Joshua 21 - New International Version (NIV)

Towns for the Levites(A)

21 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel(B) 2 at Shiloh(C) in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns(D) to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.”(E) 3 So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

4 The first lot came out for the Kohathites,(F) according to their clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin.(G) 5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh.(H)

6 The descendants of Gershon(I) were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar,(J) Asher,(K) Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7 The descendants of Merari,(L) according to their clans, received twelve(M) towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.(N)

8 So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

9 From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name 10 (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):

11 They gave them Kiriath Arba(O) (that is, Hebron(P)), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 12 But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.(Q)

13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge(R) for one accused of murder), Libnah,(S) 14 Jattir,(T) Eshtemoa,(U) 15 Holon,(V) Debir,(W) 16 Ain,(X) Juttah(Y) and Beth Shemesh,(Z) together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes.

17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon,(AA) Geba,(AB) 18 Anathoth(AC) and Almon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.

19 The total number of towns(AD) for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.(AE)

20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim:

21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem(AF) (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer,(AG) 22 Kibzaim and Beth Horon,(AH) together with their pasturelands—four towns.(AI)

23 Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon,(AJ) 24 Aijalon(AK) and Gath Rimmon,(AL) together with their pasturelands—four towns.

25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach(AM) and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—two towns.

26 All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.(AN)

27 The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given:

from the half-tribe of Manasseh,

Golan in Bashan(AO) (a city of refuge for one accused of murder(AP)) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands—two towns;

28 from the tribe of Issachar,(AQ)

Kishion,(AR) Daberath,(AS) 29 Jarmuth(AT) and En Gannim,(AU) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

30 from the tribe of Asher,(AV)

Mishal,(AW) Abdon,(AX) 31 Helkath and Rehob,(AY) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

32 from the tribe of Naphtali,

Kedesh(AZ) in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder(BA)), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands—three towns.

33 The total number of towns of the Gershonite(BB) clans came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

34 The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given:

from the tribe of Zebulun,(BC)

Jokneam,(BD) Kartah, 35 Dimnah and Nahalal,(BE) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

36 from the tribe of Reuben,

Bezer,(BF) Jahaz,(BG) 37 Kedemoth and Mephaath,(BH) together with their pasturelands—four towns;

38 from the tribe of Gad,

Ramoth(BI) in Gilead(BJ) (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim,(BK) 39 Heshbon and Jazer,(BL) together with their pasturelands—four towns in all.

40 The total number of towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, came to twelve.(BM)

41 The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands.(BN) 42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors,(BO) and they took possession(BP) of it and settled there.(BQ) 44 The Lord gave them rest(BR) on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies(BS) withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies(BT) into their hands.(BU) 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises(BV) to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Cross references

  1. Joshua 21:1 : 21:4-39pp — 1Ch 6:54-80
  2. Joshua 21:1 : Jos 14:1
  3. Joshua 21:2 : S Jos 18:1
  4. Joshua 21:2 : S Lev 25:32
  5. Joshua 21:2 : S Nu 35:2-3; S Jos 14:4
  6. Joshua 21:4 : Nu 3:17
  7. Joshua 21:4 : ver 19
  8. Joshua 21:5 : ver 26
  9. Joshua 21:6 : Nu 3:17
  10. Joshua 21:6 : S Ge 30:18
  11. Joshua 21:6 : S Jos 17:7
  12. Joshua 21:7 : S Ex 6:16
  13. Joshua 21:7 : ver 40
  14. Joshua 21:7 : S Jos 19:10
  15. Joshua 21:11 : S Ge 23:2
  16. Joshua 21:11 : S Jos 10:36
  17. Joshua 21:12 : S Jos 15:13
  18. Joshua 21:13 : Nu 35:6
  19. Joshua 21:13 : S Nu 33:20
  20. Joshua 21:14 : S Jos 15:48
  21. Joshua 21:14 : S Jos 15:50
  22. Joshua 21:15 : S Jos 15:51
  23. Joshua 21:15 : S Jos 10:3
  24. Joshua 21:16 : S Nu 34:11
  25. Joshua 21:16 : Jos 15:55
  26. Joshua 21:16 : S Jos 15:10
  27. Joshua 21:17 : S Jos 9:3
  28. Joshua 21:17 : S Jos 18:24; S Ne 11:31
  29. Joshua 21:18 : 2Sa 23:27; 1Ki 2:26; Ezr 2:23; Ne 7:27; 11:32; Isa 10:30; Jer 1:1; 11:21; 32:7
  30. Joshua 21:19 : 2Ch 31:15
  31. Joshua 21:19 : ver 4
  32. Joshua 21:21 : S Jos 17:7
  33. Joshua 21:21 : S Jos 10:33
  34. Joshua 21:22 : S Jos 10:10
  35. Joshua 21:22 : 1Sa 1:1
  36. Joshua 21:23 : S Jos 19:44
  37. Joshua 21:24 : S Jos 10:12
  38. Joshua 21:24 : S Jos 19:45
  39. Joshua 21:25 : S Jos 12:21
  40. Joshua 21:26 : ver 5
  41. Joshua 21:27 : S Jos 12:5
  42. Joshua 21:27 : Nu 35:6
  43. Joshua 21:28 : S Ge 30:18
  44. Joshua 21:28 : Jos 19:20
  45. Joshua 21:28 : S Jos 19:12
  46. Joshua 21:29 : S Jos 10:3
  47. Joshua 21:29 : S Jos 15:34
  48. Joshua 21:30 : S Jos 17:7
  49. Joshua 21:30 : Jos 19:26
  50. Joshua 21:30 : S Jos 19:28
  51. Joshua 21:31 : S Jos 19:28
  52. Joshua 21:32 : S Jos 12:22
  53. Joshua 21:32 : Nu 35:6
  54. Joshua 21:33 : ver 6
  55. Joshua 21:34 : S Jos 19:10
  56. Joshua 21:34 : S Jos 12:22
  57. Joshua 21:35 : Jos 19:15
  58. Joshua 21:36 : S Jos 20:8
  59. Joshua 21:36 : S Nu 21:23; Dt 2:32; Jdg 11:20
  60. Joshua 21:37 : S Jos 13:18
  61. Joshua 21:38 : S Dt 4:43
  62. Joshua 21:38 : S Jos 12:2
  63. Joshua 21:38 : S Ge 32:2
  64. Joshua 21:39 : S Jos 13:25
  65. Joshua 21:40 : ver 7
  66. Joshua 21:41 : Nu 35:7
  67. Joshua 21:43 : Dt 34:4
  68. Joshua 21:43 : Dt 11:31
  69. Joshua 21:43 : S Dt 17:14
  70. Joshua 21:44 : S Ex 33:14
  71. Joshua 21:44 : S Dt 6:19
  72. Joshua 21:44 : S Ex 23:31
  73. Joshua 21:44 : Dt 21:10
  74. Joshua 21:45 : Jos 23:14; Ne 9:8

You Might Also Like:

Joshua 21 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

21 And 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, 2 and they speak unto them in Shiloh, in the land of Canaan, saying, `Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses to give to...
Read More

Joshua 21 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

21 And the princes of the families of Levi nighed to Eleazar, the priest, and to Joshua, the son of Nun, and to the dukes of the kindreds, by all the lineages of the sons of Israel; (And the leaders of the families of Levi came to Eleazar, the priest, and to Joshua, the son of Nun, and to the leader...
Read More

Joshua 21 - World English Bible (WEB)

21 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 ci...
Read More

Joshua 21 - The Voice (VOICE)

21 It was at this time that the heads of the leaders of the Levites came before the priest Eleazar and Joshua, son of Nun, and the other leaders of the tribes of the Israelites 2 at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.Levite Leaders: The Eternal gave orders through Moses that we of the tribe of Levi be gi...
Read More

Joshua 21 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Towns for the Levites21 Then the heads of ancestral houses of the Levites approached Eleazar the kohen and Joshua son of Nun and the heads of ancestral houses of the tribes of Bnei-Yisrael, 2 and they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan saying: “Adonai commanded through Moses to give us t...
Read More

Joshua 21 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Cities Allotted to the Levites21 Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites came to Elea′zar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel; 2 and they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, “The Lord commanded ...
Read More

Joshua 21 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Cities Allotted to the Levites21 Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites came to Elea′zar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel; 2 and they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, “The Lord commanded ...
Read More

Joshua 21 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Cities Allotted to the Levites21 Then the heads of the families of the Levites came to the priest Eleazar and to Joshua son of Nun and to the heads of the families of the tribes of the Israelites; 2 they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, ‘The Lord commanded through Moses that we be give...
Read More

Joshua 21 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Cities Allotted to the Levites21 Then the heads of the families of the Levites came to the priest Eleazar and to Joshua son of Nun and to the heads of the families of the tribes of the Israelites;(A)2 they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, “The Lord commanded through Moses that we be giv...
Read More

Joshua 21 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Towns Given to the Levites21 Then the leaders of the tribe of Levi came to consult with Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the other tribes of Israel. 2 They came to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us towns to live in and pa...
Read More

Joshua 21 - New Life Version (NLV)

21 Then the family heads of the Levites came to Eleazar the religious leader, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the family groups of Israel. 2 They said to them at Shiloh in Canaan, “The Lord said through Moses to give us cities to live in, as well as fields around them for our cattle.” 3 So...
Read More

Joshua 21 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Cities of the Levites(A)21 Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the (B)Levites came near to (C)Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel. 2 And they spoke to them at (D)Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, (E)“...
Read More

Joshua 21 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Towns for the Levites21 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel 2 at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, ‘The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasture-lands for our ...
Read More

Joshua 21 - New International Version (NIV)

Towns for the Levites(A)21 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel(B) 2 at Shiloh(C) in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns(D) to live in, with pastureland...
Read More

Joshua 21 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Towns Are Given to the Levites21 The leaders of the Levite family groups approached Eleazar the priest and Joshua, the son of Nun. They also approached the leaders of the family groups of Israel’s other tribes. 2 They went to all of them at Shiloh in Canaan. They said to them, “Give us towns to liv...
Read More

Joshua 21 - New English Translation (NET)

Levitical Cities21 The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leaders 2 in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle.” 3 So the Is...
Read More