of the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, particularly focusing on the specific allocation for the tribe of Levi. Chapters 13 through 19 meticulously detail the boundaries and inheritances for the other twelve tribes. Chapter 20 records the establishment of the Cities of Refuge. Chapter 21, leading up to verse 41, specifies which cities from each tribal inheritance were given to the Levite families (the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites). This particular verse serves as a concluding numerical summary, validating that the command given through Moses in Num 35:1-8 concerning the 48 Levite cities has been faithfully executed. It precedes the grand summary of God's covenant faithfulness in Josh 21:43-45, marking the successful completion of a major phase of Israel's settlement in Canaan, and setting the stage for subsequent warnings against disobedience and renewal of the covenant. Historically and culturally, the systematic and detailed land distribution underscored the ordered nature of the Israelite society under God's law, a stark contrast to the often chaotic land claims of neighboring nations. It also served to strategically scatter the Levites—who were central to teaching God's law and administering justice—throughout the entire nation, ensuring spiritual access and uniformity of worship for all Israel, subtly countering any localized, polytheistic beliefs of surrounding peoples by centralizing Yahweh's worship and law.

Joshua 21 41 Word analysis

• All (כָּל־ - kal-): Literally "whole," "every," "complete." Emphasizes the totality and completeness of the designated cities. It signifies that the precise number required by God's command was indeed provided, with none missing or omitted. This underlines thorough obedience.
• the cities (הֶעָרִים - he'arim): Refers to the urban centers. In this context, they were specific dwelling places designated for the Levites. The definite article "the" indicates specific cities that have already been listed and discussed in the preceding verses (Josh 21:9-40).
• of the Levites (לַלְוִיִּם - lalevîyim): Identifies the specific recipients of these cities. The Levites, as the priestly tribe, did not receive an tribal land inheritance like the others, but were instead consecrated to God for His service, living off the tithes and offerings of the other tribes (Num 18:21, Deut 18:1). Their widespread distribution was key to their national function.
• within (בְּתוֹךְ - betokh): Means "in the midst of" or "among." This signifies that the Levite cities were not concentrated in a single, separate territory, but were interspersed within the tribal lands of the other children of Israel. This arrangement facilitated the Levites' role as spiritual teachers and judges across the entire nation.
• the possession (אֲחֻזַּת - 'akhuzzat): Refers to "a possession," "a holding," "a property," or "an inheritance." Here, it specifically denotes the inherited territories assigned to the other tribes of Israel. This phrase highlights that the Levite cities were carved out of, and integrated into, the already-allotted territories of the other tribes.
• of the children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - b'ney Yisra'el): The collective term for the twelve tribes (excluding Levi as a land-inheriting tribe). This phrase reaffirms the covenant identity of the nation and that this allocation was for the good and structure of the entire Israelite community.
• were forty-eight (אַרְבַּע וְאַרְבָּעִים - 'arba' w'arba'im): The specific numeral 48. This precision emphasizes accuracy and divine exactness. This number directly corresponds to the command given in Num 35:7. This precise counting is a characteristic of God's orderly work and Israel's obedience.
• cities (עָרִים - 'arim): Repetition of the noun emphasizes the subject and the conclusion of the enumeration.
• with their suburbs (וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶם - u-migreshehem): Refers to the open lands and pasture areas immediately surrounding the city proper. These were vital for the Levites' cattle and other needs (Lev 25:34). Their inclusion shows the completeness of the provision, considering all aspects of livelihood for the Levites as specified in the Mosaic Law.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "All the cities of the Levites were forty-eight cities with their suburbs": This complete count verifies the faithful and precise execution of God's specific command found in Numbers 35 regarding the Levite cities. It showcases divine mathematical exactitude in God's provisioning and Israel's detailed obedience. The repetition of "cities" reinforces the conclusion of the meticulous census.
• "within the possession of the children of Israel": This phrase clarifies the unique status and integrated role of the Levites. Unlike other tribes who received consolidated territories, the Levites were distributed throughout the entire nation. This dispersion ensured their spiritual presence, teaching, and judicial service were accessible to all Israelites, fulfilling their purpose as spiritual guides and upholders of God's law across the diverse tribal landscapes.

Joshua 21 41 Bonus section

• The meticulous recording of the 48 cities for the Levites served as a profound witness to the people that God's plan was comprehensive and left no detail unattended. This bolstered their faith in divine providence and adherence to the covenant.
• The inclusion of the six Cities of Refuge within these 48 Levite cities (Josh 20:7-9) highlights the interplay between justice and mercy, reflecting God's character. The Levites, as spiritual guardians, also became custodians of justice in cases of unintentional killing.
• This carefully orchestrated distribution prevented the Levites from becoming a separate, geographically concentrated power bloc, which could have led to tribal jealousy or political imbalance. Instead, their power was spiritual, rooted in the Law, and their presence diffused throughout the nation for its overall spiritual health.
• The account underscores the importance of communal provision for those dedicated to full-time service for the Lord, establishing a principle that echoes into New Testament support for those who preach the Gospel (1 Cor 9:14).
• The number 48 is symbolic of structure and completeness derived from multiples of significant biblical numbers (12 tribes x 4 points of a compass or world regions, signifying all-encompassing reach). While not explicitly stated, the numerical precision reflects divine order.

Joshua 21 41 Commentary

Joshua 21:41 concludes the long process of land distribution and, specifically, the detailed allocation of cities for the Levites, who, unlike the other tribes, did not inherit their own territorial land. This verse succinctly encapsulates the diligent fulfillment of a significant divine command from the Mosaic Law (Num 35). It powerfully affirms God's faithfulness, demonstrating that every promise He made concerning Israel's settlement and every instruction He gave regarding their internal organization, including the precise number of cities for His dedicated servants, was meticulously brought to pass. This exact figure of 48 cities underscores the meticulousness of the process and the divine oversight of the entire land apportionment. It further emphasizes that the Levites' integration across the nation, rather than in a concentrated region, served a critical purpose: ensuring the consistent presence of teachers of the Law, spiritual guides, and ministers of justice throughout all twelve tribes. The careful recording of this specific detail reinforces the truthfulness of God's word and the covenant keeping nature of His relationship with His people. It provided a stable and God-ordained structure for the emerging nation, allowing the Levites to effectively serve and shepherd the people spiritually.