Joshua Chapter 21
Showing all 45 verses for Joshua Chapter 21.
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"Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; "
"The heads of the Levite clans came to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the tribal leaders of Israel."
I honour those who come forward and ask boldly for what I have already promised, rather than sitting back in silence. When you know my word has spoken over your life, bring it to me and to those who lead - do not be afraid to ask.
"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. "
"They said to them at Shiloh, in the land of Canaan: 'The LORD commanded through Moses that we should be given towns to live in, along with the open land around them for our livestock.'"
The Levite leaders simply reminded everyone of what I had already said through Moses - and there is real faith in holding people gently accountable to a promise, rather than letting it be forgotten. Remembering my word out loud, together, is an act of trust.
"And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. "
"So the Israelites gave the Levites, out of their own share of the land, the following towns and pasturelands, exactly as the LORD had commanded."
The tribes gave up part of their own newly won land so the Levites could have homes - real obedience often costs you something you just received. Generosity that only gives from leftovers is not yet the generosity I am asking of you.
"And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the 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. "
"The first lot went to the Kohathite families. The descendants of Aaron the priest, who were Levites, received thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin."
The lot fell to Aaron's family by my hand, not by human scheming - I still guide outcomes in ways you cannot always trace, and I ask you to trust that guidance rather than grasping for control. Every position you hold is a gift, not a prize you seized.
"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. "
"The rest of Kohath's descendants received ten towns from the tribe families of Ephraim, Dan, and half of Manasseh."
Even the Kohathites who were not priests, the ones without the more visible role, were carefully given their own ten cities - I do not overlook anyone just because their calling seems ordinary. Your unseen faithfulness matters to me as much as any public position.
"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. "
"The descendants of Gershon received thirteen towns from the tribe families of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan."
The Gershonites received thirteen cities spread across four different tribal lands - my provision reaches into every corner of a person's life, not just the parts that seem most important. No area of your need is too scattered for my care to find you.
"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. "
"The descendants of Merari, family by family, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun."
The Merarites, too, received a full share - twelve cities from three tribes - so that all three Levite families were provided for in turn. When you serve me faithfully, whatever your particular role, I make sure you are not left out.
"And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. "
"So the Israelites gave the Levites these towns with their pasturelands by drawing lots, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses."
Israel did exactly as I had commanded through Moses, using the lot as instructed - obedience that follows through in the small details is what I treasure most, not grand gestures alone. Faithfulness is proved in finishing what was promised.
"And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name, "
"From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they gave the following towns, listed here by name."
This verse simply opens the record - and I want you to know that I keep careful account of every promise fulfilled, even the ones that take a long list to explain. Nothing you are owed by my word gets lost in the paperwork.
"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. "
"These went to the descendants of Aaron, from the Kohathite families of Levi, because theirs was the first lot drawn."
Aaron's family received the first lot, not because they earned it, but because I called them to that role - no one takes this honour for themselves. Whatever place you hold in serving me, receive it as a calling, not an achievement.
"And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it. "
"They gave them Kiriath-arba — that is, Hebron, named after Arba, father of the Anakites — in the hill country of Judah, along with the surrounding pastureland."
Hebron, once linked to the giant Anak, became a home for my priests - I love taking places and people with a hard, fearsome history and giving them a new purpose in my service. Whatever your past has been, I can make it a place of holiness now.
"But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. "
"But the fields belonging to the town, and its surrounding villages, had already been given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his own possession."
Even while giving Hebron to the priests, I made sure Caleb still received the fields and villages promised to him personally decades before - I do not let a communal blessing swallow up a promise made to one faithful individual. I remember what I owe you specifically, not just what I owe the group.
"Thus they 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, "
"So they gave Hebron with its pastureland to the descendants of Aaron the priest, to be a city of refuge for anyone who had killed someone accidentally, and they also gave them Libnah with its pastureland."
It is fitting that the priests, who represented the people before me, lived in the very city set aside as a refuge for the desperate and the guilty-seeming - those who minister mercy should live closest to those who need it most. Do not keep your distance from the people who need shelter; live among them.
"And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs, "
"They also gave them Jattir with its pastureland, and Eshtemoa with its pastureland."
Jattir and Eshtemoa were just two more towns quietly added to the priests' provision - I attend to the ordinary, unremarkable details of your life, not only the dramatic moments. Trust that I am still working even in the parts of your story that feel like a list.
"And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs, "
"And Holon with its pastureland, and Debir with its pastureland."
Holon and Debir continue the steady, unglamorous work of provision - faithfulness from me often looks like this: consistent, city after city, rather than one dramatic rescue. Learn to see my care in the quiet repetition of your own life, not just the highlights.
"And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes. "
"And Ain with its pastureland, Juttah with its pastureland, and Beth-shemesh with its pastureland — nine towns in all from these two tribes."
Nine cities in total from Judah and Simeon - I keep exact account, and my provision is never vague or half-finished. When I promise to provide for you, I mean the whole number, not an approximation.
"And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs, "
"From the tribe of Benjamin they gave Gibeon with its pastureland and Geba with its pastureland."
Gibeon and Geba, from Benjamin's land, show my provision reaching a new tribe entirely - I am not limited to blessing the same people twice while ignoring others. My generosity keeps moving outward to include everyone.
"Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities. "
"And Anathoth with its pastureland, and Almon with its pastureland — four towns."
Anathoth and Almon complete Benjamin's four cities - a small, precise number, but complete in itself. You do not need a large portion to be fully provided for; you need exactly what I have measured out for you.
"All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs. "
"In total, the towns belonging to the descendants of Aaron the priests were thirteen towns, together with their pasturelands."
Thirteen cities in total for Aaron's priestly family - a full, round summary of my faithfulness to those who served me at the altar. When your work is done in my name, I make sure the account is settled and complete.
"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. "
"The rest of the Kohathite families — the Levites not descended from Aaron — received their allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim."
The rest of the Kohathites, not just the priests among them, now receive their own inheritance from Ephraim - I never let one family's blessing eclipse another's need. Every branch of your community deserves its turn to be provided for.
"For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs, "
"They gave them Shechem with its pastureland in the hill country of Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for anyone who had killed someone accidentally, and also Gezer with its pastureland."
Shechem, a city already rich with history from Abraham and Jacob, became both a Levite home and a refuge for the desperate - I keep returning to meaningful places and giving them fresh purpose for mercy. Nothing in your history is wasted; I can still use it to shelter someone.
"And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities. "
"And Kibzaim with its pastureland, and Beth-horon with its pastureland — four towns."
Kibzaim and Bethhoron round out four more cities - my care keeps arriving in ordinary pairs and small numbers, proof that I am not only interested in grand totals but in each specific place you actually live.
"And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs, "
"From the tribe of Dan they gave Eltekeh with its pastureland, and Gibbethon with its pastureland."
Eltekeh and Gibbethon, given from Dan's territory, show my plan for the Levites was truly comprehensive, tribe by tribe. I do not skip over any part of your life when I set out to provide for you fully.
"Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities. "
"And Aijalon with its pastureland, and Gath-rimmon with its pastureland — four towns."
Aijalon and Gathrimmon complete Dan's four cities - a modest, exact gift, precisely fulfilling what was owed. I do not overpromise and underdeliver; what I say I will give, I give in full.
"And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities. "
"From the half-tribe of Manasseh they gave Taanach with its pastureland, and Gath-rimmon with its pastureland — two towns."
Only two cities came from the half-tribe of Manasseh, and that was enough - my provision is measured to genuine need, not to appearances or comparison with others. Do not measure my care for you by what someone else received.
"All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained. "
"In total there were ten towns with their pasturelands for the remaining Kohathite families."
Ten cities in total for the remaining Kohathites - another family fully accounted for, another promise brought to completion. Trust that when I begin providing for you, I will finish the job.
"And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities. "
"To the Gershonite Levites they gave, from the other half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pastureland, to be a city of refuge for anyone who had killed someone accidentally, and also Beeshterah with its pastureland — two towns."
Golan in Bashan was both a Gershonite home and a city of refuge - protection and belonging given together in the very same place. I want the communities you build to be both a home and a safe haven for whoever comes seeking shelter.
"And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs, "
"From the tribe of Issachar they gave Kishion with its pastureland, and Daberath with its pastureland."
Kishon and Dabareh, from Issachar's land, keep the pattern going - my faithfulness does not run out of steam partway through the list. I stay just as attentive at city forty as I was at city one.
"Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities. "
"Jarmuth with its pastureland, and En-gannim with its pastureland — four towns."
Jarmuth and Engannim bring Issachar's total to four - another quiet completion, another promise closed out in full. Notice how much of my faithfulness looks like this: unremarkable, thorough, and done.
"And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs, "
"From the tribe of Asher they gave Mishal with its pastureland, and Abdon with its pastureland."
Mishal and Abdon, from Asher, extend my care into yet another tribe's land - I keep widening the circle of who is included and provided for. Let your own circle of care widen the same way, tribe by tribe, person by person.
"Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities. "
"Helkath with its pastureland, and Rehob with its pastureland — four towns."
Helkath and Rehob complete Asher's four cities - simple, exact, and enough. Learn to recognise sufficiency as a gift rather than always longing for more than what I have measured out.
"And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh 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. "
"From the tribe of Naphtali they gave Kedesh in Galilee with its pastureland, to be a city of refuge for anyone who had killed someone accidentally, along with Hammoth-dor with its pastureland, and Kartan with its pastureland — three towns."
Kedesh in Galilee, later the very region where much of my earthly ministry would take place, was set apart as a refuge centuries before I walked there myself - I was already preparing places of mercy long before you ever needed them. My plans for your rescue run deeper into history than you know.
"All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs. "
"In total, the towns of the Gershonites, family by family, were thirteen towns with their pasturelands."
Thirteen cities for the Gershonites in total - the second family line now fully and completely provided for. My faithfulness is not selective; it reaches every branch of the family equally.
"And 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, "
"To the Merarite families, the remaining Levites, they gave from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam with its pastureland, and Kartah with its pastureland."
Now the Merarites, the last and often least mentioned Levite family, begin receiving their own cities from Zebulun - I make a point of remembering those who are usually named last. Your place at the end of the list is never a sign that I have forgotten you.
"Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities. "
"Dimnah with its pastureland, and Nahalal with its pastureland — four towns."
Dimnah and Nahalal bring Zebulun's gift to four cities - another small, complete provision, proof that even the family listed last receives just as careful an account as the first. Nobody is shortchanged simply for being mentioned later.
"And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs, "
"From the tribe of Reuben they gave Bezer with its pastureland, and Jahaz with its pastureland."
Bezer and Jahazah, from Reuben, keep the Merarites' provision moving - I do not lose momentum on the parts of the story that come near the end. My attention to you does not fade the longer your story goes on.
"Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities. "
"Kedemoth with its pastureland, and Mephaath with its pastureland — four towns."
Kedemoth and Mephaath complete Reuben's four cities to the Merarites - exact, unhurried, thorough. My care for you is never rushed just because there is a lot still to finish.
"And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs, "
"From the tribe of Gad they gave Ramoth in Gilead with its pastureland, to be a city of refuge for anyone who had killed someone accidentally, and also Mahanaim with its pastureland."
Ramoth in Gilead was given as both a Merarite home and another city of refuge - once again, shelter for the desperate is placed right where my servants live. Wherever you make your home, let it also be a place someone frightened could run to and find safety.
"Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all. "
"Heshbon with its pastureland, and Jazer with its pastureland — four towns in all."
Heshbon and Jazer bring Gad's gift to four cities - the pattern holds firm right to the very end of the list. My consistency is not a coincidence; it is who I am.
"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. "
"So all the towns given to the Merarite families, the remaining Levite families, came to twelve towns by their lot."
Twelve cities in total for the Merarites, the last family fully accounted for - now every single Levite family has received exactly what I promised. Nothing about my promises is left unfinished, even for the ones who might feel forgotten.
"All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs. "
"In total, the towns of the Levites within the territory the Israelites possessed were forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands."
Forty-eight cities in all - a whole tribe with no land of its own was still given a complete, generous home, because their calling was to serve me, not to own territory. I take special care of those who give their lives to serving others rather than accumulating for themselves.
"These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities. "
"Each of these towns had its own pastureland surrounding it; this was the pattern for all of them."
Every one of these cities came with its own pastureland - I do not just hand over a bare promise; I make sure the practical, everyday needs are covered too. My care for you includes the small logistics of your life, not only the big spiritual truths.
"And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and therein. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there."
I gave Israel everything I had sworn to their ancestors centuries before - and they possessed it and lived in it. However long a promise takes, I keep it in full; do not let delay make you doubt what I have already spoken over your life.
"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. "
"And the LORD gave them peace on every side, exactly as he had sworn to their ancestors; not one of their enemies could stand against them — the LORD handed all their enemies over to them."
I gave them rest on every side, and not one enemy could stand against them - true peace is a gift I give, not something you win by your own strength alone. The rest I offer you today runs even deeper than this, reaching all the way into your heart.
"There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. "
"Not one of all the good promises the LORD had made to the people of Israel failed — every single one came true."
Not one good word I spoke to Israel failed - every single promise came true. Let that settle something in you: whatever I have promised you personally is just as certain, because I do not change and I do not fail.