Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So, as the LORD had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance: New Living Translation 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. English Standard Version So by command of the LORD the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance. Berean Standard Bible So by the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance: King James Bible And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. New King James Version So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their common-lands: New American Standard Bible So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, in accordance with the command of the LORD. NASB 1995 So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, according to the command of the LORD. NASB 1977 So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, according to the command of the LORD. Legacy Standard Bible So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, according to the command of Yahweh. Amplified Bible So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these [forty-eight] cities and their pasture lands, in accordance with the command of the LORD. Christian Standard Bible So the Israelites, by the LORD’s command, gave the Levites these cities with their pasturelands from their inheritance. Holman Christian Standard Bible So the Israelites, by the LORD’s command, gave the Levites these cities with their pasturelands from their inheritance. American Standard Version And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Jehovah, these cities with their suburbs. Contemporary English Version Since the LORD had said this, the leaders of the other Israelite tribes agreed to give some of the towns and pastures from their tribal lands to Levi. English Revised Version And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of the LORD, these cities with their suburbs. GOD'S WORD® Translation So, as the LORD had instructed, Levi's descendants were given the following cities with pasturelands from the Israelites' inheritance. Good News Translation So in accordance with the LORD's command the people of Israel gave the Levites certain cities and pasture lands out of their own territories. International Standard Version So, just as the Lord had said, the Israelis set aside cities for the descendants of Levi from a portion of their own inheritances, along with their grazing lands. Majority Standard Bible So by the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance: NET Bible So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the LORD had instructed. New Heart English Bible The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of the LORD, these cities with their suburbs. Webster's Bible Translation And the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. World English Bible The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their pasture lands. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the sons of Israel give to the Levites, out of their inheritance, at the command of YHWH, these cities and their outskirts: Young's Literal Translation And the sons of Israel give to the Levites, out of their inheritance, at the command of Jehovah, these cities and their suburbs: Smith's Literal Translation And the sons of Israel will give to the Levites out of their inheritance at the mouth of Jehovah these cities and their areas. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the children of Israel gave out of their possessions according to the commandment of the Lord, cities and their suburbs. Catholic Public Domain Version And so the sons of Israel gave cities and their suburbs from their possessions, in accord with the order of the Lord. New American Bible Out of their own heritage, according to the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites the following cities with their pasture lands. New Revised Standard Version So by command of the LORD the Israelites gave to the Levites the following towns and pasture lands out of their inheritance. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the children of Israel gave these cities and their fields to the Levites from their inheritance, because of the word of the mouth of LORD JEHOVAH OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of the LORD, these cities with the open land about them. Brenton Septuagint Translation So the children of Israel gave to the Levites in their inheritance by the command of the Lord the cities and the country round. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites…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.… Cross References Numbers 35:1-8 Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho: / “Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. / The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock. ... Deuteronomy 18:1-2 The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance. / Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them. Numbers 18:20-24 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. / Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. / No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. ... Leviticus 25:32-34 As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the cities they possess. / So whatever belongs to the Levites may be redeemed—a house sold in a city they possess—and must be released in the Jubilee, because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites. / But the open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for this is their permanent possession. 1 Chronicles 6:54-81 Now these were the territories assigned to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clan for their settlements, because the first lot fell to them: / They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands. / But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. ... Ezekiel 44:28 In regard to their inheritance, I am their inheritance. You are to give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession. Numbers 26:62 The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites. Deuteronomy 10:9 That is why Levi has no portion or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God promised him. Joshua 13:14 To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance. The food offerings to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, just as He had promised them. Joshua 14:3-4 For Moses had given the inheritance east of the Jordan to the other two and a half tribes. But he granted no inheritance among them to the Levites. / The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion of the land was given to the Levites, except for cities in which to live, along with pasturelands for their flocks and herds. Joshua 18:7 The Levites, however, have no portion among you, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the LORD. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received the inheritance that Moses the servant of the LORD gave them beyond the Jordan to the east.” Acts 4:34-37 There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, / and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need. / Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), ... Hebrews 7:5 Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham. 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? / In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. Matthew 10:10 Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions. Treasury of Scripture And the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. unto the Levites Genesis 49:7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Deuteronomy 33:8-10 And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; … 1 Chronicles 6:54-81 Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot… Jump to Previous Children Cities Command Commanded Commandment Heritage Inheritance Israel Israelites Levites Open Order Pasture Pasturelands Suburbs Towns WordJump to Next Children Cities Command Commanded Commandment Heritage Inheritance Israel Israelites Levites Open Order Pasture Pasturelands Suburbs Towns WordJoshua 21 1. Forty-eight cities given by lot, out of the other tribes unto the Levites.43. God gives the land, and rest unto the Israelites, according to his promise So by the command of the LORD This phrase emphasizes divine authority and obedience. The allocation of cities to the Levites was not a human decision but a directive from God. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty and His direct involvement in the affairs of Israel. The command underscores the importance of following God's instructions, as seen throughout the Pentateuch, where obedience to God's commands is a central theme (e.g., Deuteronomy 28). the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe collective descendants of Jacob, also known as the children of Israel, who were given the Promised Land as their inheritance. 2. The Levites A tribe of Israel set apart for religious duties and service to God. They did not receive a specific territory like the other tribes but were given cities to dwell in. 3. Cities and Pasturelands Specific areas within the territories of the other tribes that were allocated to the Levites for their dwelling and sustenance. 4. Inheritance The land apportioned to each tribe of Israel as their permanent possession, as promised by God. 5. The Command of the LORD The divine directive given to the Israelites to allocate cities to the Levites, emphasizing obedience to God's instructions. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsThe Israelites' allocation of cities to the Levites demonstrates their obedience to God's specific instructions. This teaches us the importance of following God's commands in our lives, even when it requires sacrifice or adjustment. Provision for God's Servants The Levites were provided for by the other tribes, illustrating the principle of supporting those who dedicate their lives to God's service. This can be applied today in how we support our church leaders and ministries. Community and Interdependence The distribution of cities among the tribes shows the interconnectedness and mutual support within the community of God's people. We are reminded of the importance of living in community and supporting one another. Inheritance and Stewardship The concept of inheritance in the Promised Land points to the spiritual inheritance we have in Christ. We are called to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us.Verse 3. - Out of their inheritance. Out of that of Israel (see note on ver. 1). These cities. The number was forty-eight, i.e., four times twelve. Bahr ('Symbolik des Alten Testaments,' 1:221) remarks on the symbolical meaning of this number. He compares it, first, to the twelve tribes marching in four detachments, the ark of God and its guard in the centre (see Numbers 2.). Four, he says, is the number of the world, and three the sign of God, and twelve of the combination of the two. Thus we are reminded of the heavenly city which "lieth four-square," which has "twelve foundations of precious stones," "twelve gates of pearls, and at the gates twelve angels," and the names of "the twelve tribes of Israel" written thereupon, and wherein was "the tree of life," with its "twelve manner of fruits," which were "yielded every month" (Revelation 21:12, 14, 16, 19, 21; Revelation 22:2). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So byאֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the command פִּ֣י (pî) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to of the LORD, יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel the Israelites בְנֵי־ (ḇə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son gave וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ (way·yit·tə·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5414: To give, put, set the Levites לַלְוִיִּ֛ם (lal·wî·yim) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine plural Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi these הָאֵ֖לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh) Article | Pronoun - common plural Strong's 428: These, those cities הֶעָרִ֥ים (he·‘ā·rîm) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 5892: Excitement and their pasturelands מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶֽן׃ (miḡ·rə·šê·hen) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine plural Strong's 4054: A suburb, the area around a, building, the margin of the sea out of their own inheritance: מִנַּחֲלָתָ֖ם (min·na·ḥă·lā·ṯām) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion Links Joshua 21:3 NIVJoshua 21:3 NLT Joshua 21:3 ESV Joshua 21:3 NASB Joshua 21:3 KJV Joshua 21:3 BibleApps.com Joshua 21:3 Biblia Paralela Joshua 21:3 Chinese Bible Joshua 21:3 French Bible Joshua 21:3 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 21:3 The children of Israel gave to (Josh. Jos) |
    |