9 And they give out of the tribe of the sons of Judah, and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, these cities which are called by name; 10 and they are for the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathite, of the sons of Levi, for theirs hath been the first lot; 11 and they give to them the city of Arba father of Anak (it 'is' Hebron), in the hill-country of Judah, and its suburbs round about it; 12 and the field of the city and its villages they have given to Caleb son of Jephunneh for his possession. 13 And to the sons of Aaron the priest they have given the city of refuge 'for' the man-slayer, Hebron and its suburbs, and Libnah and its suburbs, 14 and Jattir and its suburbs, and Eshtemoa and its suburbs, 15 and Holon and its suburbs, and Debir and its suburbs, 16 and Ain and its suburbs, and Juttah and its suburbs, Beth-Shemesh and its suburbs; nine cities out of these two tribes. 17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon and its suburbs, Geba and its suburbs, 18 Anathoth and its suburbs, and Almon and its suburbs—four cities; 19 all the cities of the sons of Aaron the priests, 'are' thirteen cities and their suburbs.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 21:9-19
Commentary on Joshua 21:9-42
(Read Joshua 21:9-42)
By mixing the Levites with the other tribes, they were made to see that the eyes of all Israel were upon them, and therefore it was their concern to walk so that their ministry might not be blamed. Every tribe had its share of Levites' cities. Thus did God graciously provide for keeping up religion among them, and that they might have the word in all parts of the land. Yet, blessed be God, we have the gospel more diffused amongst us.