Joshua 21:37 (KJV)

What does Joshua 21:37 mean?

Joshua 21:37 lists two towns, Kedemoth and Mephaath, along with their surrounding lands (“suburbs”), as part of a group of four cities. These cities were assigned to the Levites as places for them to live and serve among the other tribes of Israel.

In this part of the book of Joshua, the leaders are dividing up the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. This verse is part of a detailed record showing which towns and lands were given to the Levite families, who did not receive a large territory like the other tribes but were instead given specific cities spread throughout Israel. The verse helps document the careful distribution and organization of land for the Levites’ role in Israelite society.