Bible Strands
Joshua 21:19
In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua records the final land distribution to the priestly line as the tribes take possession of Canaan. The narrator specifies the exact number of towns and their surrounding grazing grounds assigned to Aaron’s descendants.
The words — כּל (kol) means “all” or “in total,” and שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה (shlosh-'esreh) translates as “thirteen.” בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים (benei Aharon ha-kohanim) literally reads “descendants of Aaron the priests.”
The thread — This allocation pattern mirrors the earlier command in Numbers 35:2-8 and is later summarized in 1 Chronicles 6:54-55. The narrative thread continues in Joshua 21:20-28 as the remaining Levitical clans receive their respective towns.
Why it lands — The text establishes a fixed, measurable inheritance for the priestly family rather than a vague promise. A reader must account for the precise boundaries and numbers before drawing conclusions about tribal priority or divine provision.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.