Commentary - Joshua 21:20-26

Bird's-eye view

In this portion of Joshua, we come to what many modern readers might be tempted to skim. It is a list of towns, a bit of ancient real estate accounting. But to treat it as such is to miss the point entirely. This is not a mere ledger; it is a record of God's profound faithfulness. Every name on this list is a nail driven deep into the board of history, securing the promises God made to his people. The Levites, the priestly tribe, were not given a single large inheritance like their brothers. Instead, God's plan was to scatter them throughout the nation. This was not a punishment, but a strategic placement. They were to be the theological and moral arteries of Israel, carrying the lifeblood of God's law and grace to every corner of the land.

What we are reading is the detailed fulfillment of God's covenant plan. The family of Kohath, who were charged with carrying the most sacred objects of the tabernacle, are now being strategically embedded in the heartland of Israel. And at the head of their list of cities is Shechem, a city of refuge. This is no accident. The ministers of God's law are headquartered in a city of God's grace. This passage, then, is a beautiful illustration of how God's meticulous sovereignty works itself out on the ground, in real towns, for the good of His people and the glory of His name.

Outline

Context In Joshua

We are at the culmination of the third major section of Joshua: the allocation of the land (Josh. 13-21). The conquest is largely complete, and now the promises of God are being mapped out, tribe by tribe. The Levites come last, not because they are least, but because their inheritance is of a different nature. Their portion is the Lord Himself, and their earthly provision is directly tied to this reality. This section follows the allotment for the Aaronic priests (who were also Kohathites) and the Gershonites and Merarites. Now the remaining families of the Kohathites receive their portion, completing the Levitical distribution. This detailed accounting serves as the capstone to the settlement of Canaan, demonstrating with finality that God has done all that He said He would do.

The Text

20 Then the cities from the tribe of Ephraim were allotted to the families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, even to the rest of the sons of Kohath.

The work of dividing the inheritance continues, and it is done by lot. This is crucial. This is not a political negotiation or a land-grab. The lot was a means of discerning the Lord's will, ensuring that the distribution was His doing, not man's. The inheritance is an allotment, a gift graciously given, not a wage earned. This is for the "rest of the sons of Kohath." The first sons of Kohath, the line of Aaron, had already received their cities in the territories of Judah and Benjamin, close to the future site of the temple. These remaining Kohathites, who had the high calling of transporting the holy things of the Tabernacle, are now given their own cities. God does not forget any of his faithful servants. His accounting is perfect.

21 And they gave them Shechem, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, in the hill country of Ephraim, and Gezer with its pasture lands,

And here we strike gold. The very first city named is Shechem. If there were a spiritual map of Israel, Shechem would be marked with a bright, shining star. This is where Abraham first built an altar after God promised him the land (Gen. 12:6-7). This is where Jacob bought land and dug a well (Gen. 33:18-19). This is where Joshua will gather all of Israel for his final covenant renewal (Josh. 24). It is a place saturated with covenant history. And what is it designated as? A city of refuge for the manslayer. This is pure gospel typology. The Levites, the teachers of the law, are given a city that is fundamentally about grace. It is a haven for the one who has shed blood unintentionally, a place where the avenger of blood cannot touch him. This beautifully illustrates that the law and the gospel are not enemies. The law shows us our guilt, and the gospel shows us our refuge. Christ is our Shechem, the one to whom we flee when we recognize our sin. Notice also the practical provision: "with its pasture lands." God's grace is not ethereal and impractical. He provides for the real, tangible needs of His people.

22 and Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth-horon with its pasture lands; four cities.

The list continues. These are not just abstract names on a page; they are real places on the map of Israel. Beth-horon was the site of a miraculous victory earlier in Joshua, where God threw down hailstones on the Amorites and made the sun stand still (Josh. 10). Now, this place of divine intervention becomes a home for the ministers of God's Word. The Levites are to live in the very places where God's mighty acts have been displayed. Their daily lives are to be a constant reminder of the power and faithfulness of the God they serve. The accounting is precise: four cities from Ephraim.

23 From the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands,

Now the lot moves to the tribe of Dan. The Levites are being woven into the fabric of the nation. They are not isolated in a holy ghetto but are distributed among the people. This is the paradigm for the church. We are not called to retreat from the world into a Christian compound, but to be salt and light scattered throughout our communities, our workplaces, and our families. The Levites were to be a constant, holy influence in the midst of every tribe.

24 Aijalon with its pasture lands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; four cities.

Aijalon is another name that should ring a bell. In that same battle at Beth-horon, Joshua commanded, "Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon" (Josh. 10:12). Again, a city memorializing a mighty act of God is given to the Levites. They are to be the curators of Israel's story, the ones who teach the next generation about the God who fights for His people. The number is tallied again: four cities. God's plan is orderly and complete.

25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Taanach with its pasture lands and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; two cities.

The allotment continues, this time from the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan. It is interesting to note that there is another Gath-rimmon here, distinct from the one in Dan. The point remains the same: God is providing homes for His servants, strategically placing them throughout the land that He has conquered and given to His people. This is covenant geography being written before our eyes.

26 All the cities with their pasture lands for the families of the rest of the sons of Kohath were ten.

And here is the summary. Four from Ephraim, four from Dan, and two from Manasseh. It all adds up to ten. This is the bookkeeper's final entry, but it is more than that. It is a declaration that God has fulfilled His word. The provision is complete. The promise is kept. What was determined by lot has been faithfully recorded. This is the seal on this part of the inheritance, a testament to a God who is not a God of confusion but of order, a God who attends to every detail.

Application

First, we must see that God is meticulously faithful. Our God is a God of details. He doesn't just make vague, general promises. He promises specific land, and He delivers specific cities. If He is this careful with the real estate transactions of the Kohathites, how much more can we trust Him with the details of our lives and our salvation, which was purchased at an infinitely greater cost?

Second, the strategic placement of the Levites is a model for the mission of the Church. We are not called to be a holy huddle, but a holy influence. God has planted us in our families, our neighborhoods, and our vocations for a reason. Like the Levites, we are to teach the truth of God's Word and represent His presence right where we are. We are God's ministers, scattered for the sake of the kingdom.

Finally, the prominence of Shechem, the city of refuge, teaches us that the ministry of God's Word must always be a ministry of grace. We hold out the high standards of God's law, but we must always point to the refuge that is found in Christ alone. He is our Shechem. We have all sinned, and the avenger of blood is pursuing us. But in Christ, we have a high priest and a city of refuge, a place of perfect safety. The law and the gospel, embodied in the Levites and their cities, find their ultimate fulfillment in Him.