Joshua 21:4

Amharic Bible (መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ (የብሉይና የሐዲስ ኪዳን መጻሕፍት))

ለቀዓትም ወገኖች ዕጣ ወጣ፤ ሌዋውያንም ለነበሩ ለካህኑ ለአሮን ልጆች ከይሁዳ ነገድ፥ ከስምዖንም ነገድ፥ ከብንያምም ነገድ አሥራ ሦስት ከተሞች በዕጣ ሆኑላቸው።

What Does This Mean?

This verse describes how the Kohathites, a family within the Levites, received 13 cities through a lottery system from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. It highlights the fair and divinely guided distribution of land among the Levites.

Explained for Children

Imagine you and your friends have a bunch of toys to share. To make sure everyone gets a fair share, you decide to pick names out of a hat. That's kind of what happened here. The Kohathites, who were like special helpers in the community, got to pick 13 cities to live in from different groups, just like picking toys from different boxes.

Historical Background

The Book of Joshua was written by Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, after they entered the Promised Land. It was written around 1400-1300 BCE. The audience was the Israelites who were about to settle in their new homeland. The cultural setting was one of division and settlement, where the land was divided among the tribes for them to occupy.

Living It Out Today

In modern life, this verse can remind us of the importance of fair and equitable distribution of resources. For example, in a community project, ensuring that tasks and benefits are shared fairly among all members can prevent conflicts and promote harmony.

Topics

• distribution
• fairness
• Levites
• settlement
• land division
• priesthood

Related Verses

• Numbers 35:1-8
• Joshua 21:1-8
• 1 Chronicles 6:39-66
• Ezekiel 48:13-14
• Matthew 19:29

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were the Kohathites given cities?

The Kohathites, part of the Levites, were given cities to live in because they were responsible for serving in the Tabernacle and needed a place to rest and dwell.

How did the lottery system work?

The lottery system was a divinely guided method to fairly distribute cities among the Levites. It ensured that each family within the Levites received a fair share of the land.

What role did the Levites play in the community?

The Levites, including the Kohathites, played a crucial role in the religious life of the Israelites, serving in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple as priests and assistants.

Why was it important for the Levites to have cities?

Having cities provided the Levites with a stable base for their religious duties, a place to live, and the means to support their families, which was essential for the continuation of their service to God.