This verse, Joshua 21:3, is part of a longer passage in Joshua chapter 21 that describes how the Levites were provided for within the land of Canaan after the Israelites conquered it. Let's break down what the verse means:
"The children of Israel gave to the Levites..." This establishes that the Israelite tribes (who had received allotments of land) were giving something to the Levites.
"...out of their inheritance..." This specifies that the cities and suburbs were coming from the land that each tribe had been allotted as their inheritance. The Levites were not given their own large territorial allotment like the other tribes.
"...according to the commandment of Yahweh..." This emphasizes that this wasn't just a nice gesture, but rather an obligation commanded by God (Yahweh being God's name). The Israelites were following divine instructions.
"...these cities with their suburbs." This details what was being given - specific cities and their surrounding lands (suburbs, also sometimes translated as pasturelands).
In Summary:
The verse indicates that, as commanded by God, the various tribes of Israel donated specific cities and their surrounding areas (suburbs/pasturelands) from their own inherited lands to the Levites. This ensured that the Levites, who served in the tabernacle (and later the temple) and did not receive a tribal land inheritance, would have places to live and areas to sustain themselves and their flocks.
Why this was important:
Provision for the Levites: The Levites were set apart for religious service and did not engage in agriculture or warfare like the other tribes. This arrangement provided for their needs.
Dispersion of the Levites: Scattering the Levites among the tribes allowed them to teach the Law of Moses and maintain religious practices throughout the land.
Obedience to God: The Israelites followed God's commands by providing for the Levites, demonstrating their obedience and commitment to God's covenant.
So, the verse is a concise statement about the fulfillment of God's command to care for the Levites by allocating cities and land within the territories of the other tribes.
This verse, Joshua 21:3, is part of a longer passage in Joshua chapter 21 that describes how the Levites were provided for within the land of Canaan after the Israelites conquered it. Let's break down what the verse means:
"The children of Israel gave to the Levites..." This establishes that the Israelite tribes (who had received allotments of land) were giving something to the Levites.
"...out of their inheritance..." This specifies that the cities and suburbs were coming from the land that each tribe had been allotted as their inheritance. The Levites were not given their own large territorial allotment like the other tribes.
"...according to the commandment of Yahweh..." This emphasizes that this wasn't just a nice gesture, but rather an obligation commanded by God (Yahweh being God's name). The Israelites were following divine instructions.
"...these cities with their suburbs." This details what was being given - specific cities and their surrounding lands (suburbs, also sometimes translated as pasturelands).
In Summary:
The verse indicates that, as commanded by God, the various tribes of Israel donated specific cities and their surrounding areas (suburbs/pasturelands) from their own inherited lands to the Levites. This ensured that the Levites, who served in the tabernacle (and later the temple) and did not receive a tribal land inheritance, would have places to live and areas to sustain themselves and their flocks.
Why this was important:
Provision for the Levites: The Levites were set apart for religious service and did not engage in agriculture or warfare like the other tribes. This arrangement provided for their needs.
Dispersion of the Levites: Scattering the Levites among the tribes allowed them to teach the Law of Moses and maintain religious practices throughout the land.
Obedience to God: The Israelites followed God's commands by providing for the Levites, demonstrating their obedience and commitment to God's covenant.
So, the verse is a concise statement about the fulfillment of God's command to care for the Levites by allocating cities and land within the territories of the other tribes.