Joshua 21:41-45

Summary of the Assignment of the Land Joshua 21:41-45

41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
43 And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
44 And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand.
45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

12.

What was the total number of cities? Joshua 21:41

Moses had commanded Joshua to give the children of Levi a total of forty-eight citiessix cities of refuge and forty-two other cities (Numbers 35:6-7). Joshua was faithful in fulfilling the will of God in this matter. He, Eleazar, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel were careful to give the exact number of cities to the Levites.

13.

What were the suburbs? Joshua 21:42

When the original instructions were given by God to Moses, He ordered suburbs to be given to the Levites. He specified that these were to reach out a thousand cubits from the city wall on every side (Numbers 35:1-5). Evidently these suburbs were strips of land around the cities where the Levites could tether their animals and plant some small vegetable crops. They did not have enough room for vineyards or large fields of grain, but they were able to raise some produce for their tables. This would supplement their sustenance which they received from the tithe given by the other tribes.