Joshua Chapter 21
The tribe of Levi or the Levites were not given an allotment of land as the other tribes were. They were instead given cities sprinkled throughout the various allotments and given pasturelands that surrounded those various cities. We learn in this chapter that there were 48 cities designated as places that the Levites could live. God wanted the Levites to be scattered throughout the promised land so that they could influence the people as spiritual leaders and with teaching of the law of God.
Joshua 13:33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them.
There were some Levites, particularly those of the Kohathites family, who were given cities near Jerusalem. This is significant because the tabernacle was not yet in Jerusalem but one day it would be, and later the temple. The Kohathites were the family of Levites who were responsible for the care of the ark of the covenant, the table of shewbread, the lampstand and various other furnishings of the tabernacle. This family received cities to live in where they would be close enough to attend to the duties they had been assigned. The Kohathites were also the family that the priesthood came from, the family of Aaron.
Let's Reflect
1. Who had commanded that the Levites were to be given cities and pastureland throughout the promised land?
2. The Kohathites were the Levites that the family of Aaron the priest came from. The priesthood was then passed down to the sons of Aaron. How many cities were given to the descendants of Aaron?
3. How many cities were given to the rest of the Kohathites that were not descendants of Aaron?
4. An important distinction needs to be made about how the Levites received their allotted cities. How did this happen since all the land had already been given to the 12 tribes of Israel? See verse 8.
5. Besides the Kohathites what are the names of the other clans of Levites that also received cities and pasture lands? See verses 6, 27 and 7, 34.
6. According to verse 41 how many cities total were given to the Levites?
7. At the end of this chapter, we are reminded of the goodness of God. Take a moment to think about the implications of all that God had done for the people of Israel in the keeping of His promises as summed up in verses 43-45. What great work has God done in your life that you can be grateful for today?
