Living in the Promised Land: A study in the book of Joshua
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Lesson Nineteen: Levitical cities: Final inheritances
A. Introduction
1. Greetings
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2. Overview. [For those online, see this book overview from The Bible Project (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOqJlFF_eU )
B. Today’s lesson: Chapters 21
Today we run down the final land distribution, but not exactly. You see, today we read about 48 cities, not like last week’s cities of refuge, but cities for the Levites. Three groups, really four, if you will of the families of the sons of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob our patriarch. He had three sons, Gershon, Kohat and Merari. From Kohat came his descendants which included Moses and his siblings. Kohat fathered Aaron’s line, the priestly line, so we take that line as having a special listing of duties and apportionment as well. OK< the four groups were Gershon, Kohat not priests, Kohat the priests (really the Aaronides), and Merari.
When I say we are going to talk about apportionment or land distribution, it’s that this major section began with Caleb, and included the daughters of Zelophehad, the 12 tribes, and even Joshua. By way of reminder, Joshua’s book breaks into four major sections: 1) Entering the Land, then 2) Taking the Land, 3) Possessing the Land (which ends today) and then finally beginning next week 4) Retaining the Land. Last week we saw the allotted Cities for Refuge when someone accidentally and without malice killed another Israelite. Today we conclude that section with the 48. And you would think if there are 48 that there would be 4 from each tribe of 12, but that’s not the case.[1]
And we need to go through this in sections, so let’s look at verse 1-2. The tribal leaders have an appointment with Joshua and Elazar and remind them of Moses’ words. Mind you, it’s been a long time since Moses promised the Levites that they would have no property of their own and would have to be dependent on the other tribes for their support. They had God as their inheritance, the Bible says. (Num. 18.33, 35.2, Deut. 12.12, 14.27)
I’ve told you in the past, and it’s a central theme in this book, that Joshua complies with what God says, whether through Moses or directly, this is a book which records the fulfillment of Moses’ commands.
Verse 3 says that Israel gave the cities to the Levites. I can’t help but think this was a sacrifice in itself to the Lord. Territory means ‘permanence’ and ‘buildings and economy’ and as such we see the people of the other tribes giving to the Levites.
Now let me expand this and dangerously so, to speak about believers supporting their spiritual leadership. I say dangerous because this could be taken to be something to my own advantage. But it’s clear that God’s people need to take care of God’s servants who work in his ministries.
All the while, this has to be understood in terms of sensibility. The Levites serve at the Tabernacle. They serve the priests. They have responsibilities that other Israelites do not have. As a result, they who have no property, and their animals can wander freely on their pastureland, as the text says, grazing land, have this back-up system for sacrifices.
Let me therefore be very clear. Ministry is not about money, but it includes money. Ministry money is not mammon in and of itself, but it could be.
I’m especially hopeful that you who spend your time in ministry hear me as I address this. Some of you are embarrassed when you hear the subjects of money and ministry in the same sentence, or even the same paragraph, or even the same sermon. You needn’t be embarrassed. Yeshua spent more time talking about money than he did about love. And no one would doubt that he knew what he was talking about.
Same in the Older Testament. Offerings and priests, Levites and work, they are all mingled, and the points are clear. Those who minister in the Tabernacle, or the Temple later on must make their living from the work they perform. Someone has to take care of them. The Lord made sure that Moses established Levitical cities to help their natural situation to be supplied. We need to do the same for our Levites and priests. It’s not right that a minister should scrape by, and barely survive in the US on food stamps or in Australia on Centrelink payouts. God gave ample supply to the Levites and priests both for them and their cattle.
Paul the apostle used this imagery in 1 Corinthians 9:
“My defence to those who examine me is this: Do we not have a right to eat and drink? Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.” (Deut. 25.4) God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share the right over you, do we not more?” (1 Cor. 9.3-12)
The apostle is saying that the oxen are rewarded by getting to eat while they are working. And by implication ministers should be able to eat from the folks among whom they work. That he did or didn’t use that facility is a bit irrelevant, because Paul is making the case for it with clarity.
Carrying on, he says, “Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”
Paul wrote to Timothy and reminded him to teach the people in his charge about this.
1Tim. 5:17 “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”
This is not about cheering twice as loudly; this is about payment, double payment to those who work hard at teaching and preaching. Simple. By the way, honour your parents is not about cheering for them either; it’s about paying for them when you can. Many of you have done that for your parents as they aged and passed away. Some of you might be hoping your kids look after you sooner rather than later, but that’s for another lesson.
What the Levitical cities tell me includes this notion of taking care of those who take care of us spiritually. I need to do that with my pastor. You should do so for yours. And to encourage others in your congregation to support well those who serve among us.
At the end of this chapter, after the long lists of the actual cities, which I leave for you to read, comes this:
Josh. 21:43 “So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. 44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.”
Now it wasn’t Moses who supplied the Land for us. It wasn’t the tribes which conquered the enemies. It wasn’t Joshua although he officially signed the deeds, if you will, for property for Caleb and the Zelophehad girls, for the 2 and a half tribes east of the Jordan River, and even for himself. It wasn’t Joshua who supplied the 6 Cities of Refuge or the 42 other Levitical cities… at the end of the day, all our supply comes from the Lord. Verse 43 says “The Lord gave Israel all the land” and that needs to be our focus for Israel then, and Israel today, and your world today. What you have is a gift from heaven. All your energy; all your strength, all your supply… it’s all from the Lord. All your creativity and wisdom, all your money and modes of transportation. All your knowledge and books, your family members and your ways of enjoying life… it’s all from God. Are you grateful this morning? Are you rejoicing for his supply? Are you noticing that? Are you thanking him for all things?
If not, and we mentioned this some months back, please, please, please, make a list, a gratitude list, of what he has done and who he is, and what he has given you. I promise you, your life will take on a different and fuller perspective if you do. And if you don’t, your sourness will grow. Your entitlement will increase. Your emptiness will gather steam. Be grateful; it will do you good.
Specifically, this from Butler about promise and the Land of Israel itself:
“The explicit theological themes of Deuteronomy and Joshua are taken up and brought to a conclusion. Deuteronomy 1:8 says that Yahweh has set (נתן) before them the land. Israel is to go and possess (ירש) the land which Yahweh swore to their fathers to give (נתן) to them and to their seed after them. Deuteronomy 1:34 presents another divine oath, this time explaining why the generation in the wilderness would not see “the good land which I swore to give to your fathers.” In 4:21–22 God swore that Moses would not enter the good land, but “you all will pass over and will possess this good land.” The oath sworn to the fathers is a motivating force in the homiletical portions of Deuteronomy (6:10, 18, 23; 7:8, 13; 8:1, 18; 9:5; 10:11; 11:9, 21; 19:8; 26:3, 15; 28:9, 11; 30:20; 31:7, 20, 21, 23; 34:4). Joshua picks up this theme immediately in 1:6, where Joshua is promised that he will cause the people to inherit the land “which I have sworn to their fathers to give them.” Joshua 2–11 is summarized in 11:23, Joshua conquering the land and providing rest from war. The distribution of the land in 13–21 concludes with a parallel summary in our section. The history of promise has become reality.”
I really like this thought. Promises matter, especially if they are yet unfulfilled. We question God with regularity. Will he come through? Will he fulfill what he said? Did God really say…?
This week on my Facebook I posted a question about promises and God. And I asked what biblical promise is #1 for the responder. I would say that half of the people who replied, and there were scores, mentioned the promise of God being with us. Personally. Continually.
Butler says, “The theme here is the faithfulness of God in fulfilling his promises. God did his part. No matter what the political situation of Israel in a later generation, be it the division of the kingdom, the fall of the northern kingdom, or the destruction of Jerusalem and the Exile, Israel could not blame God. God had faithfully done for Israel what he promised.”
I like that. And maybe you do as well. What God said will be done. Isaiah writes this,
“For the LORD of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?” (14.27)
The Lord of hosts has planned, and who can disannul it? No one! I’m so grateful he promised a Messiah. I’m so glad he sent him at the right time. The Lord promised to be with us, and he is. God promised that when we have troubles, and we will (he promised) that he would walk with us in those troubles, if we trust him.
Invitation
Dear friends, have you fled to the Lord for refuge from the storms of life? Do you know that Yeshua is our Strong Tower in times of weakness? He is more than capable and more than ready to help us, each of us, if we run to him. Will you do that just now? Would you be willing to take a stand for him who took a stand and died on a Roman cross for you? We love Yeshua because in his death he accomplished salvation for all people. He took the curse we deserved to give us his righteousness which he deserved. Forgiveness is available because of the death of our messiah.
If you’d like to receive him today, just now, join me as we pray.
Say something like this: “Father in Yeshua’s name, forgive me my sin, I was wrong to dismiss you and to disbelieve in you. I need your mercy. I deserve punishment but you are kind and merciful and I receive your grace. I repent. I receive Yeshua as my saviour and Lord. I will live because of my faith in Messiah Yeshua. Amen.
If you prayed that, please let us know of your profession by writing straightaway, won’t you? Bob@JewsforJesus.org.au We’d love to hear from you.
Conclusion
We are delighted you have joined us today. Please join us next week and learn with the others how you can stay on track in 2021 and beyond. I hope to see you next week as we continue our studies in Joshua. You will certainly see yourself in the readings and the lessons. Next week we will look at chapter 22, in what I call “Can an altar alter anything?” and see what lessons we can draw for ourselves from the scenes there!
Hope to see you then… until then, Shabbat shalom!
Bibliography
Butler, Trent C., Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 7. Joshua. Word, Waco, 1983.
Davis, Dale Ralph, Joshua: No Falling Words, Christian Focus, Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland, 2019.
Hess, Richard. Tyndale Commentary Complete.
Meyer, F.B., Joshua and the Land of Promise, Christian Literature Crusade, Ft Washington PA, 1977.
Pritchard, James, “The Bible reports on Gibeon.” Penn Museum, Expedition, 1961. Volume 3, Issue 4.
Sanders, J. Oswald, Promised-Land Living, Moody Press, Chicago, 1984.
Thompson, Frank Charles, Chain Reference Bible, Kirkbride Bible Co, Indianapolis, 1964.
Toms, Paul, This land is your land. Gospel Light Publishing, Glendale CA, 1977.
Wiersbe, Warren. Be Strong: Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life. David C. Cook Publishing, Colorado Springs, 2010.
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D-Groups for this week
1) Monday 11 am Sydney time. Led by James Howse
2) Monday 7 pm, Sydney time, led by James White
(Contact our office for zoom details)
If you’d like to host a D-Group either online or in person, please contact bob@jewsforjesus.org.au for further details. It’s time to step up. Ponder this—who will be in your D-Group?
The Book of Joshua: Outline.
A. Entering the Land (Chapters 1-4)
a. Chapter 1: A funeral and a promise (Leadership Lesson 1)
b. Chapter 2: A harlot saves the day
c. Chapter 3: Go against the flow (Part 1)
d. Chapter 4: Go against the flow (Part 2)
B. Taking the Land (5-12)
a. Chapter 5: Roll away iniquity: a study in sacraments
b. Chapter 6: Joshua fit d’battle ob Jericho
c. Chapter 7: Getting it very wrong: Achan and his mistakes
d. Chapter 8: Combat and Covenant
e. Chapter 9: Common sense is not so common
f. Chapter 10: Southern dominance
g. Chapter 11: How not to win
h. Chapter 12: God is faithful
C. Possessing the Land (13-21)
a. Chapter 13: Inheritance lessons
b. Chapter 14: Caleb as an example with a side of contentment
c. Chapter 15: Geography lesson
d. Chapter 16: God’s ways are not our ways
e. Chapter 17: Promise vs compromise
f. Chapter 18-19: Apportionment continued
g. Chapter 20: Cities of Refuge
h. Chapter 21: Levite cities to the rescue
D. Retaining the Land (22-24)
a. Chapter 22: Can an altar alter anything?
b. Chapter 23: Staying on edge
c. Chapter 24: Three funerals and Renewing the covenant
The Seven Nations
1. Amorite
2. Canaanite
3. Girgashite
4. Hittite
5. Hivite
6. Jebusite
7. Perizzite
Josh. 21:1 Then the heads of 1households of athe Levites approached Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of 1households of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 2 They spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “aThe LORD commanded 1through Moses to give us cities to live in, with their pasture lands for our cattle.” 3 So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these cities with their pasture lands, according to the 1command of the LORD. 4 Then the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And the sons of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, received thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of Judah and from the tribe of the Simeonites and from the tribe of Benjamin.
Josh. 21:5 The rest of the sons of Kohath 1received ten cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim and from the tribe of Dan and from the half-tribe of Manasseh.
Josh. 21:6 The sons of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Issachar and from the tribe of Asher and from the tribe of Naphtali and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
Josh. 21:7 The sons of Merari according to their families received twelve cities from the tribe of Reuben and from the tribe of Gad and from the tribe of Zebulun.
Josh. 21:8 Now the sons of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their pasture lands, as the LORD had commanded 1through Moses.
Josh. 21:9 They gave these cities which are here mentioned by name from the tribe of the sons of Judah and from the tribe of the sons of Simeon; 10 and they were for the sons of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites, of the sons of Levi, for the lot was theirs first. 11 Thus they gave them Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron), in the hill country of Judah, with its surrounding pasture lands. 12 But the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession.
Josh. 21:13 So ato the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Libnah with its pasture lands, 14 and Jattir with its pasture lands and bEshtemoa with its pasture lands, 15 and 1Holon with its pasture lands and Debir with its pasture lands, 16 and 1Ain with its pasture lands and Juttah with its pasture lands and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands; nine cities from these two tribes. 17 From the tribe of Benjamin, aGibeon with its pasture lands, bGeba with its pasture lands, 18 Anathoth with its pasture lands and 1Almon with its pasture lands; four cities. 19 All the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.
Josh. 21:20 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. 21 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, 22 and Kibzaim with its pasture lands and Beth-horon with its pasture lands; four cities. 23 From the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, 24 Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; four cities. 25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh, they allotted Taanach with its pasture lands and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; two cities. 26 All the cities with their pasture lands for the families of the rest of the sons of Kohath were ten.
Josh. 21:27 aTo the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gaveGolan in Bashan, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities. 28 From the tribe of Issachar, they gave Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 29Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En-gannim with its pasture lands; four cities. 30 From the tribe of Asher, they gaveMishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, 31 Helkath with its pasture lands and Rehob with its pasture lands; four cities. 32 From the tribe of Naphtali, they gave aKedesh 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. 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.
Josh. 21:34 To the families of the sons of Merari, the rest of the Levites, they gave from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands and Kartah with its pasture lands. 35 Dimnah with its pasture lands, Nahalal with its pasture lands; four cities. 36 From the tribe of Reuben, they gaveaBezer with its pasture lands and Jahaz with its pasture lands, 37 Kedemoth with its pasture lands and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities. 38 From the tribe of Gad, they gave Ramoth in Gilead, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands and bMahanaim with its pasture lands, 39 Heshbon with its pasture lands, Jazer with its pasture lands; four cities in all. 40 All these werethe cities of the sons of Merari according to their families, the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.
Josh. 21:41 aAll the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasture lands. 42 These cities each had its surrounding pasture lands; thus it was with all these cities.
Josh. 21:43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. 44 And the LORD agave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; cthe LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had 2made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.
[1] Butler says this, “The thirteen cities have caused much comment (cf. especially Albright). The total of forty-eight cities would suggest a pattern of four cities from each tribe. The pattern is broken only here and with the tribe of Naphtali. Tsafrir has suggested that Beth Shemesh (v 16) originally referred to the city of that name in Naphtali (cf. Judges 1:33) and was secondarily transferred to Judah. This is not impossible, but far from proven. The irregularity of the numerical system could argue for its authenticity. It may be that the tradition of thirteen Aaronic cities was originally separate from that of forty eight Levitical cities. This is particularly interesting in the light of two facts. The Chronicler does not include Simeon, thus possibly leaving nine cities from Judah. Numbers 35:8 calls for a distinction in number of cities according to the size of the tribe. The unevenness of distribution may be the original tradition, while later systematizers have developed a theory of four cities per tribe.”
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