Joshua 21:18
Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands—four cities.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Even though Anathoth was a priestly city, it was located within the tribal territory of Benjamin, not Judah where the temple would later be. This placement highlights that the distribution of these cities wasn't just about proximity to the future sanctuary, but about God’s sovereign plan working through the lots to situate His people throughout the land.
This passage is part of a larger section where the Israelites are meticulously assigning cities to the Levites, as God commanded Moses. After the tribes received their land inheritances, representatives of the Levites came forward to claim their allotted towns and pasturelands. The text details how lots were cast, and specific cities were given to the different Levite families, ensuring they would have places to live throughout the land, serving God and the people.
Ever feel like things just happen randomly? This passage shows God's hand at work, even in the details of land allocation.
Joshua 21 describes the fulfillment of God's command to give the Levites cities throughout the land of Israel. This wasn't a haphazard giveaway, but a deliberate act of divine providence.
A Promise Fulfilled
God had promised Moses that the Levites, who served Him and had no tribal inheritance of their own, would be provided for. The distribution of these cities by lot was a way to ensure fairness and that God's promise was honored. Notice how the text emphasizes that this was done "as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses."
Strategic Placement
Interestingly, many of these Levite cities, including those mentioned in Joshua 21:18 (Anathoth and Almon), were located within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. Commentators suggest this was a wise provision, especially in light of the future division of the kingdom. Having priestly families closer to the central sanctuary in Jerusalem (after it was established) would have been crucial for maintaining religious continuity and order.
What does 'pasturelands' really mean for the Levites? It wasn't just about real estate, but about their whole way of life.
The cities given to the Levites weren't just houses to live in; they came with 'pasturelands' or 'suburbs.' This detail is significant for understanding the Levites' role and livelihood.
Sustenance and Service
The pasturelands provided the necessary grazing for the livestock the Levites owned. Since the Levites didn't have land to farm like other tribes, their animals were a key source of sustenance. These areas ensured they could support themselves and their families.
Freedom to Focus
Having designated land for their livestock and homes freed the Levites from the daily grind of agriculture that occupied most of Israel. This allowed them to dedicate their time and energy to their sacred duties: teaching the Law, assisting in temple services, and serving as judges and administrators throughout the land. The 'suburbs' were essential to their calling.
The assignment of Anathoth and Almon to the Levites wasn't just a practical distribution of cities; it placed priestly families in areas strategically close to Jerusalem, fostering religious life and later serving as ancestral homes for prophets like Jeremiah.
c. 1400 BC
Israel Conquers Canaan
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites under Joshua conquer the land of Canaan, a period marked by significant warfare and the establishment of Israelite territories.
c. 1400 BC
Division of Land by Lot
After the conquest, the land is divided among the twelve tribes of Israel through the casting of lots, as commanded by God through Moses.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Levitical Cities Assigned
As part of the land division, specific cities are allocated to the Levites, the priestly tribe, to serve as their dwelling places and centers for religious education throughout Israel.
c. 10th century BC
Abiathar's Banishment to Anathoth
King Solomon banishes the priest Abiathar to his ancestral home in Anathoth, highlighting its continued significance as a priestly city.
This passage lays out the divine command for the Levites to be given cities within the other tribes' territories, including pasturelands, providing the foundational instruction for what is being carried out in Joshua 21.
1 Chronicles 6:44-62This parallel account lists the cities assigned to the Levites, confirming the same historical event and providing a slightly different set of names (like Alemeth instead of Almon), reinforcing the divine order and distribution.
Jeremiah 1:1This verse identifies Anathoth, one of the cities mentioned, as the hometown of the prophet Jeremiah, highlighting the historical and prophetic significance of these Levitical cities.
This passage shows that descendants of the Levites and priests were still residing in these cities and surrounding areas after the Babylonian exile, demonstrating the long-term establishment and use of these Levitical towns.
This passage describes Abiathar, a priest, being banished to Anathoth, illustrating how these Levitical cities served as places of residence and sometimes exile for those in priestly service.
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.
Even though Anathoth was a priestly city, it was located within the tribal territory of Benjamin, not Judah where the temple would later be. This placement highlights that the distribution of these cities wasn't just about proximity to the future sanctuary, but about God’s sovereign plan working through the lots to situate His people throughout the land.
This passage is part of a larger section where the Israelites are meticulously assigning cities to the Levites, as God commanded Moses. After the tribes received their land inheritances, representatives of the Levites came forward to claim their allotted towns and pasturelands. The text details how lots were cast, and specific cities were given to the different Levite families, ensuring they would have places to live throughout the land, serving God and the people.
This passage is part of a larger section where the Israelites are meticulously assigning cities to the Levites, as God commanded Moses. After the tribes received their land inheritances, representatives of the Levites came forward to claim their allotted towns and pasturelands. The text details how lots were cast, and specific cities were given to the different Levite families, ensuring they would have places to live throughout the land, serving God and the people.
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c. 7th century BC
Jeremiah's Prophetic Ministry
The prophet Jeremiah, a native of Anathoth, delivers God's message to Judah during a time of impending judgment and exile.
"Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands—four cities." — Even though Anathoth was a priestly city, it was located within the tribal territory of Benjamin, not Judah where the temple would later be. This placement highlights that the distribution of these c…
