Joshua 21:1-8 · Bible study

Joshua 21:1-8 Commentary: The Levites' Claim and God's Provision

Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say

Meaning in one sentence

Analysis of Joshua 21:1-8: Were the Levites forgotten or was this the proper time? Commentary on the Levitical cities, the lot, and God's command.

Research Summary

Meaning: The Levites receive cities and pasturelands from the other tribes, fulfilling God’s command through Moses.
Key words: “Lot” (goral, H1486), used five times, showing divine selection; “pasture lands” (migrash, H4054), open land for livestock.
Main debate: Were the Levites neglected (Calvin, Henry) or did they act at the proper time (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)?
Theological theme: God provides for those who serve Him, and His commands require human obedience and initiative.
Best use: Preaching on faithful stewardship, the role of ministers, and trusting God’s allocation in our lives.

Translation Comparison

BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020

¹Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel

²at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said to them, “The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities in which to live, together with pasturelands for our livestock.”

³So by the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

⁴The first lot came out for the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

⁵The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten cities by lot from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

⁶The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

⁷And the descendants of Merari received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

⁸So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these cities, together with their pasturelands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

WEB World English Bible 2000

¹Then the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel.

²They spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “Yahweh commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their pasture lands for our livestock.”

³The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their pasture lands.

⁴The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin.

⁵The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh.

⁶The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

⁷The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun.

⁸The children of Israel gave these cities with their pasture lands by lot to the Levites, as Yahweh commanded by Moses.

KJV King James Version 1769

¹Then 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;

²And 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.

³And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their suburbs.

⁴And 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.

⁵And 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.

⁶And 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.

⁷The 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.

⁸And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.

ASV American Standard Version 1901

¹Then came near the heads of fathers’housesof the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel;

²and they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded by Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.

³And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Jehovah, these cities with their suburbs.

⁴And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

⁵And 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.

⁶And 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.

⁷The children of Merari according to 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.

⁸And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by Moses.

YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898

¹And the heads of the fathers of the Levites draw nigh unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel,

²and they speak unto them in Shiloh, in the land of Canaan, saying, `Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses to give to us cities to dwell in, and their suburbs for our cattle.'

³And the sons of Israel give to the Levites, out of their inheritance, at the command of Jehovah, these cities and their suburbs:

⁴And the lot goeth out for the families of the Kohathite, and there are for the sons of Aaron the priest (of the Levites), out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, by lot thirteen cities,

⁵and for the sons of Kohath who are left, out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, by lot ten cities:

⁶And for the sons of Gershon are , 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, by lot, thirteen cities.

⁷For the sons of Merari, for their families, are , out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

⁸And the sons of Israel give to the Levites these cities and their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses, by lot.

Darby Darby Bible 1890

¹Then the chief fathers of the Levites drew near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;

²and they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, and their suburbs for our cattle.

³And the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the word of Jehovah, these cities and their suburbs.

⁴And the lot came forth for the families of the Kohathites. And the children of Aaron the priest, of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

⁵And the children of Kohath that remained 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.

⁷The children of Merari according to their families had by lot out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

⁸And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities and their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded through Moses.

Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899

¹Then the princes of the families of Levi came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the princes of the kindreds of all the tribes of the children of Israel

²And they spoke to them in Silo in the land of Chanaan, and said: The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, that cities should be given us to dwell in, and their suburbs to feed our cattle.

³And the children of Israel gave out of their possessions according to the commandment of the Lord, cities and their suburbs.

⁴And the lot came out for the family of Caath of the children of Aaron the priest out of the tribes of Juda, and of Simeon, and of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

⁵And to the rest of the children of Caath, that is, to thee Levites, who remained, out of the tribes of Ephraim, and of Dan, and the half tribe of Manasses, ten cities.

⁶And the lot came out to children of Gerson, that they should take of the tribes of Issachar and of Aser and of Nephtali, and of the half tribe of Manasses in Basan, thirteen cities.

⁷And to the sons of Merari by their kindreds, of the tribes of Ruben and of Gad and of Zabulon, twelve cities.

⁸And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities and their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, giving to every one by lot.

Verse in Context

1 Then the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel.

2 They spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “Yahweh commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their pasture lands for our livestock.”

3 The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their pasture lands.

4 The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. The children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin.

5 The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh.

6 The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7 The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun.

8 The children of Israel gave these cities with their pasture lands by lot to the Levites, as Yahweh commanded by Moses.

9 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 mentioned by name:

10 and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.

Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)

Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Joshua 21:1

וַֽ/יִּגְּשׁ֗וּ va/i.yi.ge.Shu H5066 and/ they approached

רָאשֵׁי֙ ra.Shei H7218 [the] leaders of

אֲב֣וֹת 'a.Vot H0001 [the] fathers of

הַ/לְוִיִּ֔ם ha/l.vi.Yim H3881 the/ Levites

אֶל\־ 'el- H0413 to

אֶלְעָזָר֙ 'el.'a.Zar H0499 Eleazar

הַ/כֹּהֵ֔ן ha./ko.Hen H3548 the/ priest

וְ/אֶל\־ ve./'el- H0413 and/ to

יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ ye.ho.Shu.a' H3091 Joshua

בִּן\־ bin- H1121 [the] son of

נ֑וּן Nun H5126 Nun

וְ/אֶל\־ ve./'el- H0413 and/ to

רָאשֵׁ֛י ra.Shei H7218 [the] leaders of

אֲב֥וֹת 'a.Vot H0001 [the] fathers of

הַ/מַּטּ֖וֹת ha./ma.Tot H4294 the/ tribes

לִ/בְנֵ֥י li/v.Nei H1121 of/ [the] people of

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃ Yis.ra.'El H3478 Israel

Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.

Scholars' Consensus

Commentators agree that this passage narrates the fulfilment of Yahweh’s command through Moses (Numbers 35:1-8) to give the Levites cities scattered among the tribes. The Levites approach the leadership at Shiloh, Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the tribal heads, and request the provision. The key interpretive question is whether the Levites had been overlooked or whether this was simply the correct moment in the allocation process.

Matthew Henry and Calvin lean toward neglect: Calvin says the Levites “required to be pulled by the ear, and put in mind of what the Lord had clearly ordered,” and Henry notes they “had not their lot assigned them till they made their claim.” Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, however, sees it as the expected step: the Levites applied “for the special provision that had been promised them to be now awarded,” implying the distribution had reserved this for the appropriate time. Barnes adds that the number of cities given to the priests (thirteen) was proportional to the priestly families, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 24, and that the cities of Canaan were generally small, so the allocation was reasonable.

How settled is the interpretation?

Interpretive difficulty: Medium

Main views:

Neglect view: Calvin and Matthew Henry argue the Levites were forgotten and had to assert their claim; the tribes needed reminding of God’s command.
Proper timing view: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and others see this as the scheduled step after the cities of refuge; the land division naturally reserved the Levitical portion for last.
Divine orchestration view: The emphasis on the lot and the refrain “as Yahweh commanded” highlight God’s sovereign order rather than human failure or timeliness.

What is clear: God commanded the Levites to receive cities and pasturelands from the tribes, and the Israelites obeyed, distributing the cities by lot.

What Scholars Agree and Debate

Topic	Agreed	Debated
Whether the Levites were forgotten or acted at the right time	The Levites approached the leaders at Shiloh after the land had been divided, citing God’s command; their request was granted.	Calvin and Matthew Henry argue the Levites had to push because the tribes had neglected them, while Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and others see their approach as the expected next step after the cities of refuge were set apart.
The significance of the lot in assigning cities	The lot (goral) was used to determine which tribe gave which cities, reflecting God’s sovereign choice.	Some (Calvin) emphasize the lot as showing God’s placement of priests near the future temple, while others (Barnes) stress the practical necessity of distributing cities proportionally according to tribal size.
The number of cities given to the priests	The priests received thirteen cities from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.	Some wonder if thirteen cities were too many for one family, but Barnes notes the large numbers of priestly descendants (from Eleazar and Ithamar) and the small size of Canaanite towns, making the count reasonable.

Historical & Cultural Context

The setting is Shiloh, the central sanctuary where the tabernacle had been set up after the conquest (Joshua 18:1). The land had been distributed to the twelve tribes, with the Levites receiving no territorial inheritance; instead, they were to receive cities and pasturelands from each tribe. This arrangement had been decreed by Moses in Numbers 35:2: “Command the children of Israel to give to the Levites cities to dwell in out of their inheritance. You shall give pasture lands for the cities around them to the Levites.”

The Levites were divided into three families: Kohathites (including the priests, the sons of Aaron), Gershonites, and Merarites. The lot determined which tribes each family would draw from. The priests received thirteen cities from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, the tribes nearest to Jerusalem, where the temple would later be built. Calvin sees God’s “admirable counsel” in placing the priests near the future sanctuary. The non-priestly Kohathites received ten cities from Ephraim, Dan, and half-Manasseh; the Gershonites thirteen from Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the other half-Manasseh; the Merarites twelve from Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. The total came to forty-eight cities, as per Numbers 35:7.

“Pasture lands” (migrash in Hebrew) refer to open land around each city, extending two thousand cubits, used for grazing livestock. The lot (goral) was the sacred method of decision-making, indicating that the allocation was not arbitrary but directed by God. The Israelites “gave by lot,” emphasizing both human obedience and divine sovereignty.

Textual Notes

The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Joshua 21:1-8. The parallel list in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81 differs in some city names and details, but the core account in Joshua is consistent across major manuscript traditions. The consultation sources agree that the text is well preserved.

Reception History

This passage has been read in several ways across Christian tradition. The Reformers (Calvin, Geneva Notes) used it to argue that ministers of the gospel deserve material support, citing Wesley’s observation that “the maintenance of ministers is not an arbitrary thing, left purely to the good will of the people.” Matthew Henry drew a parallel to the royal priesthood of all believers, saying the saints must “ask, and it shall be given you.” Catholic interpreters have seen the Levitical cities as a type of the Church’s provision for clergy and religious orders, while Orthodox tradition emphasizes the Levites’ scattering among the tribes as a model for the priesthood’s presence in every community. The detail that priests received cities near Jerusalem has been understood as providential preparation for the temple worship established under Solomon.

Preaching This Verse

Three-point outline

The timely request. The Levites approached the leadership at Shiloh, citing God’s command through Moses. Their petition was based on a promise, not a demand of their own making.
The faithful response. “The children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord.” The tribes willingly parted with cities and pasturelands, trusting that God’s provision for the Levites was also provision for the whole nation.
The divine allocation. The lot fell according to the clans. Nothing was left to chance; God ensured that each Levitical family was placed where it could best serve the spiritual life of the people.

Five-point outline

Background. The land has been divided, but the Levites, who have no inheritance of their own, come forward.
Claim. They remind the leaders of God’s command: give us cities and pasturelands.
Obedience. Israel gives the cities “as Yahweh commanded by Moses”, repeated twice (vv. 3, 8) to stress faithful execution.
Distribution. The lot assigns specific numbers to each Levitical family, with priests nearest the future temple site.
Significance. This arrangement ensured the Levites were spread throughout the land to teach God’s law (Deuteronomy 33:10), and it demonstrated that those who serve God are not forgotten.

Illustration hooks

Church budget season. A congregation decides whether to fund a new staff position or a building project. One member points to a biblical obligation to support those who minister full-time. The Levites remind us: provision for ministry isn’t optional; it’s commanded.
Waiting for your turn. A family whose needs have been overlooked in a community program finally speaks up. Like the Levites, they discover that God has already made provision, they just have to claim it.
The lot as trust. When you don’t get to choose your circumstances, but trust the process. The Levites didn’t pick their cities; they accepted what God gave. That is faith in action.

Questions your congregation is asking

“Why do we have to support church workers with our tithes? Isn’t it enough to give the church a building?”
“Does God really care about where I live and work, down to the details of my daily life?”
“How do I know when to actively claim a promise from God versus passively waiting?”

Leading a Discussion

This passage shows God providing for those who serve Him, but it also raises the question of whether the Levites had to push for what was already promised. As you gather, consider how God’s commands sometimes require human initiative to be fulfilled.

Discussion questions

Why did the Levites approach Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal heads? What does this tell you about leadership and accountability in God’s people?
Read Numbers 35:1-8. How does the earlier command shape your understanding of the Levites’ request? Was it a reminder or a demand?
“The lot came out” for each family (vv. 4-7). Why was the lot used, and what does it say about God’s role in the distribution?
Some commentators (Calvin, Henry) say the Levites were nearly forgotten; others see their approach as the scheduled step. Which view do you find more convincing, and why does it matter?
The priests received cities near Judah and Benjamin, where the temple would later stand. How does geography serve God’s purposes in this chapter?
Vv. 3 and 8 both say the Israelites gave “as Yahweh commanded.” How would you describe the attitude behind their giving, cheerful, obedient, reluctant? What evidence supports your answer?
In your own life, when have you had to step forward and claim something God had already promised? What fears or obstacles did you face?

What the Commentators Say

11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.

Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826

Clarke clarifies that the Levites did not own these cities as exclusive property. Other Israelites lived among them, and the Levites held only certain houses with limited rights. They could sell these houses, but with a perpetual right of redemption, and the surrounding pasturelands could never be sold, being the Lord's property.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832

Barnes explains that the thirteen priestly cities were sufficient because Canaanite towns were very small and non-Levites lived among the priests to farm the land. He also notes that several listed cities were only captured later, and the Kohathites had been reduced by Korah's rebellion.

Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564

Calvin notes that the people neglected the Levites until the Levites themselves pleaded their case. He finds it disgraceful that Israel needed to be reminded of God’s clear command, but praises their quick obedience once admonished. He also sees divine providence in giving the priestly family cities in Judah, near where God would later choose a temple.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880

The commentary highlights how Jacob's prophecy that Levi would be scattered was turned from a curse into a blessing. Their zeal at Horeb proved their faithfulness, so their dispersal became a holy calling. The Levites were settled among the tribes as priests and guardians of the tabernacle, bearing witness that the nation still belonged to God.

Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599

The Geneva note highlights that the Levites received their cities by lot, a method that demonstrated God's direct ordering of their inheritance. Though they had no tribal territory like Israel, the Lord ensured they were settled among the tribes by divine appointment, fulfilling what Moses had commanded.

Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748

Gill emphasizes that the Levites' cities were not assigned randomly. The priests received cities from tribes nearest Jerusalem, where the temple would stand, while other Levite families were scattered throughout Israel. This fulfilled Jacob's prophecy of Levi being divided, yet it also ensured every tribe had access to priestly teaching.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871

JFB notes that the Levites approached the tribal leaders for their promised inheritance, and the people willingly granted it, recognizing the Levites' sacred duties. The lots were drawn in a careful sequence: first for the Kohathites (including the priests), then the Gershonites, and finally the Merarites, each receiving a specific number of cities.

Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876

Keil-Delitzsch defends the list of Levitical cities as historically reliable and not a later invention. Against critics who doubted enough priests existed to fill thirteen towns, they calculate that Aaron's descendants could have numbered over a thousand males by the conquest, and note the towns were never meant to hold only priests.

Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857

Lange notes that the Levites did not demand their cities until after the land was distributed, not because they were forgotten but because they waited for the right moment. He argues that with Eleazar himself involved in the allotment, the Levites simply chose to present their claim when the time was suitable.

Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710

Henry notes that the Levites had to petition before their cities were assigned, even though God had already commanded the gift. This shows that believers, as a royal priesthood, must actively ask for the inheritance God has prepared.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754

Wesley emphasizes that the maintenance of ministers is a divine command, not left to human discretion. Just as God commanded Israel to provide for the Levites, Christ ordained that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel. This provision was also designed to spread teachers throughout the tribes for effective instruction.

Word Study

The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.

אָב av father H0001 · Hebrew → אֶל el to(wards) H0413 · Hebrew → אֶלְעָזָר el.a.zar Eleazar H0499 · Hebrew → בֵּן ben son: child; Beno; son: descendant/people; son: young animal; son: type of; son H1121 · Hebrew → יְהוֹשׁוּעַ ye.ho.shu.a Joshua H3091 · Hebrew → יִשְׂרָאֵל yis.ra.el Israel H3478 · Hebrew → כֹּהֵן ko.hen priest H3548 · Hebrew → לֵוִי le.viy.yi Levi H3881 · Hebrew → מַטֶּה mat.teh tribe: rod H4294 · Hebrew → נָגַשׁ na.gash to approach: approach H5066 · Hebrew → נוּן nun Nun H5126 · Hebrew → רֹאשׁ rosh head; prince; head: leader; head: top; head: first; head: group H7218 · Hebrew →

Cross-References

Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)

Exodus 6:14	These are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.
Exodus 6:25	Eleazar Aaron’s son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families.
Numbers 34:17	“These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Numbers 34:29	These are they whom Yahweh commanded to divide the inheritance to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.
Joshua 14:1	These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed to them,
Joshua 17:4	They came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the princes, saying, “Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore according to the commandment of Yahweh he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
Joshua 19:51	These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance by lot in Shiloh before Yahweh, at the door of the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing the land.
Numbers 35:2	“Command the children of Israel to give to the Levites cities to dwell in out of their inheritance. You shall give pasture lands for the cities around them to the Levites.

Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.

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