21:4 lot. See note 15:1.

Kohathites. Kohath was Levi’s second son (Ex. 6:16; Num. 3:17), but his descendants have precedence because the priestly line through Aaron descended from him (Ex. 6:18, 20). Aaron and his sons were chosen by God to be priests (Ex. 28:1; Lev. 8:1–36).

Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. The towns allotted for these tribes were near Jerusalem, where the temple would later be built, although Jerusalem itself is not mentioned in this chapter.