Levitical Cities

Levitical cities were special places set aside for the tribe of Levi. The Levites did not receive a regular area of land like the other tribes did (Numbers 18:20–24; 26:62; Deuteronomy 10:9; 18:1–2; Joshua 18:7).

Moses assigned the Levites 48 cities, including the six cities of refuge (Numbers 35:6–7). Each city included a small area of land around it for the Levites to use (verses 3–5). Their property also had a special status under the laws for buying back family property (Leviticus 25:32–34).

Two lists name the Levitical cities (Joshua 21; 1 Chronicles 6:54–81). Thirteen of these towns were assigned to the priests (Jos 21:4). The six cities of refuge were included among the Levitical cities.

The two lists differ in some details, but they probably came from the same original list. The locations of the cities help explain their purpose. The cities were spread among the 12 tribes, but they were not usually near the centers of the tribal territories.

The cities in Judah and Simeon were in the southern hill country. The Calebites and Kenizzites, clans connected with Israel, had settled in this area. The cities in Benjamin were grouped in the southern part of that tribe’s territory. This area later became part of Judah, and King Saul’s family lived there.

Some Levitical cities were in border regions where soldiers were needed. For example, some stood near the eastern desert border in Reuben, while others in Dan faced Philistine territory. Other cities were in the plains of Asher, Manasseh, and other tribes in Galilee. These tribes had earlier failed to conquer the Canaanite cities there (Judges 1:27, 31).

The Levites were therefore placed in areas that were important for Israel’s security and control. Many of these towns were not captured during the first conquest of Canaan. They came under Israelite control only during the reign of David.

The Levites were not the only people who lived in these cities. They shared the cities with other Israelites, but they were assigned special duties there. They served the Lord and also carried out work for the king (1 Chronicles 26:30–32).

Their duties included collecting tithes, which were gifts of one-tenth of a person’s produce or income(Numbers 18:21; Deuteronomy 14:28). . They also handled legal matters, served in military guard units, and managed storehouses (1 Chronicles 26:1–19, 22, 29; 2 Chronicles 17:8; 19:8–10).

The Levites took turns serving in the capital (1 Chronicles 27:1). They also carried out similar duties throughout the year in the areas where they lived (26:29–32). Because they remained loyal to the family of David, they lost their position in the northern kingdom. When the kingdom divided, most of them moved to Judah (2 Chronicles 11:13–14).

See also Cities of Refuge.