Cities of the Levites(A)

21 Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the (B)Levites came near to (C)Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel. And they spoke to them at (D)Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, (E)“The Lord commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock.” So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their common-lands:

Now the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And (F)the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, (G)had thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of Judah, from the tribe of Simeon, and from the tribe of Benjamin. (H)The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh.

And (I)the children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

(J)The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun.

(K)And the children of Israel gave these cities with their common-lands by lot to the Levites, (L)as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses.

So they gave from the tribe of the children of Judah and from the tribe of the children of Simeon these cities which are [a]designated by name, 10 which were for the children of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for the lot was theirs first. 11 (M)And they gave them [b]Kirjath Arba (Arba was the father of (N)Anak), (O)which is Hebron, in the mountains of Judah, with the common-land surrounding it. 12 But (P)the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession.

13 Thus (Q)to the children of Aaron the priest they gave (R)Hebron with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), (S)Libnah with its common-land, 14 (T)Jattir with its common-land, (U)Eshtemoa with its common-land, 15 (V)Holon with its common-land, (W)Debir with its common-land, 16 (X)Ain with its common-land, (Y)Juttah with its common-land, and (Z)Beth Shemesh with its common-land: nine cities from those two tribes; 17 and from the tribe of Benjamin, (AA)Gibeon with its common-land, (AB)Geba with its common-land, 18 Anathoth with its common-land, and (AC)Almon with its common-land: four cities. 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their common-lands.

20 (AD)And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, the rest of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their [c]lot from the tribe of Ephraim. 21 For they gave them (AE)Shechem with its common-land in the mountains of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the slayer), (AF)Gezer with its common-land, 22 Kibzaim with its common-land, and Beth Horon with its common-land: four cities; 23 and from the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its common-land, Gibbethon with its common-land, 24 (AG)Aijalon with its common-land, and Gath Rimmon with its common-land: four cities; 25 and from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with its common-land and Gath Rimmon with its common-land: two cities. 26 All the ten cities with their common-lands were for the rest of the families of the children of Kohath.

27 (AH)Also to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, from the other half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave (AI)Golan in Bashan with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), and Be Eshterah with its common-land: two cities; 28 and from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its common-land, Daberath with its common-land, 29 Jarmuth with its common-land, and En Gannim with its common-land: four cities; 30 and from the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its common-land, Abdon with its common-land, 31 Helkath with its common-land, and Rehob with its common-land: four cities; 32 and from the tribe of Naphtali, (AJ)Kedesh in Galilee with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Hammoth Dor with its common-land, and Kartan with its common-land: three cities. 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their common-lands.

34 (AK)And to the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its common-land, Kartah with its common-land, 35 Dimnah with its common-land, and Nahalal with its common-land: four cities; 36 [d]and from the tribe of Reuben, (AL)Bezer with its common-land, Jahaz with its common-land, 37 Kedemoth with its common-land, and Mephaath with its common-land: four cities; 38 and from the tribe of Gad, (AM)Ramoth in Gilead with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Mahanaim with its common-land, 39 Heshbon with its common-land, and Jazer with its common-land: four cities in all. 40 So all the cities for the children of Merari according to their families, the rest of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.

41 (AN)All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their common-lands. 42 Every one of these cities had its common-land surrounding it; thus were all these cities.

The Promise Fulfilled

43 So the Lord gave to Israel (AO)all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they (AP)took possession of it and dwelt in it. 44 (AQ)The Lord gave them (AR)rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And (AS)not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 (AT)Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 21:9 Lit. called
  2. Joshua 21:11 Lit. City of Arba
  3. Joshua 21:20 allotment
  4. Joshua 21:36 So with LXX, Vg. (cf. 1 Chr. 6:78, 79); MT, Bg., Tg. omit vv. 36, 37

Ciudades de los levitas

21 (A)Entonces los jefes de las casas[a] de los levitas se acercaron al sacerdote Eleazar, a Josué, hijo de Nun, y a los jefes de las casas[b] de las tribus de los israelitas, y les hablaron en Silo en la tierra de Canaán y les dijeron: «El Señor ordenó por medio[c] de Moisés que se nos dieran ciudades donde habitar, con sus tierras de pasto para nuestro ganado(B)».

Entonces los israelitas dieron de su heredad a los levitas estas ciudades con sus tierras de pasto, de acuerdo al mandato[d] del Señor(C). Y la suerte cayó en[e] las familias de los coatitas. Y a los hijos del sacerdote Aarón, que eran de los levitas, les tocaron[f] en suerte trece ciudades de la tribu de Judá, de la tribu de Simeón[g] y de la tribu de Benjamín.

Al resto de los hijos de Coat les tocaron en suerte diez ciudades de las familias de la tribu de Efraín, de la tribu de Dan y de la media tribu de Manasés. A los hijos de Gersón les tocaron en suerte trece ciudades de las familias de la tribu de Isacar, de la tribu de Aser, de la tribu de Neftalí y de la media tribu de Manasés en Basán.

A los hijos de Merari les tocaron, según sus familias, doce ciudades de la tribu de Rubén, de la tribu de Gad y de la tribu de Zabulón. Los israelitas dieron por suerte a los levitas estas ciudades con sus tierras de pasto, como el Señor había ordenado por medio[h] de Moisés.

Les dieron estas ciudades que aquí se mencionan por nombre, de la tribu de los hijos de Judá y de la tribu de los hijos de Simeón(D). 10 Fueron para los hijos de Aarón, una de las familias de los coatitas, de los hijos de Leví, porque la suerte fue de ellos primero. 11 Les dieron Quiriat Arba, siendo Arba el padre de Anac, es decir, Hebrón(E), en la región montañosa de Judá, con las tierras de pasto alrededor(F). 12 Pero los campos de la ciudad y sus aldeas se los dieron a Caleb, hijo de Jefone, como propiedad suya.

13 Y a los hijos del sacerdote Aarón les dieron Hebrón(G), la ciudad de refugio para el que haya matado a alguien, con sus tierras de pasto, Libna con sus tierras de pasto(H), 14 Jatir(I) con sus tierras de pasto, Estemoa(J) con sus tierras de pasto, 15 Holón[i] con sus tierras de pasto, Debir(K) con sus tierras de pasto, 16 Aín[j] con sus tierras de pasto, Juta(L) con sus tierras de pasto y Bet Semes(M) con sus tierras de pasto; nueve ciudades de estas dos tribus.

17 De la tribu de Benjamín, Gabaón(N) con sus tierras de pasto, Geba(O) con sus tierras de pasto, 18 Anatot con sus tierras de pasto y Almón[k] con sus tierras de pasto; cuatro ciudades. 19 Todas las ciudades de los sacerdotes, hijos de Aarón, eran trece ciudades con sus tierras de pasto.

20 Las ciudades de la tribu de Efraín fueron dadas por suerte a las familias de los hijos de Coat(P), los levitas, el resto de los hijos de Coat. 21 Y les dieron Siquem, la ciudad de refugio para el que haya matado a alguien, con sus tierras de pasto, en la región montañosa de Efraín(Q) y Gezer con sus tierras de pasto, 22 Kibsaim con sus tierras de pasto y Bet Horón con sus tierras de pasto; cuatro ciudades.

23 De la tribu de Dan, Elteque con sus tierras de pasto, Gibetón con sus tierras de pasto, 24 Ajalón con sus tierras de pasto y Gat Rimón con sus tierras de pasto; cuatro ciudades.

25 De la media tribu de Manasés, les dieron por suertes Taanac con sus tierras de pasto y Gat Rimón con sus tierras de pasto; dos ciudades. 26 Todas las ciudades con sus tierras de pasto para las familias del resto de los hijos de Coat fueron diez.

27 Para los hijos de Gersón, una de las familias de los levitas, de la media tribu de Manasés, les dieron Golán en Basán(R), la ciudad de refugio para el que haya matado a alguien, con sus tierras de pasto y Beestera con sus tierras de pasto; dos ciudades.

28 De la tribu de Isacar, les dieron Quisión con sus tierras de pasto, Daberat con sus tierras de pasto, 29 Jarmut con sus tierras de pasto y Enganim con sus tierras de pasto; cuatro ciudades.

30 De la tribu de Aser, les dieron Miseal con sus tierras de pasto, Abdón con sus tierras de pasto, 31 Helcat con sus tierras de pasto y Rehob con sus tierras de pasto; cuatro ciudades.

32 De la tribu de Neftalí, les dieron Cedes en Galilea(S), la ciudad de refugio para el que haya matado a alguien, con sus tierras de pasto, Hamot Dor con sus tierras de pasto y Cartán con sus tierras de pasto; tres ciudades. 33 Todas las ciudades de los gersonitas, conforme a sus familias, eran trece ciudades con sus tierras de pasto.

34 A las familias de los hijos de Merari, el resto de los levitas, les dieron de la tribu de Zabulón(T), Jocneam con sus tierras de pasto, Carta con sus tierras de pasto, 35 Dimna con sus tierras de pasto y Naalal con sus tierras de pasto; cuatro ciudades.

36 De la tribu de Rubén, les dieron Beser(U) con sus tierras de pasto, Jahaza con sus tierras de pasto, 37 Cademot con sus tierras de pasto y Mefaat con sus tierras de pasto; cuatro ciudades.

38 De la tribu de Gad, les dieron Ramot en Galaad(V), la ciudad de refugio para el que haya matado a alguien, con sus tierras de pasto, Mahanaim(W) con sus tierras de pasto, 39 Hesbón con sus tierras de pasto y Jazer con sus tierras de pasto; cuatro ciudades en total. 40 Todas estas fueron las ciudades de los hijos de Merari conforme a sus familias, el resto de las familias de los levitas y su suerte fue doce ciudades.

41 Todas las ciudades de los levitas en medio de la posesión de los israelitas fueron cuarenta y ocho ciudades con sus tierras de pasto(X). 42 Cada una de estas ciudades tenía sus tierras de pasto alrededor; así fue con todas estas ciudades.

43 De esa manera el Señor dio a Israel toda la tierra que había jurado dar a sus padres(Y), y la poseyeron y habitaron en ella(Z). 44 Y el Señor les dio reposo(AA) en derredor, conforme a todo lo que había jurado a sus padres. Ninguno de sus enemigos pudo hacerles frente(AB); el Señor entregó a todos sus enemigos en sus manos(AC). 45 No faltó ni una palabra de las buenas promesas[l] que el Señor había hecho[m] a la casa de Israel. Todas se cumplieron(AD).

Footnotes

  1. 21:1 Lit. los padres.
  2. 21:1 Lit. los padres.
  3. 21:2 Lit. mano.
  4. 21:3 Lit. con la boca.
  5. 21:4 Lit. salió para.
  6. 21:4 Lit. tuvieron, y así en el resto del cap.
  7. 21:4 Lit. simeonitas.
  8. 21:8 Lit. mano.
  9. 21:15 En 1Crón. 6:58, Hilén.
  10. 21:16 En 1Crón. 6:59, Asán.
  11. 21:18 En 1Crón. 6:60, Alemet.
  12. 21:45 Lit. palabras.
  13. 21:45 Lit. hablado.

Cities for the Tribe of Levi

21 Then the leaders of the families of Levi came to the priest Eleazar, to Joshua (son of Nun), and to the leaders of the families of the other Israelite tribes at Shiloh in Canaan. They said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that we should receive cities to live in and pasturelands for our livestock.” So, as the Lord had instructed, Levi’s descendants were given the following cities with pasturelands from the Israelites’ inheritance.

These are the cities for the families of Kohath that were chosen by drawing lots. These descendants of the priest Aaron the Levite received 13 cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. The rest of Kohath’s descendants received 10 cities from the families of the tribes of Ephraim and Dan and half of the tribe of Manasseh.

Gershon’s descendants received 13 cities from the families of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and half of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

Merari’s descendants received 12 cities for their families from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. The Israelites gave these cities with pasturelands to Levi’s descendants by drawing lots, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

Cities for Kohath’s Descendants

These are the names of the cities from the tribes of Judah and Simeon 10 that they gave Aaron’s descendants who were from the families of Kohath in the tribe of Levi. Their lot was the first one drawn. 11 They gave them Kiriath Arba (Arba was Anak’s father) and the pastureland around it. This is the city of Hebron located in the mountains of Judah. 12 But they gave its fields and villages to Caleb, son of Jephunneh, as his possession. 13 So they gave the following cities with pasturelands to the descendants of Aaron, the priest. The nine cities from those two tribes were Hebron (a city of refuge for murderers), Libnah, 14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, 16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh. 17 The tribe of Benjamin also gave them four cities: Gibeon, Geba, 18 Anathoth, and Almon. 19 In all, 13 cities with pasturelands were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

20 Cities were chosen by lot from the tribe of Ephraim to give to the rest of Levi’s descendants who were from the families of Kohath. 21 These four cities with pasturelands were Shechem (a city of refuge for murderers) in the mountains of Ephraim, Gezer, 22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon. 23 The tribe of Dan gave them four cities: Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon. 25 Half of the tribe of Manasseh gave them two cities with pasturelands: Taanach and Gath Rimmon. 26 In all, ten cities with pasturelands were given to the rest of the families of Kohath.

Cities for Gershon’s Descendants

27 They gave the families of Gershon’s descendants, who were in the tribe of Levi, two cities with pasturelands from half of the tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for murderers) and Ashtaroth. 28 Four cities with pasturelands were also given to them from the tribe of Issachar: Kishion, Daberath, 29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim. 30 Another four cities with pasturelands were given to them from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon, 31 Helkath, and Rehob. 32 Also three cities with pasturelands were given to them from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for murderers), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan. 33 In all, 13 cities with pasturelands were given to Gershon’s families.

Cities for Merari’s Descendants

34 To the families of Merari, who were from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of Zebulun gave four cities with pasturelands: Jokneam, Kartah, 35 Dimnah, and Nahalal. 36 The tribe of Reuben also gave them four cities with pasturelands: Bezer, Jahaz, 37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath. 38 The tribe of Gad also gave them four cities with pasturelands: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for murderers), Mahanaim, 39 Heshbon, and Jazer. 40 All these cities belonged to the families of Merari. They were the last of the families of Levi. These 12 cities were chosen by lot.

41 Within the territory owned by the Israelites there were 48 cities in all for Levi’s descendants. 42 Each of these cities had its own pastureland around it.

43 So the Lord gave Israel the whole land he had sworn to give their ancestors. They took possession of it and settled there. 44 The Lord allowed them to have peace on every side, as he had sworn with an oath to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies stood up to them. The Lord handed all their enemies over to them. 45 Every single good promise that the Lord had given the nation of Israel came true.