Joshua 21:1

Joshua 21:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites came to Eleazar 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)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.

Context of Joshua 21:1

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 2at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.” 3So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

Joshua 21:1 word by word

וַֽיִּגְּשׁ֗וּ רָאשֵׁי֙ אֲב֣וֹת הַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶל־אֶלְעָזָר֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בִּן־נ֑וּן וְאֶל־רָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then came nearנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
• the headsרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218
• of the fathersאָב'âb · fatherH1
• of the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
• unto Eleazarאֶלְעָזָר'el‛âzâr · EleazarH499
• the priestכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• and unto Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Nunנוּןnûn nôn · NunH5126
• of the tribesמַטֶּהmaţţeh maţţâh · tribeH4294
• of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Joshua 21:1

• Joshua 19:51These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.
• Exodus 6:14These were the heads of their families: The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
• Joshua 14:1Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them.
• Joshua 17:4They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command.
• Numbers 34:17“These are the names of the men who are to assign the land for you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.

Commentaries on Joshua 21:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The heads of the fathers of the Levites - The Levites were composed of three brand families, the Gershonites, Koathites, and Merarites, independently of the family of Aaron, who might be said to form a fourth. To none of these had God assigned any portion in the division of the land. But in this general division it must have been evidently intended that the different tribes were to furnish them with habitations; and this was according to a positive…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1A list of the Levitical cities, varying in some particulars from that given in this chapter, is also, given in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Chapter Outline Cities for the Levites. (1-8) The cities allotted to the Levites. (9-42) God gave the land and rest to the Israelites, according to his promise. (43-45) Verses 1-8 The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided for, before they preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a very good foundation; not their own merits or services, but the Divine precept. The maintenance of ministers is not a thing left merely to the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8Israel's leaders assigned towns to the tribe of Levi by casting lots (see study note on 7:16–18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-81-3. Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites--The most venerable and distinguished members of the three Levitical families, on behalf of their tribe, applied for the special provision that had been promised them to be now awarded (see on Nu 35:2). Their inheritance lay within the territory of every tribe. It was assigned in the same place and manner, and by the same commissioners as the other allotments. While the people, knowing the…Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 21:1

• Petition
• Priest
• Shiloh

In the dictionaries

• Eleazar
• Israel
• Joshua
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Levite
• Ezekiel
• Joshua (2)
• Levitical Cities

Commentaries on Joshua 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings