Translations
Original
Notes
The descendants of Aaron received thirteen cities, the rest of the Kohathite clan received ten, the descendants of Gershon received thirteen, and the Merari clan received twelve. There were a total of forty-eight Levitical cities. Each tribe had four Levitical cities, except Judah had eight, Simeon had one, and Naphtali had three. Six of the Levitical cities were also cities of refuge (20:7–8).
Before they fully divided the land, Joshua had to establish six cities of refuge and assign cities in which the Levites would live.
As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.
The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.
In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.
Parallels
People
Naphtali: Son of Jacob, founder of the tribe of Naphtali
Places
Galilee: Region in northern Israel; key location in Jesus' ministry Hammath: A fortified city and Levitical town in Naphtali Kartan: A Levitical city in the territory of Naphtali Kedesh: A Canaanite city, later a Levitical city of refuge in Naphtali
Glossary
Galilee Hammath (Place) Hammoth-dor Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Kartan Kedesh Kiriathaim Kohath, Kohathites Levitical Cities Merari, Merarite Priests and Levites Shiloh Tribe of Dan Tribe of Levi
Topics
Galilee: Kadesh the City of Refuge For Galilee: The Northern District of Palestine: A City of Refuge In Hammoth-Dor: A City of Refuge of the Tribe of Naphtali Kartan: A Levitical City in the Territory of the Tribe of Naphtali Kedesh: Also Called Kedesh-Naphtali: A City of Refuge Levites: Assigned To, by Families