Joshua 21:1-45
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.They came to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said,“ The Lord commanded Moses to give us towns to live in and pasturelands for our livestock.”So by the command of the Lord the people of Israel gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own grants of land.The descendants of Aaron, who were members of the Kohathite clan within the tribe of Levi, were allotted thirteen towns that were originally assigned to the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.The other families of the Kohathite clan were allotted ten towns from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half tribe of Manasseh.The clan of Gershon was allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.The clan of Merari was allotted twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.So the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s command to Moses and assigned these towns and pasturelands to the Levites by casting sacred lots.The Israelites gave the following towns from the tribes of Judah and Simeonto the descendants of Aaron, who were members of the Kohathite clan within the tribe of Levi, since the sacred lot fell to them first:Kiriath arba( that is, Hebron), in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding pasturelands.( Arba was an ancestor of Anak.)But the open fields beyond the town and the surrounding villages were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.The following towns with their pasturelands were given to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Hebron( a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Libnah,Jattir, Eshtemoa,Holon, Debir,Ain, Juttah, and Beth shemesh— nine towns from these two tribes.From the tribe of Benjamin the priests were given the following towns with their pasturelands: Gibeon, Geba,Anathoth, and Almon— four towns.So in all, thirteen towns with their pasturelands were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.The rest of the Kohathite clan from the tribe of Levi was allotted the following towns and pasturelands from the tribe of Ephraim:Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim( a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Gezer,Kibzaim, and Beth horon— four towns.The following towns and pasturelands were allotted to the priests from the tribe of Dan: Eltekeh, Gibbethon,Aijalon, and Gath rimmon— four towns.The half tribe of Manasseh allotted the following towns with their pasturelands to the priests: Taanach and Gath rimmon— two towns.So in all, ten towns with their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clan.The descendants of Gershon, another clan within the tribe of Levi, received the following towns with their pasturelands from the half tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan( a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone) and Be eshterah— two towns.From the tribe of Issachar they received the following towns with their pasturelands: Kishion, Daberath,Jarmuth, and En gannim— four towns.From the tribe of Asher they received the following towns with their pasturelands: Mishal, Abdon,Helkath, and Rehob— four towns.From the tribe of Naphtali they received the following towns with their pasturelands: Kedesh in Galilee( a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Hammoth dor, and Kartan— three towns.So in all, thirteen towns with their pasturelands were allotted to the clan of Gershon.The rest of the Levites— the Merari clan— were given the following towns with their pasturelands from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah,Dimnah, and Nahalal— four towns.From the tribe of Reuben they received the following towns with their pasturelands: Bezer, Jahaz,Kedemoth, and Mephaath— four towns.From the tribe of Gad they received the following towns with their pasturelands: Ramoth in Gilead( a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Mahanaim,Heshbon, and Jazer— four towns.So in all, twelve towns were allotted to the clan of Merari.The total number of towns and pasturelands within Israelite territory given to the Levites came to forty eight.Every one of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it.So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies.Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.
Numbers 35:1-9
While Israel was camped beside the Jordan on the plains of Moab across from Jericho, the Lord said to Moses,“ Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites from their property certain towns to live in, along with the surrounding pasturelands.These towns will be for the Levites to live in, and the surrounding lands will provide pasture for their cattle, flocks, and other livestock.The pastureland assigned to the Levites around these towns will extend 1,500 feet from the town walls in every direction.Measure off 3,000 feet outside the town walls in every direction— east, south, west, north— with the town at the center. This area will serve as the larger pastureland for the towns.“ Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can flee for safety. In addition, give them forty two other towns.In all, forty eight towns with the surrounding pastureland will be given to the Levites.These towns will come from the property of the people of Israel. The larger tribes will give more towns to the Levites, while the smaller tribes will give fewer. Each tribe will give property in proportion to the size of its land.”The Lord said to Moses,
