This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/QcNJbhsng0Q) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to Joshua 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 21 Even though the Levites didn’t get an inheritance, they were assigned cities to dwell in, which is covered here.
There are various types of Levites, and those who were the sons of Aaron, ministering priests, were assigned cities within the inheritance of Judah, Benjamin and Simeon. This was the future area where the temple would later be located. This confirms that the Lord determines the lot. All of those who were to minister as priests had land assigned in the area of the temple, four hundred years before the temple appeared. The Lord saw what was to happen. Even so before that time, the tabernacle at Shiloh was not far from them - just 1-2 days walk to the north. They were all rostered on to take turns.
In total there were 48 cities assigned to the Levites. It makes the tribe of Levi seem humongous, but a few things are worthy of note.
First, the Levites shared the cities with other tribes where the cities were located.
And second, some of the cities were small, not at all like modern day Metropolises that we imagine such as New York. Some were more like towns of a few thousand people.
As an example, Hebron was one of thirteen cities assigned to the priests on duty. This city was previously assigned to Caleb for an inheritance, and while this sounds like a mistake to now assign it to the Levites, both were true. The city wasn’t entirely lived in by just one man Caleb, nor was it entirely owned by Levites, but both shared this inheritance. Such was the nature of cities.
This last verse is very cool…. Nothing failed of anything God did for Israel.
Aug 7, 2021 | Message by David Alley