What is the meaning of Joshua 21:3? So by the command of the LORD “By the command of the LORD” reminds us that this allotment was not Israel’s idea but God’s direct instruction. • God had already specified the plan in the wilderness (Numbers 35:2-3; Deuteronomy 18:1-2). • Obedience here shows Israel taking seriously every word God had spoken (Deuteronomy 4:1-2). • The line underscores divine authority: land distribution was holy business, not political bargaining (Joshua 14:1-2). • When leaders and people act “by the command of the LORD,” blessing follows (1 Kings 2:3). the Israelites gave the Levites The Levites, unlike the other tribes, received no contiguous territory. Instead, all Israel “gave” to them. • This gift fulfilled the earlier covenant word: “The LORD is their inheritance” (Deuteronomy 18:2). • By giving, each tribe acknowledged the Levites’ spiritual service on their behalf (Numbers 3:5-10). • Scattering the Levites among the tribes placed teachers of the Law in every region (2 Chronicles 17:7-9). • The act illustrated stewardship: what Israel possessed ultimately belonged to God, to be dispensed as He directed (Psalm 24:1). these cities and their pasturelands The text specifies both cities (for homes) and surrounding fields (for flocks). • Forty-eight Levitical cities are listed in Joshua 21 and again in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81. • Pasturelands ensured daily provision—God cares for the practical needs of His servants (Matthew 6:33). • The cities often doubled as places of refuge (Numbers 35:6), showcasing God’s mercy woven into the land plan. • Leviticus 25:34 fixed these fields as permanent to the Levites, preserving their ministry base across generations. out of their own inheritance The giving cost every tribe something. • Spiritual ministry is supported by the material gifts of God’s people (Galatians 6:6). • Sacrifice fosters unity: twelve tribes shared one national priesthood (Exodus 19:6). • The arrangement foreshadowed how the Church later pooled resources for gospel workers (Philippians 4:15-17). • By parting with land they had just received, Israel declared trust in God to supply what remained (Proverbs 11:24-25). summary Joshua 21:3 records Israel obeying God’s earlier command to set apart cities and pasturelands for the Levites. The verse highlights divine authority, communal responsibility, provision for spiritual leaders, and sacrificial giving. In literal history and in ongoing principle, God’s people receive His blessings not merely to enjoy them, but to steward them for the sake of worship, teaching, and mercy throughout the community. |
    |