King James Version

What Does Joshua 21:5 Mean?

Joshua 21:5 in the King James Version says “And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of D...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.”

Joshua 21:5 · KJV

Context

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.

4

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.

5

And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

6

And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

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.

Read Joshua 21 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

The "rest of the children of Kohath" (velivney Kehat hanotarim, וְלִבְנֵי קְהָת הַנּוֹתָרִים) refers to non-Aaronic Kohathites who served the Tabernacle but couldn't offer sacrifices. They received "ten cities" from Ephraim, Dan, and western Manasseh—strategically positioned in central Israel. While Aaron's line got thirteen cities near the worship center, these Kohathites received ten in the heartland, distributing Levitical teaching throughout the nation.

The phrase "by lot" (bagoral, בַּגּוֹרָל) appears again, emphasizing God's sovereign distribution. The Kohathites didn't choose locations based on preference, economics, or family connections—God assigned cities through the sacred lot. This models Christian service: God places His workers where He wills, not where they prefer (Acts 13:2, 16:6-10). Faithfulness means serving wherever God assigns, not seeking prestigious or comfortable positions.

The allocation from "Ephraim, Dan, and the half tribe of Manasseh" positioned Kohathites in Israel's most populous region, ensuring maximum impact. Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph's sons (Genesis 48), blessed with numerical strength and fertile territory. Dan received coastal plains initially (though later migrating north). This distribution ensured the largest Israelite populations had access to Levitical teaching.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The non-Aaronic Kohathites' ten cities included Shechem (verse 21), a city of refuge and covenant renewal site (Joshua 24). Their central location made them accessible to northern and southern tribes alike. During the divided kingdom (931 BC), many of these cities fell within the northern kingdom (Israel), where Kohathites faced pressure to participate in Jeroboam's illegitimate worship at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:25-33). Some faithful Levites fled south to Judah (2 Chronicles 11:13-16), demonstrating that geography doesn't override conviction—God's people must maintain doctrinal purity regardless of where they're positioned.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the non-Aaronic Kohathites' service without priestly privileges challenge our desire for recognition and status in ministry?
  2. What does accepting God's sovereign assignment (by lot) rather than choosing preferred locations teach about Christian vocation and calling?
  3. How can you faithfully serve in the 'city' (role, location, circumstances) God has assigned you, even if it's not what you would have chosen?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וְלִבְנֵ֨י1 of 14

“of the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

קְהָ֜ת2 of 14

“of Kohath”

H6955

kehath, an israelite

הַנּֽוֹתָרִ֗ים3 of 14

“And the rest”

H3498

to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve

מִמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת4 of 14

“out of the families”

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

מַטֵּ֧ה5 of 14

“and out of the tribe”

H4294

a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),

אֶ֠פְרַיִם6 of 14

“of Ephraim”

H669

ephrajim, a son of joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

מַטֵּ֧ה7 of 14

“and out of the tribe”

H4294

a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),

דָ֞ן8 of 14

“of Dan”

H1835

dan, one of the sons of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place in palestine colonized by them

וּמֵֽחֲצִ֨י9 of 14

“and out of the half”

H2677

the half or middle

מַטֵּ֧ה10 of 14

“and out of the tribe”

H4294

a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),

מְנַשֶּׁ֛ה11 of 14

“of Manasseh”

H4519

menashsheh, a grandson of jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

בַּגּוֹרָ֖ל12 of 14

“had by lot”

H1486

properly, a pebble, i.e., a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot)

עָרִ֥ים13 of 14

“cities”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

עָֽשֶׂר׃14 of 14

“ten”

H6235

ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 21:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 21:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 21:20-261 Chronicles 6:66-701 Chronicles 6:18-19Numbers 3:27Genesis 46:111 Chronicles 6:61

Test Your Knowledge

Joshua 21 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJoshua Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Joshua 21 with CommentaryAll Joshua ChaptersComplete Joshua QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes