Joshua 21:5
“The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
What does Joshua 21:5 mean?
After the Israelites entered the promised land, the Levites (who served as priests and temple workers) needed cities to live in since they didn't receive their own territory. The Kohathites were one branch of the Levites, and this verse describes how they received ten cities scattered across three different tribal regions to call home. This arrangement meant the Kohathites were distributed throughout the land rather than clustered in one place, which likely helped them serve their religious duties across a wider area. It's a practical reminder that God's people were woven throughout the community, not separate from it, even as they had their own distinct calling.