"The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands---two towns." (Joshua 21:27) Bashan is the area we call the Golan Heights in modern times.
"From the tribe of Issachar, Kishion, Daberath, Jarmuth and En Gannim, together with their pasturelands---four towns; from the tribe of Asher, Mishal, Abdon, Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands---four towns; from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands---four towns. The total number of towns of the Gershonite clans came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands." (Joshua 21:28-33) One of the Bible commentaries I sometimes consult is one by James Burton Coffman and he says of our current chapter: "In all of these assignments, it should be remembered that the Levites were neither the sole possessors of those cities nor the rulers of them. The regulation meant that adequate room for the Levites was to be provided and that they had the right to the pasturelands around their cities." I had not thought of it this way before, but since their towns and pasturelands lay within the borders of the territories of the other tribes, the other tribes had authority over what took place in these towns and pasturelands. We could think of it like this: I own the deed to my property but my property is located within the United States of America and within the state of Tennessee. To a certain extent I can do whatever I please on my own property but I am subject to the laws and ordinances of my nation and my state. In this same way, to a certain extent the Levites could go about their lives as they pleased within their towns and pasturelands but they were subject to the governing body of the tribes within which their towns and pasturelands lay, plus they were subject to the governing body of Israel as a whole.
Mr. Coffman's remark got me thinking about the spiritual aspect of this as well. He stated that the other tribes were to "make room" for the Levites. We talked a few days ago about how the Lord scattered the Levites throughout Israel instead of giving them their own territory off by itself. We discussed what a blessing it was that He placed members of this tribe all over the nation because the Levite males were required to serve the Lord in various capacities at His tabernacle. This means the Lord placed men all over the country who should be able to give godly counsel to the people. He made these men easily accessible to all the tribes. Asking each tribe of Israel to make room for the Levites within their towns and pasturelands can be compared to the way the Lord asks each of us to make room for Him in our hearts. Are we going about our lives each day without making time for Him? Are we so busy doing our own thing that we've pushed Him to the side? Is spending time in Bible study and in prayer a priority for us or do they seem like a chore or are we leaving these things out altogether? Having the Levites living within each tribe helped remind all the Israelites to set aside time for the Lord just as they set aside towns and pasturelands for the Levites. Regularly seeing the Levites (men whose main job was to serve the Lord) within the borders of each tribe helped to remind everyone that it's the primary duty of all mankind to serve the Lord.
Serving the Lord is not only something required of us but should also be considered a privilege and an honor. The King of kings wants to fellowship with us! He asks to come to Him and learn about Him. He encourages us to bring our concerns and requests to Him. Neglecting to do these things is neglecting to accept the greatest invitation we'll ever be issued!
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