Joshua
chapter 21 enumerates the pasturelands and nearby towns given to the
Levites for the great flocks and herds needed for the sacrifices.
Remember Levi had three sons, Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The role
of priest was reserved ONLY for the descendents of Aaron (a
Kohathite). Numbers,
chapter 3 makes it clear, only Aaron and his sons were to fulfill the
role of priests; “Appoint
Aaron and his sons to serve as priests, anyone else that approaches
the sanctuary must be put to death“.
Although Aaron was from the tribe of Levi, all of the other Levites
were not priests; they were only to “Assist
him… perform duties for him and the community… care for the
furnishings“.
All of the other tribes except the Levites were given a region to
dwell in and defend. Each tribe was responsible for possessing the
land they were given. The Levites were instead scattered throughout
the nation. The chapter begins with a reminder of God’s command
concerning the Levites, “The
Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with
pastureland for our livestock“.
I am reminded that we need one another to accomplish God’s best.
While each of us has unique talents and gifts, but when we work
together and each of us does our part, ultimately, God gets the
glory.
The
towns are assigned, “The
Levites who were descendents of Aaron the priest were allotted
thirteen towns… the rest of the descendents of Kohath were allotted
ten towns…the descendents of Gershon were allotted thirteen towns…
the descendents of Merari, clan by clan received twelve towns“.
The specific town names are provided as well as the region in which
these towns are located. “The
towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites was
forty-eight in all, together with the pasturelands.”
This is just another good reminder to believers today that we are
not to cloister away into our little Christian communes. “But
you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His
own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who
called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
(1 Peter 2:9). We are to proclaim this wonderful truth to those who
are separated from God by their sin.
The
chapter ends with an amazing statement. “So
the Lord gave Israel the land He had sworn to give their forefathers…
not one of their enemies withstood them… Not one of all the Lord’s
good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was
fulfilled“.
The people, of course, did not perfectly follow God’s commands,
but God never falls short of His promises. Psalm 34:8 issues a
challenge to anyone hesitant to trust God. “Taste
and see how good the Lord is; happy is the man who takes refuge in
Him.”