Joshua 21:1-22 ▼

1 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar (God has helped) the priest, Joshua (YHWH saves) son of Nun (fish / posterity), and the heads of the other tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God)

2 at Shiloh (place of rest) in the land of Canaan (lowland) and said to them, “The LORD {YHWH} commanded through Moses (drawn out) that we be given cities in which to live, together with pasturelands for our livestock.”

3 So by the command of the LORD {YHWH}, the Israelites (God prevails) gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

4 The first lot came out for the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron (light bringer) the priest received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah (praised), Simeon, and Benjamin (son of the right hand).

5 The remaining descendants of Kohath (assembly) received ten cities by lot from the tribes of Ephraim (doubly fruitful), Dan (He has judged), and the half-tribe of Manasseh (causing to forget).

6 The descendants of Gershon (exile) received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Issachar (there is recompense), Asher (happy), Naphtali (wrestling), and the half-tribe of Manasseh (causing to forget) in Bashan (fruitful).

7 And the descendants of Merari (bitter) received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben (behold a son), Gad (troop), and Zebulun (exalted).

8 So the Israelites (God prevails) allotted to the Levites these cities, together with their pasturelands, as the LORD {YHWH} had commanded through Moses (drawn out).

9 From the tribes of Judah (praised) and Simeon (heard), they designated these cities by name

10 to the descendants of Aaron (light bringer) from the Kohathite clans of the Levites (joined to), because the first lot fell to them:

11 They gave them Kiriath-arba (city of Arba) (that is, Hebron (association)), with its surrounding pasturelands, in the hill country of Judah (praised). (Arba was the father of Anak (neck).)

12 But they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb (dog) son of Jephunneh (He will be facing) as his possession.

13 So to the descendants of Aaron (light bringer) the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron (association), a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah (pavement),

14 Jattir (plenty), Eshtemoa (fire of astonishment),

15 Holon (sandy), Debir (sanctuary),

16 Ain (spring), Juttah (stretched out), and Beth-shemesh (house of the sun)—nine cities from these two tribes, together with their pasturelands.

17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave (son of the right hand) them Gibeon (hill city), Geba (hill),

18 Anathoth (answers to prayer), and Almon (concealed)—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

19 In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron (light bringer).

20 The remaining Kohathite (assembly) clans of the Levites were allotted these cities: From the tribe of Ephraim (doubly fruitful)

21 they were given Shechem (shoulder) in the hill country of Ephraim (doubly fruitful) (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Gezer (portion),

22 Kibzaim (two gatherings), and Beth-horon (house of hollowness)—four cities, together with their pasturelands.