Question 1

What does Joshua 21:35 mean?

Accepted Answer

Joshua 21:35 lists two towns, Dimnah and Nahalal, along with their surrounding lands ("suburbs"), as part of a group of four cities. These places were assigned to the Levites as part of their inheritance among the tribes of Israel. This verse is part of a larger section where Joshua, as the leader of Israel, is distributing towns and lands to the Levite families, since the Levites did not receive a tribal territory of their own. The mention of "suburbs" refers to the pasturelands around each city, which were given for the Levites’ livestock and daily needs. The verse is a factual record, helping to show how the Israelites organized their land and fulfilled God's instructions for the Levites.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Joshua 21:35

Accepted Answer

דִּמְנָה (Dimnah): This is the Hebrew name for one of the towns given to the Levites. Its meaning is not certain, but it identifies a specific location in Israel’s territory. נַחֲלָל (Nahalal): This is another town assigned to the Levites. The name may be related to the idea of something "winding" or "undulating," possibly describing the landscape. מִגְרָשׁ (migrash, translated "suburbs"): This word refers to the open land or pastureland around a city. It is not urban "suburbs" as we think of today, but rather the fields and grazing areas that supported the Levites’ daily life. אַרְבַּע (arba‘, "four"): The verse notes that these two towns, along with two others mentioned earlier, make up a total of four cities given in this allotment. עִיר (‘ir, "cities"): The word simply means "cities" or "towns," emphasizing the official status of these places as recognized settlements.

Question 3

Why Joshua 21:35 matters

Accepted Answer

Joshua 21:35 helps clarify that the Levites were provided for by being given specific towns and surrounding lands, rather than a single large territory like other tribes. The verse shows the careful organization and record-keeping in Israel’s settlement, reflecting the importance of each tribe and family’s role. This detail connects to the broader theme in Joshua of fulfilling God’s instructions for the distribution of the land, showing faithfulness to the covenant and practical care for the Levites.

Joshua 21:35 (KJV)