Joshua 21:1

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;

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.

3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel
KJV
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;
WEB
Then the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel.
ASV
Then came near the heads of fathers` [houses] of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of fathers` [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel;
DARBY
Then the chief fathers of the Levites drew near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
BLB
And the heads of the fathers of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel.
ÅB
Overhodene for levittenes familier trådte fram for Eleasar, presten, og Josva, Nuns sønn, og for familie-overhodene i Israels barns stammer
OTB
Lederne for levittenes familier nærmet seg Eleasar, presten, Josva, Nuns sønn, og overhodene for familiene til Israels stammer.
B1930
Overhodene for levittenes familier trådte frem for Eleasar, presten, og Josva, Nuns sønn, og for familie-overhodene i Israels barns stammer

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 14:1

    And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 19:51

    These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 17:4

    And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 34:17–29

    These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 6:14

    These be the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 6:25

    And Eleazar Aaron’s son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.

    Read in context