King James Version

What Does Joshua 21:6 Mean?

Joshua 21:6 in the King James Version says “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 ...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Joshua 21:6 · KJV

Context

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.

8

And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Read Joshua 21 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

The "children of Gershon" (velivney Gershon, וְלִבְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן) were descended from Levi's firstborn son (Exodus 6:16-17). Despite primogeniture, Gershon's line didn't receive priestly privileges—those went to Kohath's descendant Aaron. This demonstrates that natural birth order doesn't determine spiritual calling; God's sovereign choice does (Romans 9:10-13). The Gershonites received "thirteen cities" in Israel's northern territories: Issachar (eastern Jezreel Valley), Asher (coastal Galilee), Naphtali (upper Galilee), and eastern Manasseh (Bashan/Golan).

The phrase "in Bashan" (baBashan, בַּבָּשָׁן) specifies the fertile, cattle-rich plateau east of the Sea of Galilee. Bashan's prosperity (Deuteronomy 32:14, Ezekiel 39:18) provided excellent pastureland for Levitical livestock. The migrash (pasture lands) surrounding these cities supported the Gershonites economically, balancing spiritual calling with practical provision.

The allocation "by lot" (bagoral, בַּגּוֹרָל) for the third time emphasizes God's sovereign distribution. The northern positioning of Gershonite cities created a Levitical presence in Israel's remotest territories, ensuring even distant tribes had access to Torah instruction. This fulfills God's intent that knowledge of His law pervade all Israel, not just the southern tribes near Jerusalem.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Gershonites' northern cities included refuge cities like Kedesh in Naphtali (verse 32) and Golan in Bashan (verse 27). Their frontier positioning made them vulnerable during Assyrian invasions (732-722 BC), when northern territories fell first. Many Gershonites likely died or were exiled during this period. Yet their faithful presence in Israel's borders during peacetime demonstrates that God positions His servants even in dangerous places for kingdom purposes. Geography doesn't exempt believers from service—God calls some to spiritually difficult or physically dangerous locations.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Gershon's birthright not guaranteeing priestly privileges challenge assumptions about deserving spiritual status based on family heritage or seniority?
  2. What does the Gershonites' positioning in remote northern territories teach about taking the gospel to hard-to-reach or less prestigious locations?
  3. How can you faithfully maintain spiritual vitality and doctrinal purity when serving in 'frontier' contexts far from established centers of faith?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְלִבְנֵ֣י1 of 17

“And 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

גֵֽרְשׁ֗וֹן2 of 17

“of Gershon”

H1648

gereshon or gereshom, an israelite

מִמִּשְׁפְּח֣וֹת3 of 17

“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

מַטֵּ֨ה4 of 17

“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),

יִשָּׂשכָ֣ר5 of 17

“of Issachar”

H3485

jissaskar, a son of jacob

מַטֵּ֨ה6 of 17

“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),

אָ֠שֵׁר7 of 17

“of Asher”

H836

asher, a son of jacob, and the tribe descended from him, with its territory; also a place in palestine

מַטֵּ֨ה8 of 17

“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),

נַפְתָּלִ֜י9 of 17

“of Naphtali”

H5321

naphtali, a son of jacob, with the tribe descended from him, and its territory

וּ֠מֵֽחֲצִי10 of 17

“and out of the half”

H2677

the half or middle

מַטֵּ֨ה11 of 17

“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),

מְנַשֶּׁ֤ה12 of 17

“of Manasseh”

H4519

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

בַבָּשָׁן֙13 of 17

“in Bashan”

H1316

bashan (often with the article), a region east of the jordan

בַּגּוֹרָ֔ל14 of 17

“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)

עָרִ֖ים15 of 17

“cities”

H5892

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

שְׁלֹ֥שׁ16 of 17

“thirteen”

H7969

three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice

עֶשְׂרֵֽה׃17 of 17
H6240

ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth

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 21:6 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 21:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 21:27-331 Chronicles 6:621 Chronicles 6:71-76Numbers 3:21-22Exodus 6:16-17

Places in This Verse

BashanRegion · Modern: Saham al Jawlan · 32.78°N, 35.93°E53 verses across 15 books
View all places in Joshua 21 →

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