9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which were mentioned by name, 10 and which the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, of the children of Levi had (for theirs was the first lot); 11 and they gave them Kirjath-Arba, [which Arba was] the father of Anak, that is, Hebron, in the mountain of Judah, with its suburbs round about it. 12 But the fields of the city and the hamlets thereof gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. 13 And they gave to the children of Aaron the priest the city of refuge for the 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, [and] Beth-shemesh and its suburbs: nine cities out of those 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 children of Aaron, the priests, were 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.