The Families of Kohath - Joshua 21:20

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs“, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty of Joshua we learn more about, “the families of the children of Kohath” where we read, 

And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.

The verse reads, “And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the families” which means “and the kindred, kinsmen and relatives” “of the children of Kohath” or “pertaining to the offspring and progeny belonging to Kohath whose name means ‘assembly’ and was the second of the three sons of Levi and progenitor of a family in the tribe of Levi”, “the Levites” whose name means “joined to” and were “the descendants of the third son of Jacob by Leah who were specially set aside by God for His service” “which remained of the children of Kohath” or “who were left over and behind, preserved and saved pertaining to the offspring and progeny belonging to Kohath whose name means ‘assembly’”. Joshua or the writer shared how the relatives belonging to the offspring of “Kohath” who were the preserved and left behind “Levites” possessed the following. 

The verse goes on to say, “… even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “even they had the cities” which means “also and indeed they, the remaining descendant Kohathite Levites, owned and possessed the dwelling places” “of their lot” or “belonging to their portion, pebbles used for systematically making decisions and share” “out of the tribe of Ephraim” which means “from the clan or people group belonging to Ephraim whose name means ‘double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful’ and was second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh and the progenitor of the people of Ephraim”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “Kohathite Levites” possessed dwelling places as their portion from the “tribe of Ephraim”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover more specifically about the portion of dwelling places given to the  “Kohathite Levites” who descended from Aaron. The “tribe of Ephraim” provided their locations, and they were to carry out their ministries in them. God ultimately owns all these places, (See Psalm 24:1) and He is able to distribute them as He desires and through whom He desires. God wants to have a personal relationship with everyone through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so our lives are pleasing to Him and bear witness of His salvation throughout the world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time we learn how, “they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".