8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
8 So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.
8 These cities and their pasturelands the people of Israel gave by lot to the Levites, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.
8 So the People of Israel gave these cities with their pastures to the Levites just as God had ordered through Moses, that is, by lot.
8 And the children of Israel gave these cities with their common-lands by lot to the Levites, as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses.
8 So the Israelites obeyed the Lord 's command to Moses and assigned these towns and pasturelands to the Levites by casting sacred lots.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 21:8
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.