Open English Translation JOS Chapter 21

21 Then the leaders of the Levites went to Eleazar the priest and to Yehoshua (Nun’s son) and to the Israeli elders[ref] 2 at Shiloh (in the Canaan region) and told them, “Yahweh said through Mosheh that we should be given cities to live in, along with their surrounding fields for our livestock.” 3 So the Israeli leaders gave these cities and the fields around them to the Levites for their inheritance as Yahweh had instructed:

4 The first draw went to those of the Kohat clans who were descendants of Aharon the priest (from the Levites). They were allocated thirteen cities in the regions occupied by Yehudah, Shim’on, and Benyamin. 5 The remaining Kohat clans were allocated ten cities in the regions occupied by Efraim, Dan, and the Manashsheh half-tribe.

6 The Gereshon clans were allocated thirteen cities in the regions occupied by Yissashkar, Asher, Naftali, and by the Manashsheh half-tribe in the Bashan region.

7 The Merari clans were allocated twelve cities in the regions occupied by Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

8 So the Israeli leaders gave those cities and their surrounding fields to the Levites, just as Yahweh had instructed through Mosheh.

9 These are the names of the cities allocated by the Israeli leaders (from the regions occupied by Yehudah and Shim’on) 10 that were given to the Levite Kohat clans since they were selected first in the draw: 11 Kiriat-Arba and the surrounding fields (now called Hebron—Arba was the father of Anak) in Yehudah’s hill country 12 (although the surrounding countryside and villages had already been given to Yefunneh’s son Caleb). 13 So Hebron was given to the descendants of Aharon the priest and assigned as a refuge city (for anyone who accidentally kills someone) along with the surrounding fields, along with Libnah, 14 Yattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, 16 Ain, Yuttah, and Beyt-Shemesh, all with their surrounding fields—a total of nine cities from within Yehudah and Shim’on’s territories. 17 From Benyamin’s territories, the Israeli leaders assigned Gibeon, Geba, 18 Anatot, and Almon—four cities and their surrounding fields. 19 Thus the descendants of Aharon the priests received thirteen cities with their surrounding fields.

20 The other Levite Kohat clans were allocated cities from within Efraim’s territory: 21 Shekem (which was assigned as a refuge city for anyone who accidentally kills someone), Gezer, 22 Kibzaim, and Beyt-Horon—four cities with their surrounding fields. 23 From Dan’s territory, they were allocated Elteke, Gibbeton, 24 Ayyalon, and Gat-Rimmon—four cities with their surrounding fields. 25 From the Manashsheh half-tribe’s territory, they were allocated Taanak and Gat-Rimmon—two cities with their surrounding fields. 26 Thus the other Levite Kohat clans received ten cities with their surrounding fields.

27 The Levite Gereshon clans were allocated cities from within the Manashsheh half-tribe’s territory: Golan in the Bashan (which was assigned as a refuge city for anyone who accidentally kills someone) and Be’eshtarah—two cities with their surrounding fields. 28 From Yissashkar’s territory, they were allocated Kishyon, Daberat, 29 Yarmut, and En-Gannim—four cities with their surrounding fields. 30 From Asher’s territory, they were allocated Mishal, Abdon, 31 Helkat, and Rehob—four cities with their surrounding fields. 32 From Naftali’s territory, they were allocated Kedesh in the Galilee (which was assigned as a refuge city for anyone who accidentally kills someone), Hammot-Dor, and Kartan—three cities with their surrounding fields. 33 Thus the Levite Gereshon clan received thirteen cities with their surrounding fields.

34 The remaining Levite Merari clans were allocated cities from within Zebulun’s territory: Yokneam, Kartah, 35 Dimnah, and Nahalal—four cities with their surrounding fields. 36 From Reuben’s territory, they were allocated Bezer, Yahaz, 37 Kedemot, and Mephaat—four cities with their surrounding fields. 38 From Gad’s territory, they were allocated Ramot in the Gilead (which was assigned as a refuge city for anyone who accidentally kills someone), Mahanaim, 39 Heshbon, and Yazer—four cities with their surrounding fields. 40 Thus the Levite Merari clan received twelve cities in the draw, along with their surrounding fields.

41 So altogether the Levites received forty-eight cities and their surrounding fields from with the territories of the other tribes— 42 each of those cities had fields around them for their livestock to graze on.

43 Thus Yahweh gave the Israelis all the land that he’d promised their ancestors would be given and so the people moved into those regions and lived there. 44 Yahweh gave them peace as he’d promised their ancestors—none of their enemies could stand against them because Yahweh helped them defeat any enemies. 45 Yahweh kept every promise that he’d made to the Israelis—it all happened just like he’d said.