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.
3 So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:
3 So by command of the Lord the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance.
3 So the People of Israel, out of their own inheritance, gave the Levites, just as God commanded, the following cities and pastures:
3 So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their common-lands:
3 So by the command of the Lord the people of Israel gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own grants of land.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 21:3
Commentary on Joshua 21:1-8
(Read Joshua 21:1-8)
The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided for, before they preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a very good foundation; not their own merits or services, but the Divine precept. The maintenance of ministers is not a thing left merely to the will of the people, that they may let them starve if they please; they which preach the gospel should live by the gospel, and should live comfortably.