Joshua Chapter 21 · Verse 2
And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ
And they spake
H1696
וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ
And they spake
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
1 of 16
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
כְּנַ֙עַן֙
of Canaan
H3667
כְּנַ֙עַן֙
of Canaan
Strong's:
H3667
Word #:
5 of 16
kenaan, a son a ham; also the country inhabited by him
יְהוָה֙
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְיַד
by the hand
H3027
בְיַד
by the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
9 of 16
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
לָֽתֶת
to give
H5414
לָֽתֶת
to give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
11 of 16
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
עָרִ֖ים
us cities
H5892
עָרִ֖ים
us cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
13 of 16
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
לָשָׁ֑בֶת
to dwell in
H3427
לָשָׁ֑בֶת
to dwell in
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
14 of 16
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
Historical Context
This conversation occurred at Shiloh in central Canaan, where the Tabernacle was set up after the initial conquest (Joshua 18:1). Shiloh served as Israel's religious capital for over 300 years until its destruction during the judges period (Jeremiah 7:12-14). The Levites' petition came after the land distribution to the other twelve tribes was complete—they waited for others to receive inheritances before claiming their own provision, demonstrating patience and trust in God's timing.
Questions for Reflection
- How does grounding your requests in God's revealed Word (rather than personal preference or need) change how you pray and make decisions?
- What does the balance between spiritual calling and practical provision teach about Christian vocation and material support for ministers?
- How does the Levites' patient waiting for God's timing before claiming their cities challenge your impatience in seeking God's promises?
Analysis & Commentary
And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
The Levites' appeal "The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses" (Yahweh tsivah beyad-Moshe, יְהוָה צִוָּה בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה) grounds their request in direct divine revelation rather than human need or entitlement. The phrase beyad (בְּיַד, "by the hand of") designates Moses as God's authorized mediator—these weren't Moses' ideas but Yahweh's commands transmitted through Moses (Numbers 35:1-8, Deuteronomy 18:6-8). This demonstrates proper biblical advocacy: citing God's explicit Word rather than appealing to sentiment, tradition, or pragmatic arguments.
The request for "cities to dwell in" (arim lashevet, עָרִים לָשָׁבֶת) with "suburbs thereof for our cattle" (migresheyhen livhemtenu, מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן לִבְהֶמְתֵּנוּ) shows the Levites understood both their spiritual calling and practical needs. Though they received no territorial inheritance like other tribes (Numbers 18:20-24), God commanded provision for housing and livestock. The migrash (מִגְרָשׁ, pasture land) extended 1000 cubits around each city, balancing the Levites' priestly dependence on tithes with agricultural subsistence. This models how Christian ministers deserve material support (1 Corinthians 9:13-14, 1 Timothy 5:17-18) without owning church property as personal inheritance.
The setting "at Shiloh" (beShilo, בְּשִׁלֹה) is significant—Shiloh housed the Tabernacle and represented Israel's worship center. The Levites made their claim where God's presence dwelt, before both civil (Joshua) and priestly (Eleazar) leadership. This illustrates proper ecclesiastical order: spiritual matters addressed in God's presence, with proper authorities cooperating in their distinct spheres.