The Merarites according to their clans received from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to see this verse as just a simple accounting, but it highlights something crucial: the Merarites, who were responsible for the Tabernacle's heaviest structural elements, received their cities from tribes situated both east and west of the Jordan River. This distribution, rather than being random, ensured that this vital family group had settlements across the land they were meant to serve.
The Merarites according to their clans received from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the initial division of the promised land, the Levites, who received no land inheritance, come forward to claim their assigned cities. This passage details how the remaining Levite families, the Merarites, are allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. This distribution fulfills God's command through Moses, ensuring the Levites have places to live throughout the land as they serve the Israelites.
Ever feel like God's promises get lost in the shuffle of everyday life? This passage shows God's meticulous care to ensure His people, especially the Levites, received what was promised.
God's Plan for the Levites
The division of the land of Canaan was a massive undertaking, involving all twelve tribes. But amidst this distribution, a crucial group, the Levites, had a special claim. They weren't given a territory like the other tribes because their inheritance was the Lord Himself and the service of the Tabernacle.
A Divine Mandate
God had specifically commanded Moses that the Levites were to be given cities scattered throughout Israel, with pasturelands for their livestock. This wasn't an afterthought; it was part of the covenant. The Levites, serving in the sacred duties, needed places to live and support themselves throughout the land.
Meticulous Fulfillment
Joshua 21 details how these cities were allocated. Notice how the distribution was done by lot, signifying God's direct involvement and ensuring fairness. The Merarites, one of the Levite clans, received their twelve cities from specific tribes: Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. This wasn't haphazard; it was the precise fulfillment of God's word.
What does it mean to have the 'Lord as your inheritance'? This passage reveals a profound truth about the Levites' special calling and how it shaped their place in the promised land.
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More Than Just Land
Unlike the other tribes who received vast tracts of land to farm and settle, the Levites' inheritance was fundamentally different. They were set apart for the service of the Lord, a spiritual calling that required mobility and presence throughout Israel.
Service Over Territory
The Levites were scattered among the tribes, not concentrated in one region. This strategic placement allowed them to serve as religious leaders, teachers, and administrators of God's law in every part of the land. Their cities were hubs of spiritual activity, supporting the Tabernacle and later the Temple.
A Kingdom of Priests
By being given cities rather than a territorial inheritance, the Levites were a constant reminder to Israel of their covenant relationship with God. They were the mediators of God's presence, and their scattered cities reinforced the idea that God's service was to permeate all aspects of Israelite life.
This verse highlights the finalization of God's specific provision for the Levites, ensuring they had a place across the land, a crucial step after the major land divisions were settled.
c. 1400 BC
Wilderness Wanderings and Tabernacle Construction
During the 40 years in the wilderness, the Levites were organized to care for the Tabernacle. Specific duties were assigned to the descendants of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, with land not being a primary concern.
c. 1399 BC
Division of Land East of the Jordan
Before entering Canaan, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half of Manasseh, were granted land east of the Jordan River. The Levites also received cities within these territories.
c. 1399 BC
Conquest of Canaan Under Joshua
Following Moses' death, Joshua led the Israelites in conquering the land of Canaan. This military campaign paved the way for the land's division.
c. 1398 BC
Division of Land West of the Jordan
After the conquest, the remaining land west of the Jordan was systematically divided among the nine and a half tribes. This process was overseen by Joshua and the priest Eleazar.
c. 1398 BC— this verse
Assignment of Levitical Cities
As per God's command through Moses, the Levites were allocated 48 cities scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes. This ensured they had places to live and serve from across the land.
This passage explicitly states that the Levites were to be given forty-eight cities, with twelve cities belonging to the descendants of Merari, directly correlating with the number and distribution mentioned in Joshua 21:7.
Deuteronomy 18:1-2This foundational text declares that the Levites, as a tribe, are to have no inheritance of land among the other tribes, but are to live off of the offerings and sacrifices, thus explaining the necessity of assigning them cities within all the tribes.
Joshua 14:1-5This passage details the overall division of the land of Canaan by lot among the tribes, providing the broader context for how the Levites' cities were specifically allocated within those tribal inheritances.
1 Chronicles 6:63This parallel account in Chronicles reiterates that the Levites were given cities out of the various tribes, confirming the purpose and practice described in Joshua, with Merari's descendants receiving their portion.
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…
gillJoshua 21:7: "The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities."
The children of Merari by their families,.... The descendants of Merari, the third son of Levi: had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad; which were both on the other side Jordan: and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities; in all forty eight, as the Lord commanded, Numbers 35:7.
It's easy to see this verse as just a simple accounting, but it highlights something crucial: the Merarites, who were responsible for the Tabernacle's heaviest structural elements, received their cities from tribes situated both east and west of the Jordan River. This distribution, rather than being random, ensured that this vital family group had settlements across the land they were meant to serve.
Following the initial division of the promised land, the Levites, who received no land inheritance, come forward to claim their assigned cities. This passage details how the remaining Levite families, the Merarites, are allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. This distribution fulfills God's command through Moses, ensuring the Levites have places to live throughout the land as they serve the Israelites.
Following the initial division of the promised land, the Levites, who received no land inheritance, come forward to claim their assigned cities. This passage details how the remaining Levite families, the Merarites, are allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. This distribution fulfills God's command through Moses, ensuring the Levites have places to live throughout the land as they serve the Israelites.
"The Merarites according to their clans received from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities." — It's easy to see this verse as just a simple accounting, but it highlights something crucial: the Merarites, who were responsible for the Tabernacle's heaviest structural elements, received their cit…
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Last reviewed October 2026