Levite's Portion Joshua 21

Joshua 21:41 "All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs."

We know from reading this chapter and previous chapters that Hebron was given to Caleb because it was where he stood in spying out the land and was promised it by Moses. The children of Israel gave up certain cities to the Levites because the Levites had no possession promised them except that they would have cities to dwell in and suburbs for their cattle.

So Caleb gave up Hebron for a Levite city but retained the surrounding area.

v11-12 "And they gave them the city of Arba thee father of Anak, which city is Hebron in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it. But the fields of the city and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh for his possession."

So, that is how Part of Caleb's possession became a dwelling place for the Levites. Numbers 35:2 gives this law.

In verse 44, the Bible says "And the Lord gave them rest round about..." . So the initial major battles are over. All these things took place at Shiloh.

There is a very good verse to end this chapter. We must remember the promise in previous books. I like to remember the LORD standing before Joshua as Captain of the Host (Joshua 5:13-15) with His sword drawn to fight for Israel. The following verse acknowledges the fulfillment and accomplishment of things promised.

v45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel, all came to pass."

Psalms 50:1 "The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof."

keywords: Bible study, Old Testament, Joshua, Levites, Israel, milton southerland