Joshua 21:26

All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.

Joshua 21:26 (KJV)

Context

The book of Joshua records the conquest and division of Canaan among the twelve tribes of Israel. Chapter 21 focuses on the allocation of cities and their surrounding pasturelands to the Levites. The Levites, one of the twelve tribes, did not receive a territorial inheritance like the others; their inheritance was the Lord Himself. Consequently, they were given cities scattered throughout the other tribes’ territories where they could live and serve. The Kohathites were one of the three principal divisions of the Levites, the others being the Gershonites and the Merarites.

In obedience to God’s command, Joshua and the leaders of Israel assigned cities to the Levites. These cities functioned as dwellings for the Levitical families, with pasturelands to ensure their sustenance. According to Joshua 21:4-5, the children of Aaron, a subgroup of the Kohathites, received thirteen cities from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. The remaining Kohathite families were allotted ten cities from Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, as summarized in verse 26.

Meaning

The verse states that all the cities given to these families were ten, with their suburbs. This is a summary statement for the list of cities detailed in Joshua 21:20-25. The families of the children of Kohath that remained were those Kohathites who were not descendants of Aaron and therefore were not priests; they were Levites of a lower degree. Their cities were drawn from Ephraim (four cities: Shechem, Gezer, Kibzaim, and Beth-horon), Dan (four cities: Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon), and the half-tribe of Manasseh (two cities: Tanach and Gath-rimmon).

Biblical connections

This allocation demonstrates God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel, providing the Levites with the resources they needed to carry out their service. The distribution of Levitical cities throughout the tribes meant that spiritual instruction and service were accessible to all Israelites. The mention that ten cities were given may signify completeness or simply reflect a practical division within the tribe of Kohath.

Application

For today’s believers, the passage reminds us of the importance of faithfully serving God and relying on His provision. God distributes various roles and responsibilities among His people, yet He ensures that each person receives what is necessary to fulfill their purpose. Trusting in God’s faithfulness, especially amid challenges or uncertainties, is a lesson that echoes from the ancient allocation of cities to the present day.