Commentary - Joshua 21:27-33

Bird's-eye view

This passage, nestled deep within the administrative section of Joshua, might appear at first glance to be little more than a dry list of place names. But to read it this way is to miss the point entirely. These verses are the receipt for a promise God made centuries before. This is the detailed accounting of God's absolute faithfulness. In these verses, we see the tribe of Levi, who were set apart for the Lord's service and consequently had no territorial inheritance of their own, receiving their allotted cities among their brethren. Specifically, this text deals with the Gershonites, one of the three Levitical clans. Their placement throughout the northern tribes was not a random scattering but a strategic stationing. They were to be the spiritual backbone of the nation, teachers of the law, and a constant reminder to Israel of the centrality of worship. This detailed list is God's way of showing us that He does not forget His people, He does not forget His promises, and He cares about the fine print. Every pasture land, every city gate, is under His sovereign decree. This is the architecture of a covenant-keeping God building His nation.

Furthermore, the inclusion of cities of refuge within this allotment is a blazing neon sign pointing to the gospel. Golan and Kedesh are named here not just as Levitical towns, but as places of asylum for the unintentional manslayer. The Levites, the ministers of God's law and sanctuary, were thus also made the custodians of God's mercy. This intertwining of justice and mercy, of priestly function and refuge, is a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is both our great High Priest and our only true City of Refuge. This meticulous record is therefore not just ancient geography; it is a profound statement about God's intricate providence, His covenant faithfulness, and the gospel foreshadowed.

Outline

Context In Joshua

Joshua chapters 13 through 21 form a major section of the book dedicated to the division and allotment of the Promised Land. The conquest phase is largely complete (Joshua 1-12), and now the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding the land are being formally realized. After the trans-Jordanian tribes and the major tribes west of the Jordan receive their inheritance, chapter 21 turns to the unique case of the Levites. In Numbers 35, God had commanded that the Levites would not receive a contiguous territory but would be given cities with surrounding pasture lands scattered throughout all the other tribes. Joshua 21 is the fulfillment of that command. The chapter is methodically organized according to the three sons of Levi: Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. Our passage deals specifically with the second of these, the Gershonites. This meticulous record-keeping serves to underscore the exhaustive nature of God's fulfillment of His word. He didn't just "give them the land"; He assigned every last parcel, ensuring that His priests and ministers were strategically placed to serve the entire nation.

Key Issues

The Scattered Teachers

When Jacob was on his deathbed, he pronounced a prophetic word over his sons Simeon and Levi. Because of their fierce anger and violence in the matter of Shechem (Genesis 34), he declared, "I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel" (Gen. 49:7). At first blush, this sounds entirely like a curse. And for Simeon, it largely was; his tribe was weak and eventually absorbed into Judah. But for Levi, God in His remarkable grace turned a curse into a glorious calling. The scattering of Levi became a strategic placement. Because they rallied to the Lord's side after the golden calf incident (Exodus 32), the tribe of Levi was consecrated for priestly service. Their "scattering" was transformed into a mission. They were to be distributed throughout all of Israel to teach the law, to administer justice, and to lead the people in worship. They were to be the theological and moral salt sprinkled throughout the nation to preserve it. This passage in Joshua 21 is the geographical outworking of that transformed curse. God's sovereignty is such that He can take the consequences of our sin and weave them into the fabric of His redemptive purpose.

Verse by Verse Commentary

27 Now to the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities.

The accounting begins with the family of Gershon, one of Levi's three sons. Their portion of cities comes from the northern tribes. The first donation is from the half-tribe of Manasseh located east of the Jordan. Notice the precision: not just cities, but cities with pasture lands. This was a practical provision. The Levites were not to be landed aristocrats, but neither were they to be destitute. They needed land for their livestock to support their families. The first city named, Golan, is immediately identified as a city of refuge for the manslayer. This is crucial. The Levites, the very tribe dedicated to the service of God's holy things, are put in charge of administering God's mercy. Justice required that blood be avenged, but mercy required that a distinction be made between premeditated murder and an accidental death. These cities were a gracious provision to protect the innocent from a vengeful relative until a fair trial could be held. It is no accident that the tribe of the law becomes the guardian of grace.

28-29 From the tribe of Issachar, they gave Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En-gannim with its pasture lands; four cities.

The list continues, moving west across the Jordan into the territory of Issachar. Four cities are given. We may not know the exact location of all these ancient towns, but God does. The Spirit of God saw fit to inspire the recording of these names, and we should therefore not treat them as throwaway details. This is the deed to the property. This is God's accounting. Each tribe was required to give up some of its inheritance for the support of the ministry. This was a tangible expression of the principle that the spiritual well-being of the nation was the shared responsibility of all. The Levites served the whole nation, and so the whole nation was to provide for them. This is the Old Testament pattern that undergirds the New Testament principle of the church supporting its ministers.

30-31 From the tribe of Asher, they gave Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, Helkath with its pasture lands and Rehob with its pasture lands; four cities.

Next, the tribe of Asher, located on the northern coast, contributes its share. Again, four cities are listed with their accompanying pasture lands. The pattern is one of order, equity, and obedience. This is not happening by chance. This is the careful execution of a divine command given to Moses decades earlier. The generation that fought the wars of conquest is now the generation that is seeing to the details of God's law for the nation. True faith is not just about the dramatic victories on the battlefield; it is also about the faithful administration of ordinary life according to God's word. God is a God of order, not of chaos, and His people are to reflect that in their civil and religious arrangements.

32 From the tribe of Naphtali, they gave Kedesh in Galilee, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands and Hammoth-dor with its pasture lands and Kartan with its pasture lands; three cities.

From Naphtali, in the far north of Galilee, three more cities are given. And here again, one of them, Kedesh, is designated as a city of refuge. This makes two cities of refuge in the northern sector under the care of the Gershonites. The name Kedesh means "holy place," which is fitting. This city, set apart as holy, was also to be a place of safety and asylum. Here we see a beautiful picture of the gospel. The only true holy place for a sinner is a place of refuge. Our only safety is in running to the one who is holy, Jesus Christ, who stands between us and the just condemnation we deserve. The placement of these cities was strategic, ensuring that no one in Israel was ever too far from a place of mercy.

33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.

The section concludes with a summary statement. The sons of Gershon received a total of thirteen cities. This is not just bookkeeping; it is a declaration of completion. God commanded, and Israel obeyed. The promise was made, and the promise was kept. This verse is the "paid in full" stamp on this part of the covenant transaction. For an Israelite reading this, it was a profound assurance that the God who was faithful in this small detail of allotting thirteen cities to one Levitical family could be trusted to be faithful in all His other promises as well. Our faith is built on the foundation of a God who has a perfect track record.

Application

It is tempting to read a passage like this and wonder what on earth it has to do with us. We don't have Levitical priests or cities of refuge. But the principles here are timeless. First, we see that God's promises are exhaustively trustworthy. He is a God of details. He doesn't just promise blessings in the abstract; He delivers on the specifics. When you are tempted to doubt God's care for the minute details of your life, remember the pasture lands of the Gershonites. The God who numbered their cities has numbered the hairs of your head.

Second, we see the principle of corporate responsibility for the ministry of the gospel. The Levites were supported by all the tribes because they ministered to all the tribes. In the New Covenant, this principle continues. Those who are taught the Word are to share all good things with their teacher (Gal. 6:6). The health of the church depends on the faithful provision for those who labor in the Word and doctrine.

Finally, and most importantly, we are driven to Christ. The entire system of Levitical cities, and especially the cities of refuge, was a shadow pointing to the substance that is found in Him. We are all guilty, not of accidental manslaughter, but of high treason against the King of heaven. The avenger of blood, the righteous law of God, is pursuing us. And there is no safety to be found in any earthly city or in any of our own efforts. Our only hope is to flee to our City of Refuge, the Lord Jesus. In His death and resurrection, He is our priest, our sacrifice, and our safe haven. He is the holy place where sinners can find mercy. The lists in Joshua 21 are not just ancient history; they are another road sign in the Old Testament pointing us down the highway to the cross.