Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands—four cities.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to skim over this verse as just another listing of cities, but notice it explicitly mentions "pasturelands" connected to these cities. This detail highlights that the Levites, who had no land inheritance like the other tribes, were provided not just with a place to live, but with the crucial resources needed to sustain themselves, demonstrating God's practical care for His dedicated servants.
Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands—four cities.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage details the specific cities allocated to the Levites from the tribe of Benjamin, following a divine command that they be dispersed throughout Israel. These particular cities, Anathoth and Almon, along with their surrounding lands, were assigned to a priestly family within the Levites. This fulfills the earlier promise and establishes a precedent for how the Levitical cities were distributed across the land of Canaan.
Why did the Levites receive so many cities? Discover the surprising generosity that marked this divine distribution.
Joshua 21 details how the Levites, who had no land inheritance like the other tribes, were given cities throughout the land of Israel. This wasn't a small handout; the Kohathites alone received 23 cities, the Gershonites 13, and the Merarites 12. Our verse specifically mentions four cities given to one Levitical family: Anathoth and Almon with their pasturelands. This abundance shows God's immense care and provision for those who served Him directly. He didn't just give them enough to get by; He gave them generously, ensuring they had space to live and sustain themselves within the community.
Ever wondered why specific cities were chosen for the Levites? There's a divine strategy behind their locations.
The cities assigned to the Levites, including Anathoth and Almon mentioned here, weren't randomly scattered. Commentaries note that many of these priestly cities were strategically located within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This placement proved incredibly wise, especially after the kingdom divided. It ensured that even when the northern tribes strayed, the Levites, who were tasked with preserving and teaching God's law, remained accessible throughout the land, particularly near the soon-to-be-established Temple in Jerusalem. Their presence served as a constant reminder of God's covenant and His will.
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The assignment of Anathoth and Almon to the Levites in Joshua 21 not only fulfilled God's command but also established priestly centers that would later become significant locations for prophetic figures like Jeremiah.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan
The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, complete their military conquest of the land of Canaan. This victory sets the stage for the division and allocation of territories.
c. 1390 BC— this verse
Division of the Land
The land of Canaan is systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel through the casting of lots. This process includes allocating specific cities and surrounding pasturelands to the Levites.
c. 1390 BC
Levitical Cities Assigned
The Levites, who were not given a territorial inheritance like the other tribes, are assigned 48 cities scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes, along with their pasturelands. This includes cities like Anathoth and Almon.
c. 970 BC
Abiathar's Banishment
King Solomon banishes Abiathar, a priest, to his ancestral home in Anathoth. This highlights Anathoth's continued significance as a priestly town.
c. 620 BC
Jeremiah's Call
The prophet Jeremiah, who hails from Anathoth, receives his divine commission. His birthplace in this Levitical city deeply influences his prophetic ministry and message.
This passage is foundational, as it outlines God's command through Moses to assign cities and pasturelands to the Levites, setting the stage for the actual distribution recorded in Joshua 21. It shows the divine origin and purpose behind these 'cities within cities.'
1 Chronicles 6:48-53This parallel passage provides a slightly different list and count of the cities given to the Levites, reinforcing the importance of their role and highlighting how the distribution was seen across different historical accounts. It confirms that Anathoth and Almon were indeed part of the Levitical inheritance.
Jeremiah 1:1This verse directly connects Anathoth, one of the cities mentioned, to the prophet Jeremiah, showing its historical significance as a place associated with prophetic ministry and God's word, even centuries after its initial allocation.
1 Kings 2:26This passage records Solomon banishing Abiathar, a priest, to Anathoth. This demonstrates that Anathoth continued to serve as a place for priests even after the initial division, underscoring the ongoing role of these cities in the religious life of Israel.
calvinJoshua 21:1-19: "Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;"
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
Egressa est autem sors per familias Caethita…
clarkeJoshua 21:18: "Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities."
Anathoth - Celebrated as the birthplace of Jeremiah, about three miles northward of Jerusalem, according to St. Jerome.
It's easy to skim over this verse as just another listing of cities, but notice it explicitly mentions "pasturelands" connected to these cities. This detail highlights that the Levites, who had no land inheritance like the other tribes, were provided not just with a place to live, but with the crucial resources needed to sustain themselves, demonstrating God's practical care for His dedicated servants.
This passage details the specific cities allocated to the Levites from the tribe of Benjamin, following a divine command that they be dispersed throughout Israel. These particular cities, Anathoth and Almon, along with their surrounding lands, were assigned to a priestly family within the Levites. This fulfills the earlier promise and establishes a precedent for how the Levitical cities were distributed across the land of Canaan.
This passage details the specific cities allocated to the Levites from the tribe of Benjamin, following a divine command that they be dispersed throughout Israel. These particular cities, Anathoth and Almon, along with their surrounding lands, were assigned to a priestly family within the Levites. This fulfills the earlier promise and establishes a precedent for how the Levitical cities were distributed across the land of Canaan.
"Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands—four cities." — It's easy to skim over this verse as just another listing of cities, but notice it explicitly mentions "pasturelands" connected to these cities. This detail highlights that the Levites, who had no la…
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Last reviewed October 2026